Clergy

The Rev. Alison Harrity

The Rev. Alison Harrity

Rector


"The kingdom of God is like..." What the kingdom of God was like existed for me in parables and abstractions until my ministry began at St. Richard's in 2011. The kingdom of God is the gay and the straight, the young and the old, the disabled and strong, the gritty and the gentle, the slow and the wise, and all those who gather to worship the creator of all that is and love each other in very many ways. I am lucky to not only serve this congregation but to have been wrapped in love in this place.

     Miami is my place of origin. Coral Gables Senior High School launched me in 1995 to Hobart and William Smith Colleges where I found deep and abiding friendships. My ordination process started by senior year of college and as a postulant in the Diocese of Southeast Florida, I took the job of Youth Minister at St. David's (Radnor) Church in Wayne, PA. I served there for two years before going to Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley, CA. Southeast Florida made a place for me as an assistant priest at St. Gregory's, Boca Raton, where both of my children were born: Spencer (2001) and Libby (2003). After four years in South Florida, I ventured back to St. David's as associate rector in 2004 and then on to St. Richard's in 2011. My home church, St. Thomas in Coral Gables, continues to be a special place for me.

 The Rev. Canon Robert Vanderau, Jr.

Assisting Priest

The Rev. Dr. Thomas A. Downs

Rector Emeritus


The Rev. Dr. Tom Downs holds M.A. degrees in church history, theology and education (from Notre Dame), and a doctorate in adult spirituality from the Graduate Theological Union at Berkeley. Originally a Roman Catholic priest, he became an Episcopal priest and became director of the Florida Council of Churches in the late 1970’s, and then a cathedral canon at St. Luke’s Cathedral in Orlando. From there he moved on to assistant to the bishop (“Canon to the Ordinary”) for both Bishop William Folwell and Bishop John Howe in Central Florida. He spent 11 years as rector of St. Paul’s Church in Albany, Ga., where he became founding president of the Flint River Habitat in Albany. In 2003 he returned to central Florida as rector of St. Richard’s in Winter Park. Since retirement there, he has been consulting and supplying in parishes both in the dioceses of Central and Southwest Florida. He was full-time interim rector of St. Thomas Episcopal Church in 2016-17, on Snell Island in St. Petersburg, FL., while living with his daughter and her new little daughter, Alexis. His greatest "claim to fame" and love is his beloved wife Bernice, who has always enjoyed being active at St. Richards.

The Rev. Dr. Harry Coverston

Assisting Priest


I am a fifth generation Floridian, a fourth generation educator, third generation college educator. My great grandparents were named Reed and Wright so I guess it was fate that I would end up a teacher. I am a recovering lawyer who still holds an inactive license with the Florida Bar (I stopped practice in 1990) and an ordained Episcopal priest. My spirituality is that of an inner world (nature) mystic. I am Franciscan to my very core, a professed member of 26 years in the Third Order Society of St. Francis (TSSF). Andy , my gentle souled, soft-spoken partner of 44 years became my legal husband in 2010 on the steps of the US Supreme Court. He is G-d's greatest gift to my life. I live within two hours of my nuclear family members. Historically I have been a yellow dawg Democrat though my politics are decidedly Green. I hold a Ph.D. in Religion, Law and Society from FSU, an M.Div. from Church Divinity School of the Pacific, member seminary of the GTU in Berkeley, CA, and a J.D. and a B.A. in History and Secondary Ed from the University of Florida. I complete a two year program at Richard Rohr’s Living School for Contemplation and Action in Albuquerque, NM August 2017.Interests: I am owned by three cats and two dogs, a dachshund and an energetic beagle pup. I live in the heart of Orlando behind a green wall of trees and tropical vegetation which provides enough tranquility that I can pray, meditate and write. I care about religion and politics probably more than I should. I retired from 13 years as lecturer at the University of Central Florida in 2014 but I continue to teach ethics and humanities as an adjunct at Osceola Campus of Valencia College in Kissimmee. I love my students and consider it an honor to work with my colleagues.

The Rev. Dr. Dale Truscott

Assisting Priest


The Rev. Dr. A. Dale Truscott is a native of Dayton, Ohio. He graduated from Wittenberg University, Springfield, Ohio, and Hamma School of Theology. He studied Biblical Archeology and Historical Geography in Jerusalem, Israel, while serving as Pastor to the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer. He then served three parishes in Ohio, including Olivet Lutheran, Sylvania. He received the D.Min. degree from the Graduate Theological Foundation and studied for a Ph.D. there. Dale served as an interim pastor at many parishes in Southeast Michigan, ending his active career at Holy Faith Episcopal and Lutheran Church, in Saline, Michigan, a congregation that he brought together in merger. He is licensed as a priest in the Central Florida Diocese to serve at St. Richard’s and is canonically resident in the Florida Bahamas Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.  

     Dale lives in Orlando and teaches at Valencia College and the University of Central Florida. Dale serves as Assisting Priest at St. Richards and sings in the St. Richard’s Schola. He enjoys travel, cooking and has done a bit of home remodeling.