Staff

Pastor Ian Holland

Ian began his service to The First Church as senior minister on November 27, 2011.  He serves the church with a deep abiding love for God, God’s people, and the church.  He comes with an incurable curiosity about the Bible and what it might say to people living in the 21st century.  He also comes with a fading Irish accent, and a background in technology and computer science.

Prior to coming to Swampscott, he served in churches in Somerville, Belmont and Acton in various capacities.  Before he was called to ordained ministry Ian was a corporate executive and academic specializing in software design and development.  He was born in Ireland but has lived in Massachusetts for many years with his wife and two adult children. There is more about Ian’s background at his web site and a recent news article.

In 2021 – 2022, we are celebrating Pastor Ian’s ten year anniversary as Senior Pastor!

Patricia Clark, Director of Music Ministries

An organist, pianist, choral conductor, and music educator, Patricia Clark currently serves as Director of Music Ministries at the First Church in Swampscott.  In addition, she teaches K-5 Music and Chorus at the Glen Urquhart School in Beverly Farms.

Clark’s earliest music memories are as a 4-year-old, singing hymns in church and holding up the hymnal pretending she could make sense of the musical notation.  Eventually that worked for her, and she no longer needs to pretend! Her formal music education, however, began with her family singing around the campfire at “Y Camp” (Dad was the Director), and studying piano as a young child.  (Mom was a piano teacher).  It continued with music degrees from the University of Montana and Arizona State University, ongoing studies in organ, and certification from the Choristers Guild Institute. Most recently, she completed a Master of Music Education degree from Gordon College in 2016.  Email:  [email protected]