Our Vestry

Sarah Guterman

Sarah L. Guterman is a retired music teacher who now directs our choir.  She also is a lay reader and leads Morning Prayer.  One of her favorite church jobs is to read the lessons. Sarah grew up in the Episcopal Church.  Her father was an Episcopal minister in Mamaroneck, New York.  She started singing in the choir at age seven and never stopped.  Church feels like a second home to her. Sarah enjoys knitting and traveling.  She loves fussing with potted plants and sitting out in her garden. Most of all she loves her kitties, her puppy and even the fish in her fish tanks. An afternoon with them seems like heaven on earth.

Class of 2027

Ralph Lawson lll

 Ralph Lawson, a retired public school science teacher, has been a member of CHS for about seven years, having previously been a member of another West Haven church for many years.   He has served as CHS Treasurer and as a member of the Vestry. He continues to serve as CHS's Rentals Coordinator. A lifelong "Westie," Ralph lives in the West Shore region of West Haven and enjoys singing in the choir, golf, early morning walks along the shoreline and a special friendship with his Lady Friend and co-choir member Marian from East Haven. 

Vestry Members Emeriti

Those who have retired from the Vestry include: 

Keith Bailey

Keith Bailey is a cradle-born Episcopalian, baptised and confirmed in the former Christ Church, and now Church of the Holy Spirit. He was a cub and a boy scout, and an acolyte. His parents were both active in the church. His mother served as our parish secretary and sang in our choir. His father was a vestry member and lay eucharist minister. Keith's roles have been vestry, Lay Eucharistic Minister, Junior Warden, Building & Maintenance, IT, Choir, and Garden of Remembrance. Keith has been employed at a material handling equipment dealer for 34 years as a senior service technician and service trainer. He is married to his wife Christine, has 2 married daughters, and an awesome grandson, Giovanni. 

Steven Mullins

Steven R. Mullins has been a communicant of Christ Church/Church of the Holy Spirit for thirty-four years.  He was first elected to the Vestry in 1996. He later served as Junior and Senior Warden, just before the merger with St. John by the Sea.  After completing his tenure, he served five years on the Diocesan Standing Committee under the leadership of Bishop Ordinaries Andrew Smith and Ian Douglas.  He also serves as the parish Verger and a Eucharistic Minister. Mullins is a volunteer fire firefighter in West Haven’s Allingtown District.  He also serves as Justice of the Peace and is a Zoning Appellate Commissioner. Mullins is married with a college-age daughter and a teenage son.