Clergy & Staff
The Reverend Doctor Cheryl McFadden
Rector
The Rev. Dr. Cheryl McFadden is Church of the Ascension's Rector. She took up her charge among us in September of 2024.
Cheryl holds a Doctor of Education in Leadership in Higher Education and has been a professor of education at various institutions for 20 years. She has published extensively on educational leadership and higher education and presented at numerous national and international conferences.
In 2017, Cheryl earned a Master of Divinity from Yale University, a Diploma in Anglican Studies from Berkeley Divinity School, and a Certificate in Educational Leadership and Ministry. Before coming to Church of the Ascension, Cheryl served as the Senior Associate Rector at Christ Church Greenwich and as the Associate Rector and Director of Family Ministry at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Raleigh, NC. Cheryl and her husband, Patrick, have three grown children: a son, Sean, and twin daughters, Devin and Cailin.
Cheryl loves the outdoor life and can’t wait to hike, ski, and bike in beautiful Colorado. Cheryl and Patrick will be in Denver in early September and we look forward to her first Sunday as celebrant and preacher here at both the 8 and 10 o'clock services on September 8th. Contact The Rev. Dr. Cheryl McFadden.
The Reverend Garry Horle
Priest Associate
Garry strongly believes in servant ministry and the priesthood of all believers as the working model for ordained clergy. This model for church is found in the gospels in the life and work of Jesus – open and welcoming to all, creating community, and seeking to spread and practice God’s message of love and reconciliation to the world.
Born in Bronxville, NY, Garry grew up in Hidalgo De Parral, a small city in the Mexico mountains, and the border town of El Paso, Texas. He received his BA from the University of Colorado in 1962 and his MBA from Daniels College of Business of the University of Denver in 1976, while also working at a retail firm for 17 years. Following a stint as a house husband, he worked at the Community College of Denver and the Community College State System, from which he retired as Director of Facility Planning. In 1989, he entered the Anglican studies program at St. Thomas Roman Catholic Seminary and received his MDiv (with distinction) from the Iliff School of Theology in 1997. He was ordained as a deacon and a priest that same year.
Garry served as Deacon-in-Charge at St. Andrews, Cripple Creek while still employed by the Community College State System. A certified trained interim priest, Garry subsequently served at All Saints, Denver, St. Timothy’s, Centennial, and various other churches throughout Colorado. Although he officially retired in 2012 at age 72, he continued to accept interim assignments until 2015, when he became a member of Ascension. Garry also briefly served Ascension as Priest-in-Charge following the departure of the rector in 2017. He returned as Priest Associate in 2019 at the invitation of our current rector, the Rev. Weezie Blanchard.
Garry and his wife, Carol, have two adult daughters and two grandchildren, all of whom live in Denver.
Tina Clark
Director of Children, Youth, and Family Ministry
Christina Clark goes by Tina. She was born in New York City and lived in Westport, CT, until her family moved back to her mom's hometown of Denver when she was a young child. Her parents were married at Ascension by Father Thayer, shortly before he became the Bishop of Colorado. After returning east for college and spending a few years in the DC area, she returned to Colorado and has lived in Evergreen and Denver ever since. Ministry to children, youth, and their families is not just her work; it is her vocation. She has been blessed to build and nurture this ministry at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church and most recently at Saint John's Cathedral. She is delighted to continue this ministry at Ascension. Alongside her ministry, she is a writer, an animal lover, and an avid traveler. Tina will earn her Masters in Spiritual Development in May of 2026. She lives in Denver with her partner, Ray, and their blended houseful of teenage boys and rescue dogs, where there is quite literally never a dull moment. Contact Tina Clark.
Dr. Cindy Lindeen-Martin
Director of Music and Organist
Dr. Cindy Lindeen-Martin has been the Director of Music and Organist at Church of the Ascension for a little over five years where she oversees and is establishing a full music program, plays the organ and directs three choirs - the Parish Choir, Ascension Ringers, and SONshine Singers. She is dedicated to building and maintaining a thriving church music program, something she has cultivated throughout her career.
Cindy earned her Doctor of Music Arts degree from Eastman School of Music at University of Rochester and her Master and Bachelor of Music in Organ and Piano Performance degrees from Colorado State University. She also studied at Conservatoire Nationale de Musique in Ville de Rueil-Malmaison, France, where she earned her Degré Preparatoire Superieur and Degré Excellence.
Cindy has been featured in performances throughout the United States and especially in Colorado. She teaches private organ lessons and most recently was appointed Adjunct Faculty in Organ at Lamont School of Music at the University of Denver.
Cindy feels truly blessed to be part of the thriving ministry at Ascension, and would welcome anyone to join a choir. Contact Cindy Lindeen-Martin.
Cathi Long
Parish Administrator
Cathi is no stranger to Colorado or the Episcopal Church in Colorado. She left Kentucky and moved to Summit County 35 years ago and attended St. John the Baptist in Breckenridge for 20 years. After selling her restaurant and property management company, Cathi and her husband Paul relocated to Denver in 2010. They attend St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Denver where Cathi currently sits on the Vestry and is active in multiple lay ministries. In her years in Denver, she has held Parish Administrator positions at St. Luke's Denver and St. Stephen's Aurora. Prior to joining us at Ascension, Cathi was serving as Assistant Administrator and Event Coordinator for the Historic Eisenhower Chapel in Lowry. Contact Cathi Long.
Lori May
Celebrate Musician
Lori May is our musician for “Celebrate,” Ascension’s Sunday evening worship service. She leads the service with her fine piano and vocal skills. A retired music educator with 25 years of service in the Cherry Creek School District, she continues to share her passion for music as a collaborative pianist for the choir program at Rangeview High School in Aurora. Lori is a member of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Parker.
Andy Stager
Communications Associate
Andy was named after the Episcopal parish (St. Andrew's) where he was baptized and raised in Akron, Ohio. He is a reader and writer (fiction, poetry, memoir), a perpetual student (history, divinity, and psychology) with a PhD from Aberdeen University and a DMin from Western Theological Seminary. He's been a pastor for sixteen years, holds ordination in the Reformed Church in America, and is currently a counseling student. He's lived with his wife Ellie and their three boys in South Carolina, South Korea, Switzerland, and Colorado. Andy is a fly fisher, fly tyer, and guide. He suffers the perennial heartbreak that comes with being a Cleveland Guardians and Cavaliers fanatic. His family resides in West Wash Park. Contact Andy Stager.