Our Staff
Our Staff
Rev. Sungmin Jung
Minister
The congregation of St. John's United Church, Allliston is pleased to welcome Reverend Sungmin Jung as Minister of Word, Sacrament and Pastoral Care. Joining us just prior to the season of Advent 2017, Rev. Sungmin quickly immersed himself in the busyness of congregational and community activities. He has demonstrated enthusiasm, commitment and a good sense of humour as he settles in to this new pastoral experience.
Coming from South Korea, Sungmin Jung was ordained by Maritime Conference in 1999 after graduating from the Atlantic School of Theology in Halifax, NS. He was settled in Wesleyville, Newfoundland for three years, and has served at Hartland-Jacksonville Pastoral Charge in New Brunswick for 10 years and Willowdale Emmanuel United Church for five years.
He has served on various committees at Presbytery, Conference and General Council as a member of the Mission: Present and Future Team, the Coordinating Circle in South West Presbytery, as well as on the Toronto Conference and General Council Executives.
Rev. Sungmin and his wife, Moon Hee, have been married for twenty-six years, and have a daughter named Solinne, who has recently graduated from the University of Toronto.
Music Team
music@stjohnsalliston.ca
Emily Morrison
Pianist and Organist
Children's Choir Director
In addition to her work with the two church choirs, Emily organizes the St. John’s Concert Series as well as numerous other musical events alongside Choir Director John Dodington.
She received her Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Western Ontario, attended Teacher’s College at Christchurch University, Canterbury, England, and has completed her Master of Sacred Music from Emmanuel College in Toronto.
She has accompanied vocalists and instrumentalists and has been the Music Director of two musicals with the Kempenfelt Community Players in Barrie. She runs the choir program at Kempenfelt Bay School and has her own successful teaching studio, Morrison Music Studios, located in the Alliston area.
John Dodington
Senior Choir Director
John Dodington has called New Tecumseth home for 35 years. John has been singing professionally since 1970, performing in opera, oratorio, recital and musical theatre. He has spent many years singing with professional choirs including the Elmer Iseler Singers. He has enjoyed teaching vocal music privately to all ages in the Simcoe County area for many years.
John's love of music, particularly choral music, has led him to the position of Choir Director at St. John's. The Dodington Youth Singers in combination with the church choir have performed in numerous church services as well as the annual Christmas and spring concerts.
John has launched a very successful, four concert music series at St. John's, and is happy to be part of the St. John's music team.
Tom Shephard
Supply Organist/Pianist
Tom taught vocal music at Alliston Union Public School for his entire career. For many years his intermediate choirs performed at benefits such as Cancer Capers and fundraisers for Stevenson Memorial Hospital.
In 1979, Tom was asked to be the accompanist for Marjorie McKelvey’s choir, The Merry Minstrels, on their musical tour of Britain and their participation in the international music festival in LLangollen, Wales. For nine years, Tom served as the accompanist for the Green Briar Male Chorus until the passing of founding director and good friend, Bud Renshaw.
In the 1990’s, Tom was fortunate to study organ under the tutelage of Rev. Peter Orme who had been the organ scholar at Sydney Sussex College, Cambridge University in England.
In 2019, Tom celebrated fifty years associated with St. John’s, having assisted Ken Inkster as supply organist, and following Ken’s passing, as acting organist. Tom has also served on the organists’ rosters for Alliston Christian Reformed Church and St. Paul The Apostle Roman Catholic Church.
Office Administrator
stjohnsunitedchurch@bellnet.ca
Linda Bayliss
Office Hours:
Monday to Thurs. 9:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Summer Hours (July and August):
Please call in advance