The Rev’d Robert C. Hooper III (“Bob,” please) and his wife Priscilla married in 1988 and have three children and two Labrador retrievers, "Lilly" and "Theo." Bob received a B.S. in business/marketing from New England College in 1987 and a M.Div. from Virginia Theological Seminary in 1995. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1996 after seven years in the brokerage and banking industry in New York. He served parishes in both Northern Virginia and suburban Boston before coming to St. James’s in 2002 to serve as rector.

The Reverend Robert Lofberg was ordained to the diaconate at Christ Church Episcopal Cathedral in Hartford, and is expected to be ordained a priest in early 2025. In 2007 Robert moved to West Hartford to lead FOCUS's New England boarding school ministry and served in that role for fourteen years. He entered Berkeley Divinity School at Yale shortly after and formally entered the Episcopal Church. He completed his Masters in Divinity in 2023 and is currently wrapping up final work for a Masters in Sacred Theology in 2024. Robert resides in West Hartford with his wife, Nicole and son, Andrew. He loves to cook with his family, listen to live music, watch movies, and play a good game of backgammon. He is a lifelong Red Sox fan while Nicole is devoted to the Yankees. Robert and Nicole love good cheese and dream of one day of owning a beautiful cheese shop. Robert and his family are overjoyed to be a part of the St. James's family.

Mrs. Cheryl Batter arrived at St. James's in September of 2003 after serving as the assistant to the administrator at Trinity Episcopal Church in Hartford. Originally from Aroostook County in Northern Maine, Cheryl first came to Connecticut to study music at the Hartt School. She lives in Meriden with her husband Jeff, a native of Connecticut, and loves spending time with her step-daughter, Sara, and two grandchildren Autumn and Dahlia. Jeff serves as the organist and director of music and liturgy at St. Paul Roman Catholic Church in Berlin where Cheryl is a cantor and religion teacher.

Mr. Leon Fraser moved to West Hartford over one decade ago and is a trained teacher and sports coach by profession and journeyman by choice. He and his wife Marylin raised four children, including their daughter Nia who was a valued member of the St. James's choir for many years. Marylin is an active member of the congregation. He has served as sexton since 2016, and loves a good book, especially espionage thrillers.

Mrs. Priscilla Hooper moved to West Hartford in 2002 when her husband, Bob, was named rector of St. James's. She has worked as the Director of Religious Education (now called Director of Family Ministries) since 2003. Priscilla is the mother of three grown children—Robby, Henry and Maddy and mother of two four legged children, a yellow lab named Lilly, and a chocolate lab, Theo. In addition to her work at St. James's, she is a library paraprofessional at Morley School part-time. She has a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Texas at Austin and has dedicated her life to children and families.

Michelle Horsley is thrilled to serve the music ministry of St. James’s Episcopal Church as of August, 2024. Most recently, Michelle held positions as Music Director for The Choir School of Hartford, Dean of the Greater Hartford Chapter of the American Guild of Organists (2020-2024), and Director of Music at Trinity Episcopal Church in Hartford. Michelle has degrees in Organ Performance (BM) and Sacred Music (MM) from Stetson University and Duquesne University and resides in Hartford's West End with her cat, Norman. Originally from Florida, Michelle has also lived in Spain, Germany, and Mexico. She frequently composes, teaches, leads workshops, and performs around New England. More information about Michelle can be found at www.MichelleHorsley.com