Senior Pastor

Rev. Dr. Candi Ashenden

  Send Email       (978) 249-6202

Since her ordination in the United Church of Christ in 1995, Rev. Dr. Candi Ashenden has served four different Massachusetts’ churches as senior pastor, interim pastor, and Fellowship and Outreach Pastor.  Her first official call was to Central Congregational Church of Orange and she has been living in Orange since that time.

Rev. Candi’s official ministry journey began when she intentionally said, “Yes,” to God at the age of nineteen in a life-changing way, and though following God has led her along some difficult paths here and there, she has always felt God’s presence. Rev. Candi first knew that God was calling her to professional ministry when she was a freshman at Tufts. She was headed to France to study for six months…the trip of a lifetime...but shortly before she was to leave, the Sunday School Superintendent from her church called and asked if she would take over as the Sunday School Supervisor. During the night, Rev. Candi knew the answer – she had been given an invitation by God to move into ministry.

From Tufts, Rev. Candi went to Andover Newton Theological Seminary for her Masters of Divinity and then received her Doctor of Ministry degree from Bangor Theological Seminary in 1999, only two months before her first child was born!  She and her spouse, Pam, now have two grown children who live out of the area.

For Rev. Candi, serving God is almost in her DNA as her great-grandparents served as missionaries and her great uncle and his family continued that legacy of missionary service in China, with her great uncle ultimately serving on what became the UCC Board of World Ministries. 

Her many ministry experiences have now led her to Athol Congregational Church where she began in 2017 as a part-time Family and Outreach Pastor while simultaneously serving her own church in Conway, MA, and then was called as senior pastor in March of 2020…two weeks before the pandemic shuttered the doors of the church!

Thirty years after being ordained, Rev. Candi still loves the challenge of creating unique and meaningful worship services and messages and thoroughly enjoys being a part of the lives of her church family.  She truly feels it is her calling to learn about and assist anyone on their faith journey…whether it is to take the first step, or to redefine one’s understandings or childhood beliefs, or to embark on new spiritual paths. 

Minister of Music

Terry Parker II

  Send Email      (978) 249-6202

Terry Parker II started formal piano training more than 30 years ago…and hasn’t stopped making music since!  His music instruction began with his peers under the guidance of high school music director, Edward Mierzewski, and continued as he studied with renowned musicians such as Charles Ellison, Helen Gilmore, Billy Taylor, Andy Jaffe, Deborah Gillwood, Steven Mougin, Robert Ellison, etc. He attended UMASS Amherst, studying classical piano performance and while there participated in the award-winning UMASS Marching Band.

While working for many years as a substitute teacher and 1:1 paraprofessional, he simultaneously served positions as church keyboardist, singer, and organist for multiple denominations.

In Terry’s “free” time, he has acted in, accompanied, and musically directed dozens of musicals all around New England including Les Miserables, Annie, Avenue Q, Nunsense, West Side Story, Working, Spamalot, High School Musical, and more.  He also continues to play, sing, and record with local bands including the Terryrifics, Ryan w Hood, Good to Drive, etc.

Currently, he teaches voice, trumpet, keyboards, drums, guitar, ukelele, bass, and more out of his private music lesson studio, Tkeyszzzz KEYP Studios.

And here at Athol Congregational, Terry directs our 20+ member choir, accompanies them, and provides all service music on piano, organ, guitar, and more, while often offering his own vocals to enhance worship!

Christian Education Coordinator

Caprice Bachelder

  Send Email      (978) 249-6202

Caprice Bachelder was born here and is a life-long resident of Athol.  In February of 1986, she joined the Army Reserves and had a deferred enlistment until she graduated from Athol High School later that year.  After graduation, Caprice went to Fort Dix, NJ for basic training and Fort Sam Houston, TX for advanced training, completing Army training as a Medic in November of 1986.  Upon return to Athol, Caprice went to college for Medical Lab Technologist while simultaneously performing on the job training as an Administrative Secretary and working full time.  In March of 1988, she was approached to apply for a secretarial position at Heywood Hospital in the Laboratory Office and worked in that department for 7 years. 

Caprice married Matthew Bachelder in September 1992, and they had two daughters:  Nicole, born in 1993, and Alyson, born in 1996. In 1994, Caprice transferred to work in Patient Registration and was subsequently recruited and transferred in 2005 to the Oncology/Specialty Clinic.  After a 2017 transfer to Athol Hospital Oncology/Specialty Clinic, she has held this position through the present.

Caprice came to Athol Congregational Church with a friend and her family from elementary school through middle school.  Then as an adult, she came to Church with her children and began teaching in Sunday School classes as well as participating in the Christian Ed Ministry Team.  In April of 2006, she joined the church and took over the Christian Education Coordinator position in July 2012.  In this position, she enjoys working with the children and youth, whether it’s making crafts, playing games, cooking, or re-learning beloved Bible stories. 

Administrative Assistant

Maryann Sullivan

  Send Email       (978) 249-6202

Maryann Sullivan started her work life at the age of six as she became an integral part of her family’s newspaper route in Peterborough, NH and that began her journey delivering newspapers until she was 30.  It was also the start of her driving career in other ways as she went to work for Stow Mills (which became United Natural Foods) and she worked there for 20 years as a service rep which included driving around to independent natural food stores throughout the entire Eastern half of the US. 

At the age of 55, shortly after buying her own home in Athol, Maryann was laid off and found herself in a difficult time with no job, few friends, and little money.  Knowing she needed to find community and support to begin a new positive chapter of her life, she risked walking into the Athol Congregational Church one day. 

Although her godmother had a very strong faith, and Maryann had been to the Catholic church a few times with her, and though she always actually believed in God, attending church was not part of her larger family culture.  Since then, she has built on the skills she developed throughout her work life, including her time at North Quabbin Citizen Advocacy and as a substitute secretary for the church, and is now loving her work as the Administrative Assistant at Athol Congregational Church.

Walking into church fifteen years ago changed Maryann’s life in wonderful ways.  She discovered that church is a family…a place where everyone is accepted just as they are… and a place that will support individual growth.  She reclaimed her life and her confidence and much to her own surprise, has even sung solos in church on occasion!  Now, Maryann has a true church family, friends, a busy and meaningful life, and she loves to make a difference in her role as the Administrative Assistant and as part of the entire ministry team.   

Custodian

John Swan

  Send Email      (978) 249-6202   

John Swan started working at age 10.  With his dad serving as a selectman in New Salem, John was given opportunities to mow the town common, to do work in the town cemeteries, and to do yard work for older members of the community.  These experiences helped John not only to build the amazing work ethic he has today, but also to develop many varied skills that he has built on through the years.

John’s professional life began at the Erving Paper Mill as a napkin operator and morphed into the role of mechanic.  When those jobs were then relocated to Vermont, John made the switch to Rodney Hunt where he spent the remainder of his professional life (38 years) learning to run every machine the company operated and ultimately serving for 15 years as the machine shop supervisor.

In his job, John was responsible for making the butterfly valves that send the local Quabbin waters to Boston which is an interesting twist to his family legacy as one of the founding families of the Quabbin region.  John’s family came to America in 1630, as protesters against the church of England, and settled in the Quabbin region where they grew and lived for seven generations and 194 years before the flooding of the Quabbin forced their relocation.

After his retirement, John found himself looking for a little extra income, so he came to work as the custodian at Athol Congregational Church.  Here, he not only found some small additional income, but he also found some great people, lots of really hard workers, and a bunch of people always willing to show up and help out.  John loves being part of the staff and part of the church family.