The Reverend Sean Ferrell, Rector
Fr. Sean was called as the 2nd Rector and Chaplain of the Chapel of Saint John the Divine in May of 2013. Sean received his Master of Divinity degree from the School of Theology at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee in May of 1999.
Sean enjoys fly fishing, technology, theology, and college football. Prior to serving at the Chapel of Saint John the Divine, Sean served at Saint Luke’s in Jackson, Tennessee (a program-sized parish in the Diocese of West Tennessee), and as Chaplain at both Michigan State University and The University of Georgia.
At a Diocesan level, Sean has served the Diocese of West Tennessee as the chair of the Commission on Ministry, co-chair of the Mission Budget Development Committee in the Diocese of Michigan, team member for the Discerning Young Vocations experience in the Diocese of Atlanta, member of the Ecclesiastical Trial Court in the Diocese of Michigan, and member of the Diocesan Council in the Diocese of Michigan.
The Reverend Timothy Hallett, Rector Emeritus
The Reverend Timothy Jerome Hallett served as Rector of the Chapel of Saint John the Divine from 1976-2011, and had a long and storied tenure at the Chapel. “Fr. Tim” sponsored many clergy across the Episcopal Church for holy orders, led the parish to complete the limestone gothic worship space (2008) and led the congregation to become a parish of the Episcopal Church as well a college chaplaincy (1994). In May of 2014, Tim was named Rector Emeritus and he is with us for many special events as his schedule permits. Fr. Hallett resides with his wife Mary in Bloomington, IL, near their children and grandchildren.
The Reverend Geoffrey E.L. Scanlon, Priest Associate
Fr. Scanlon has been associated clergy for the Chapel since 2015. A priest of the Diocese of Springfield since the 1980s, Fr. Scanlon retired having served as rector of the Church of the Holy Trinity in Danville, Illinois in 2015. Fr. Scanlon says of the Chapel, “Wonderful people and excellent leadership. Great Liturgy with wonderful music.”
Linda Buzard, Organist and Choirmaster
Linda Buzard became Organist at the Chapel in 1988 and Organist Choirmaster in 1990, succeeding her organ professor, Jerald Hamilton, who served the parish for over 25 years. Linda is a graduate of the University of Illinois with a Bachelor’s of Music degree in organ performance. She received her Master’s degree in Organ and Church Music at Northwestern University where she studied with Richard Enright. In her position, Linda oversees all of the Chapel’s choral music programs.
In 2005 Linda started the choristers training program at the Chapel and affiliated the Chapel with the Royal School of Church Music in America. Over the years Linda has attended 20 summer courses of the RSCMA with her choristers and has served on the staff as Housemaster, Organist and Proctor. Currently she is the national Exam Administrator of the RSCMA and is validated as an examiner at the Bronze, Silver and Gold levels. Locally she is active with the Tuesday Morning Musical Club, Mu Phi Epsilon and the chorus of the Baroque Artists of Champaign.
Her husband, John Paul, is an organbuilder whose firm builds pipe organs all across America. Linda has two children, Stephen, who is now the assistant organist at St. Thomas Church in New York City and Katie, who is a senior at Princeton studying vocal performance.
Dr. Kipp Cortez, Assistant Organist and Choirmaster
Kipp Cortez has led a varied and interesting career as a church organist and choir director, university professor, carillonneur, and organ builder. He has served as Assistant Organist since September of 2021. He takes great joy in accompanying the Canterbury Choir and providing spirited organ music and hymns for our services. He also works in the Service Department at Buzard Pipe Organ Builders here in Champaign. In this role, he oversees the maintenance and tuning of our organ. Occasionally, you might see him scurry up the ladder to tune that one last note!
Kipp is originally from the Chicago suburb of LaGrange Park. He took degrees in organ and sacred music at Valparaiso University (Bachelor of Music) and the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts). His organ teachers were Dennis Northway, Lorraine Brugh, James Kibbie, and Marilyn Mason. He also studied harpsichord with Edward Parmentier and carillon with Steven Ball and Dennis Curry.
Outside of music and organ building, his main hobby is food, including cooking, baking, grilling, and meat smoking. He takes great joy in sharing his creations with his family, friends, and co-workers. He also collects vintage and novelty cufflinks and enjoys trying to get better at billiards games.
Melinda Wells, Parish Administrator
Melinda Wells joined the parish staff in July of 2024. She has lived in Champaign-Urbana since age four, is a graduate of Champaign Centennial High School and the University of Illinois. She previously worked in construction management, structural engineering, teaching at the community college level, and administrative/organizational management.
Melinda has been a member of Emmanuel Memorial Episcopal Church in Champaign for over twenty years, and has served on the Altar Guild and on the Vestry, as the Parish Warden. She and her oldest daughter are also avid bakers.
