Rector
The Rev. Canon Dr. Travis O’Brian holds a Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Leuven, Belgium, where he wrote his dissertation on the work of Søren Kierkegaard. A father of four and avid fly-fisher, he was ordained in 2004 and has been Rector of St Barnabas since 2007. He has also recently held the position of Director of Anglican Studies at the Vancouver School of Theology. He doesn’t blog, but is known to write poetry, and some of his sermons can be found at https://stbarnabasvictoria.wordpress.com/
Pastoral Care Assistant
The Rev. Francis Lynford Smith hails from a Welsh dairy farm and is descended from a distinguished line of Welsh horse thieves. Fr Smith served in the Royal Air Force in Malaysia then became a teacher and worked both in downtown jungles and academic schools. After ordination he served in a South London parish, then became a missionary in Mauritius. On the return to the U.K. he was appointed as Chaplain to Dulwich College in London and in 1991 became Chaplain of St. Michael’s University School. About 12 years ago he joined St. Barnabas as Honorary assistant, and has recently been appointed to the position of Pastoral Care Assistant.He has two sons.
Honorary Clergy
The Rt. Rev. John Hannen, Canon Peter Shurvin (pictured), Rev. F. Lynford Smith, Rev. Edwin Taylor, Rev. Walter Donald, Rev. Dr. Martin Brokenleg OSBcn, & Rev. Dr. Kim Murray
Community Life Minister
Jasmin O’Brian grew up in Germany. She studied at the Albert-Ludwig University, Freiburg. There she completed her Master’s Degree in Philosophy and German Literature. She is married to Father Travis, who she while studying in London, England, and they have four children together. Jasmin has been Community Life minister at St. Barnabas since 2015. She especially loves the opportunity to create special spaces that bring people of all ages and backgrounds together.
Music Director
Michael Jarvis was most recently the Director of Music at St. Jude’s Parish and Shrine in Vancouver. Previous to that he was (for 17 years) the Director of Music at St. Joseph’s Church, Hamilton, whose choir recorded two CDs and toured Italy. From 2001 to 2006 Michael was the Conductor and Artistic Director of the Mohawk College Singers. His performing editions of 17th and 18th century choral and organ music have been published by GIA, Chicago. He has taught harpsichord and continuo, and has lectured many times at the University of Toronto. On the performance side, he has been acclaimed as one of Canada’s finest harpsichordists, fortepianists and continuo players. He has performed with many of Canada’s leading orchestras and chamber ensembles and is featured on two national Canadian television specials “A Baroque Christmas” and “A Baroque Easter”. He was also co-host and star of the 13-part television series “Come into the Parlour” for Bravo-tv.
Parish Administrator
Jessica Ziakin-Cook has attended St. Barnabas since 2010. A practising artist and mother of two small children her background is in art history & criticism, and religious studies. Her husband of 10 years, Matthew Cook, is a social worker and postulant in the dioecese. She has previously worked as a baker, a chef, and as St. Barnabas’ Campus Life Minister. She leads St. Barnabas’s Theology on Tap and can be seen lecturing from time to time at the L’Abri Canada house. She holds a bachelor’s of History in Art from the University of Victoria and diploma of Fine Arts from the Vancouver Island School of Art, where she now teaches art history.
Rector’s Warden
Benjamin Jones has been attending St. Barnabas since 2007, though on a regular basis only since 2013, when he returned to Victoria to live after many years’ absence. He has two young daughters. Benjamin is currently writing a dissertation on international economic law. Previously he worked as a bush pilot in the Canadian north, and as an administrator on a First Nations Reserve in northeastern BC. He also studied philosophy at the University of Leuven in Belgium, and spent many evenings discussing theology there with the current rector!
People’s Warden
Bethany Murphy grew up in Colorado and studied literature and biblical studies in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Montana before moving to Vancouver to do a Master’s degree in church history. It was there she met her husband, Nathan Janz, and together they have three children, Andrew, Hannah, and Jeremiah. She works as a freelance editor of theological books and is the Associate Editor of the academic quarterly journal Crux. Bethany and her family moved to Victoria in 2016 and have since been happy members of the St. Barnabas congregation.
Treasurer
Eric James grew up and studied political science in Ontario before joining the Royal Canadian Navy as a Naval Warfare Officer. In his nearly 13 years of service, he has spent over 830 days at sea and travelled to every port, cove and bay along the west coast of North and South America. In 2015, Eric completed NATO standardized training in coastal and mine warfare operations and today he specialises in domestic operations with emphasis on civil/military partnerships. His proudest moment in the RCN was serving as second-in-command of Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship YELLOWKNIFE. He is new to Saint Barnabas and the Anglican Communion, but immediately fell in love with the community and spirit of the church upon visiting. Outside of his Navy work, Eric enjoys golfing, watching his beloved Pacific FC on the pitch and counting beans for the church.
Parish Council
The Rector, Benjamin Jones, Bethany Murphy, Charles Douglas, Gregor Craigie, Heidi Teel, Jeremy Maddock, Brad Mathewson, Anja Rebstock, Eric James, Scott Henthron.
Sacristan and Leader of the Sanctuary Guild
Alana Hannen was born and raised in Vancouver and graduated from St. Pauls’ School of Nursing. She studied midwifery in England, and, upon returning to Canada, worked as the Nurse-in-Charge of a Nursing Station in an isolated First Nations community. While in the village, she met and married Fr. John, the parish priest, living there until he was elected Bishop of Caledonia. Her daughters, Meghann and Meredith were born in Prince Rupert. Bishop John was Interim Priest of St. Barnabas from 2001 to 2007. I started caring for the Holy Vessels when travelling around the Diocese with Bishop John and then became a member of the Cathedral Altar Guild. When we came to St. Barnabas, the Peoples Warden asked if I could care for the amices. That began my ministry with St. Barnabas’s Altar Guild. When she has also attended Camosuns’ School of Business Program, worked in gynecology, taken classes at the Vancouver School of Theology, taught Sunday School, participated in many choirs, and travelled extensively. She is now the grandmother of Malakai with a second grandchild is on the way.
Head Servers
Rita & Glen Isaac have been members of the St. Barnabas community since 1997, along with their son Matthew. They became members of the Servers’ Guild soon after joining the parish. Rita is a retired French Immersion Grade One Teacher and Glen recently retired from a career as a manager of records management and archives in the BC Government. Rita has Bachelor and Masters degrees in French with teaching emphasis. Glen’s degrees are in History and Archival Studies.
Lay Pastoral Care Coordinator
Alison Lockhart comes to the position of Pastoral Care Coordinator with experience in secretarial and administrative positions in the medical field, particularly in Home and Community Health. This forms the background of interest in the Lay Pastoral Care Ministry.
