The Rev. Amy Cornell, Rector
The Reverend Cornell comes to Saint David’s from Grace-Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church
in Mercerville where she has faithfully served as Priest in Charge/Rector since 2012. She is a cradle Episcopalian and lifelong member of the Diocese of New Jersey. In addition to managing the day to day operations of the parish, Mother Cornell has been active in a variety of Diocesan initiatives, serving as a discipleship coach for over five years and currently serving on the Diocesan Council, Liturgy and Music Commission, and the Discerning our Common Call Committee. Prior to assuming her position at Grace-Saint Paul’s, she served as Deacon of Saint Francis Church in Dunellen in 2012.
Reverend Cornell attended the General Theological Seminary in New York, starting in
2009, receiving a Master of Divinity degree in 2012. During that time she also served as a
Seminarian at Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church in Plainfield New Jersey and later at Trinity
Episcopal Church in Asbury Park. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from
Douglass College in New Brunswick. Her experience in digital communications has allowed her
to effectively engage parishioners throughout the unique challenges posed by the pandemic.
She also has a lifelong love of music and looks forward to further amplifying that ministry at
Saint David’s. Prior to her ministerial pursuits, Reverend Cornell also held managerial positions
at Barnes and Noble Bookstores, and Holiday Inn.
in Mercerville where she has faithfully served as Priest in Charge/Rector since 2012. She is a cradle Episcopalian and lifelong member of the Diocese of New Jersey. In addition to managing the day to day operations of the parish, Mother Cornell has been active in a variety of Diocesan initiatives, serving as a discipleship coach for over five years and currently serving on the Diocesan Council, Liturgy and Music Commission, and the Discerning our Common Call Committee. Prior to assuming her position at Grace-Saint Paul’s, she served as Deacon of Saint Francis Church in Dunellen in 2012.
Reverend Cornell attended the General Theological Seminary in New York, starting in
2009, receiving a Master of Divinity degree in 2012. During that time she also served as a
Seminarian at Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church in Plainfield New Jersey and later at Trinity
Episcopal Church in Asbury Park. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from
Douglass College in New Brunswick. Her experience in digital communications has allowed her
to effectively engage parishioners throughout the unique challenges posed by the pandemic.
She also has a lifelong love of music and looks forward to further amplifying that ministry at
Saint David’s. Prior to her ministerial pursuits, Reverend Cornell also held managerial positions
at Barnes and Noble Bookstores, and Holiday Inn.
The Rev. Hank Bristol, Deacon
Hank is a recent graduate of the School for Deacons at our Cathedral in Trenton. The Right Reverend George E. Councell ordained the class of six on May 5, 2012. Up until September, he served as intern and then deacon at Saint John’s Church in Somerville, NJ.
Hank and his wife, Susan, live in Rocky Hill with their children Benjamin (18) and Rachel (21). Their son Clark (24) lives in Washington, DC with his new bride, Jessie. Susan is an architect in private practice, as well as adjunct professor of Architecture at New Jersey Institute of Technology. She is a native to Wayne, NJ. Hank currently teaches 7th and 8th grade history at the Princeton Day School. He has taught at local private schools for the past 15 years.
Hank was born in Princeton where he grew up attending Trinity Church with his family. His father, Lee, was very active in the music program at Trinity and Westminster Choir College. For high school, Hank attended Saint George’s School in Newport, RI. In college he majored in studio art and economics at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, ME. Hank studied architecture in graduate school at the University of Virginia, where he met his wife Susan. They were married at Christ Church in Wayne, NJ in 1983. Hank spends much of his free time painting, working in both watercolors and oils. Over twenty years ago, Hank was part of the start of Habitat for Humanity chapter in Trenton. He is a recent board member of Trinity Counseling Service (Princeton). And currently, he serves on the board of the Mary Jacobs Memorial Library (Rocky Hill).
His roll at Saint David’s Episcopal Church will be to assist Mother Karin and the Church in a number of areas. He is excited to meet all of the parishioners, learn about Saint David’s history, and help in its journey forward.
Hank and his wife, Susan, live in Rocky Hill with their children Benjamin (18) and Rachel (21). Their son Clark (24) lives in Washington, DC with his new bride, Jessie. Susan is an architect in private practice, as well as adjunct professor of Architecture at New Jersey Institute of Technology. She is a native to Wayne, NJ. Hank currently teaches 7th and 8th grade history at the Princeton Day School. He has taught at local private schools for the past 15 years.
Hank was born in Princeton where he grew up attending Trinity Church with his family. His father, Lee, was very active in the music program at Trinity and Westminster Choir College. For high school, Hank attended Saint George’s School in Newport, RI. In college he majored in studio art and economics at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, ME. Hank studied architecture in graduate school at the University of Virginia, where he met his wife Susan. They were married at Christ Church in Wayne, NJ in 1983. Hank spends much of his free time painting, working in both watercolors and oils. Over twenty years ago, Hank was part of the start of Habitat for Humanity chapter in Trenton. He is a recent board member of Trinity Counseling Service (Princeton). And currently, he serves on the board of the Mary Jacobs Memorial Library (Rocky Hill).
His roll at Saint David’s Episcopal Church will be to assist Mother Karin and the Church in a number of areas. He is excited to meet all of the parishioners, learn about Saint David’s history, and help in its journey forward.
The Rev. Jacob David, Associate
The Rev. Dr. Jacob David is St. David's, Cranbury Priest Associate. He and his wife, Shanta, moved to Dayton, NJ after retiring from the Diocese of Newark in 2011. They became members of St. David's Episcopal Church in 2012.
Fr. Jacob holds a bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of Kerala, India. In 1984, he received a Masters Degree in Divinity from the Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Virginia. He later went on to do his graduate studies at Drew University in Madison, NJ and graduated with a PhD in Liturgics and Homiletics. He was ordained a Deacon in 1984 and to the Priesthood in 1985 for the Diocese of Newark. He served at the Church of the Resurrection in East Rutherford, NJ as a Vicar from 1985-2000 and later on became rector of St. Paul’s and Resurrection Church in Wood-Ridge, NJ. In 1998 he received “the Priest of the year award” (Canterbury Scholar Award) from the diocese of Newark and was sent to Canterbury, England for studies in Anglicanism.
Fr. Jacob has been teaching in Unification Theological Seminary, NYC as an Adjunct until 2006. He was later appointed the Director of Field Studies and the Assistant Professor of Ministerial Studies and Homiletics.
Shanta, Fr. Jacob’s wife, is a Professor of English at Union County College in Elizabeth, NJ.
Their two daughters Anjana and Namita are married with children. Anjana is a social worker in Baltimore and Namita is an Administrator for Princeton Review living in NJ.
Father Jacob has recently published a collection of his musical compositions titled “Stairway to Grace”.
Fr. Jacob holds a bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of Kerala, India. In 1984, he received a Masters Degree in Divinity from the Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Virginia. He later went on to do his graduate studies at Drew University in Madison, NJ and graduated with a PhD in Liturgics and Homiletics. He was ordained a Deacon in 1984 and to the Priesthood in 1985 for the Diocese of Newark. He served at the Church of the Resurrection in East Rutherford, NJ as a Vicar from 1985-2000 and later on became rector of St. Paul’s and Resurrection Church in Wood-Ridge, NJ. In 1998 he received “the Priest of the year award” (Canterbury Scholar Award) from the diocese of Newark and was sent to Canterbury, England for studies in Anglicanism.
Fr. Jacob has been teaching in Unification Theological Seminary, NYC as an Adjunct until 2006. He was later appointed the Director of Field Studies and the Assistant Professor of Ministerial Studies and Homiletics.
Shanta, Fr. Jacob’s wife, is a Professor of English at Union County College in Elizabeth, NJ.
Their two daughters Anjana and Namita are married with children. Anjana is a social worker in Baltimore and Namita is an Administrator for Princeton Review living in NJ.
Father Jacob has recently published a collection of his musical compositions titled “Stairway to Grace”.
Brother John Baptist, OSF
Brother John Baptist serves St. David’s in areas of pastoral care and spiritual leadership, and is on call at times of pastoral emergencies. He began his service to St. David’s in 1997.
Serving God in the area of chaplaincy is a very important part of Brother John’s ministry; he serves on the Princeton Hospital Committee on Religious Ministry and as Chaplain to 480 souls at Enable (an agency devoted to serving our developmentally disabled sisters and brothers). Brother also serves as Hospice Chaplain with the Visiting Nurses Association of Mercer County.
Brother John belongs to a worldwide Franciscan community within the Anglican Communion. His traditional garb of a brown and black habit symbolizes the Franciscan vows of simplicity, fidelity, purity and obedience.
When asked, Brother John explained his decision to pursue life as a religious in an Anglican branch of God’s One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. A testing process that began in 1999 culminated on September 30, 2006 when he made his perpetual vows before God and his Franciscan Community. At the offertory part of the Mass, his Rule for Life was placed on the altar, offered up to God, the Rule a binding covenant from which only the bishop can dispense him. Brother John reflects on the “Rule for Life,” quoted here in part:
“A rule of life is simply a structure in which spiritual formation is facilitated. The Latin term is regula, which does not have some of the negative connotations of the English word rule…Religious orders and groups commonly have a rule that must be adhered to for membership. A personal rule is entirely your own. Many people already have a personal rule and don’t even know it. Coming to church on Sundays and holy days is a rule. Daily prayer is a rule. Saying grace at meals is a rule. A rule is simply a way of bringing God into your life in a regular way.”
Brother John served as Diocesan Spiritual Director for the Cursillo community within the Diocese of New Jersey. Cursillo is a movement within the Episcopal and Roman Catholic churches that helps individuals renew the faith they received in Holy Baptism and Confirmation. Please speak to Brother John if you have any questions regarding Cursillo.
Serving God in the area of chaplaincy is a very important part of Brother John’s ministry; he serves on the Princeton Hospital Committee on Religious Ministry and as Chaplain to 480 souls at Enable (an agency devoted to serving our developmentally disabled sisters and brothers). Brother also serves as Hospice Chaplain with the Visiting Nurses Association of Mercer County.
Brother John belongs to a worldwide Franciscan community within the Anglican Communion. His traditional garb of a brown and black habit symbolizes the Franciscan vows of simplicity, fidelity, purity and obedience.
When asked, Brother John explained his decision to pursue life as a religious in an Anglican branch of God’s One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. A testing process that began in 1999 culminated on September 30, 2006 when he made his perpetual vows before God and his Franciscan Community. At the offertory part of the Mass, his Rule for Life was placed on the altar, offered up to God, the Rule a binding covenant from which only the bishop can dispense him. Brother John reflects on the “Rule for Life,” quoted here in part:
“A rule of life is simply a structure in which spiritual formation is facilitated. The Latin term is regula, which does not have some of the negative connotations of the English word rule…Religious orders and groups commonly have a rule that must be adhered to for membership. A personal rule is entirely your own. Many people already have a personal rule and don’t even know it. Coming to church on Sundays and holy days is a rule. Daily prayer is a rule. Saying grace at meals is a rule. A rule is simply a way of bringing God into your life in a regular way.”
Brother John served as Diocesan Spiritual Director for the Cursillo community within the Diocese of New Jersey. Cursillo is a movement within the Episcopal and Roman Catholic churches that helps individuals renew the faith they received in Holy Baptism and Confirmation. Please speak to Brother John if you have any questions regarding Cursillo.