Our Staff Team

The Reverend David I. Giffen

The Reverend David Giffen is the Pastor and Priest-in-Charge of the Church of the Transfiguration having been appointed in the Fall of 2010.

Born in Glasgow, Scotland into a Roman Catholic family, Father David came to Canada with his parents as a child, and grew up in the Greater Toronto Area. Called to the priesthood at an early age, David joined the Anglican Church of Canada in his early twenties, and answered God's call to ordained ministry shortly thereafter. He holds both a Bachelor's degree in Theology and a Master of Divinity from Huron University College at the University of Western Ontario.

Father David and his wife Heather have moved home to Toronto from London Ontario, where David served the Cathedral Church of Saint Paul for almost half a decade. David began his ordained ministry as the Assistant Curate at Saint Paul's under Dean Terry Dance, and upon Dean Dance's election as Suffragan Bishop of Huron in March of 2008, David was appointed Vicar and Priest-in- Charge of the Cathedral. Father David served the Cathedral in this capacity for the eighteen month interim period before the appointment of their new Cathedral Dean.

Father David has led the Church of the Transfiguration through a period of refreshment and renewal during his tenure. Our ministry together has resulted in significant increases in Sunday morning attendance and a demographic shift towards younger families who live in the community around us. David has a great passion for the Gospel and believes that the same gospel which has transformed lives for 2000 years continues to do so today!

E-mail: dgiffen@churchofthetransfiguration.ca

Facebook: facebook.com/dgiffen1981

Twitter: @fathergiff

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Sara DeMoor, Office Administrator

Sara was born and grew up in St. Catharines, Ontario, the youngest of four children in a family deeply committed to the church and to Christian education. She completed her Bachelor’s degree in Political Studies at a Christian liberal arts college in Iowa, and then returned home to Canada to pursue further studies. In 2009 Sara graduated with a Masters of Arts in Philosophy from the Institute for Christian Studies, a Christian graduate school in the Reformed tradition that is affiliated with the Toronto School of Theology.

While pursuing her graduate degree Sara became involved with the Christian Reformed Church’s campus ministry at the University of Toronto, and she is now in her fourth year as part-time chaplain there. Sara enjoys her part-time work as office administrator at Church of the Transfiguration, and is excited about the ways God is working in his church. Some of Sara’s other interests include ministry with young adults, creation care, and issues relating to religion in public life.

Sara and her husband Justin have been married for two years, and they live in Thornhill. In her leisure time, Sara loves to read novels, explore her neighbourhood parks, and drink tea with good friends. 

E-mail: office@churchofthetransfiguration.ca  

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Thomas Gonder, Organist &
Director of Music

J. Thomas D. Gonder, born in Cayuga, Ontario in 1971, exhibited musical gifts at an extremely early age. He spent most of his life in London, Ontario, his family having relocated there in 1981.  Immediately becoming involved in the musical life of St. Paul's Cathedral, he spent many years there as a chorister, Organ Scholar, Assistant Organist, and Organist and Master of the Choristers. Thomas quickly rose to the forefront of the Canadian Organ scene as one of its brightest young performers shortly after his public debut at the age of 15 under the tutelage of D. Mervyn Games.  His teachers and mentors also include David Palmer, Ian Sadler, William S.J. McArton, Catherine Crozier, Simon Preston, Naji Hakim and Gerald Bales. 

Thomas has developed a wide-ranging career as organist, accompanist, singer, choral conductor and composer.  Naji Hakim (Paris, France) has described him as "a deeply feeling and emotional player", Simon Preston (Great Britain), "an amazing talent", and the esteemed Canadian musician Gerald Bales, OC, (1919 - 2002) proclaimed him the foremost interpreter of his organ works. Thomas has earned himself a reputation as an exciting, virtuoso performer of distinction in command of a vast repertoire, most notably with the French Romantic and Post-Romantic repertoire, having performed the complete Organ Symphonies of Louis Vierne in 1997.  In 1995 he gave the Canadian Premiere of Naji Hakim's 'Vexilla Regis Prodeunt' at the Jack Singer Concert Hall, Calgary, Alberta and in 1997, the World Premiere of Gerald Bales' 'Impromptu-Toccata' at the closing concert of the Royal Canadian College of Organists National Convention. He also enjoys acting as an accompanist, most recently with the Canadian Men's Chorus based in Toronto.  

Thomas has plans to record, return to concertizing and composing after a hiatus, and continuing his life-long passion for musical expression and musical ministry. Currently based in Toronto, Thomas thoroughly enjoys being a part of the Transfiguration family!

E-mail: tgonder@churchofthetransfiguration.ca

Facebook: facebook.com/ThomasGonder