Meet the Staff

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Ellen Foust was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She attended Bucknell University in central Pennsylvania to obtain her BA in history and certification in secondary social studies education. While she was there, she was an active member of the university’s chapter of the Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, where she gained an appreciation for the Word of God and the fellowship of the Church. During breaks she was employed by a Girl Scout Council in Los Angeles to work at and help plan a 9-week resident camp—as unit leader, program assistant, and then activities director.


When she graduated from college, Ellen moved to Florida, where she began a 9 month internship at Church in the Son of Orlando. During that time, she was given hands-on experience in developing and supporting ministries in inner-city Orlando, UCF, and within the church.


Ellen has lived in inner-city Orlando and developed the children’s program for Mending Hearts Charities. The program serves children ages 2 to 14 with tutoring, mentoring, ministering and life-skills lessons. It brings in volunteers from St. Matthews and other churches, UCF, Jewish Family Services, and even organizations coming from out of state.


Ellen is married to her best friend and partner in ministry, Brad.

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Sharon Bailey
Parish Administrator

Sharon, originally from Ohio, has lived in the central Florida area since she was eight years old.  She graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s in secondary education in mathematics.  Prior to her joining the staff of St. Matthew’s in 2007, she was the parish administrator for Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Orlando for twelve years.


Sharon
has been married for twenty years to Steve, a licensed mental health counselor. They have one son, Matthew, who is a junior at Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama.

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Maureen Whiteley
Organist/Choir Director

Maureen and her husband, Alex, orginally from the U.K. have been married for 35 years.  Just four years ago they bought a property in Winter Garden, FL.  It was always their hopes and dreams to be able to live here permanently, and for Maureen to serve the Lord with the gift he has given to her, "her love of music."   They have found a home at St. Matthew’s.

She was baptized a Catholic at three weeks old, and attended a convent and Catholic High School. Maureen was only three years old when her parents discerned that she had a talent God had given to her, and piano lessons were commenced.  She was also fortunate enough to be schooled by a member of the Royal Academy of Music who took Maureen under her wing privately. 

Maureen's experience in church worship in U.K. has involved quite a number of different denominations, i.e. Roman Catholic, Anglican, and even the Mormon church.  She held the position of choir director/organist for a local church as well as being the deputy organist for the Torbay Church Organist Association which called her to any church that required an organist/choir director to cover, Sunday services, Evensong, weddings and funerals.

The Royal School of Church Music's motto:

"I WILL SING WITH THE SPIRIT, AND ALSO WITH UNDERSTANDING."


Feel free to come by and meet us!

St. Matthew's Episcopal Church
Orlando, FL 32817