Clergy & Staff

The Very Reverend Dane E. Boston became the sixth Dean of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral on January 1, 2021. Ordained in 2012, Dane previously served as Curate of Christ Church in  Greenwich, Conn., Canon for Christian Formation here at Trinity, and Rector of Christ Church in Cooperstown, NY. A graduate of Washington and Lee University, Yale Divinity School, and Berkeley Divinity School, Dane is passionately committed to the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the rich tradition of Anglican faith and worship.

Dane is married to Debby, an attorney by training, and they are blessed with two daughters and two sons. In their (scant) free time, Debby and Dane enjoy reading, hiking, and cooking. 

The Rev. James (Jimmy) Hartley came to Trinity in 2021 as Canon Pastor. In this role, he leads parishioners in their common call of discipleship by developing relationships and providing care to one another and the wider community. 

Canon Hartley grew up as an Episcopalian in the Diocese of Upper South Carolina and was involved as a camper and staff member at Camp Gravatt, diocesan youth ministries, and campus/young adult ministries as a young person.  He spent his childhood in Fort Mill where he attended Christ Episcopal Church in Lancaster with his parents and brother.  Before ordination, Canon Hartley served at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church (North Augusta) and later at Grace Episcopal Church (Charleston) as a youth minister.   

Before his call to Trinity, Canon Hartley served as Canon for Christian Formation, Congregational Vitality, and Missional Communities for the Diocese of Upper South Carolina.  Canon Hartley also serves on the Board of Trustees for Heathwood Hall, as well as the Bishop Gravatt Center.
 

Canon Mia C. McDowell came to Trinity in 2022 as Canon Catechist. In this role, she oversees Christian formation and shares fully in the sacramental and missional life of the congregation. Prior to coming to Trinity, Canon McDowell served as Vicar at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church (Newberry), as assistant to the rector at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church (Spartanburg), and as Curate of the Church of the Epiphany (Spartanburg).

Mia earned a Masters of Divinity from The School of Theology at The University of the South, Sewanee, in 2015. She was ordained to the priesthood in January 2016. She currently serves as Chair of the Deputation to the 81st General Convention, and on the diocese Board of Examining Chaplains. She has previously served on the Bishop’s Nominating Committee, and as diocesan chaplain for The Order of the Daughters of the King. She has served as a clergy deputy to the 80th General Convention in 2022 in Baltimore, Md.

Prior to entering discernment for Holy Orders, Mia was employed as a pharmacy technician, and as an organist/choirmaster for various churches in the Upstate. She earned a bachelor’s degree in music-organ from Anderson College (now Anderson University). Mia is a native of Greenville, SC, daughter to Linda and Johnny Lee, sister to Corky, aunt to Dravon, Carl, and Steven, and great-aunt to Calyx. She was married to the late Rev. James W. McDowell for eight years.

Mia and her dog, Sonny, a terrier mix, live on Columbia’s west-side. Mia enjoys cooking, antiquing, dancing, traveling, and great food with great friends.

Leila Barwick joined the Trinity staff in 2023 as director of children and family ministries. She is responsible for planning all children and family programs and events, including Sunday School, Liturgy Preparation, game/movie nights, VBS, and more.

Leila graduated from Flagler College in 2021 with a BA in Psychology and Criminology. She was born and raised in Columbia, SC, and has been a member of Trinity since 2005. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, swimming, reading, and painting. You can also find her binge-watching survival shows, specifically the History Channel's show Alone.

Sakina Bhagat joined the Trinity Learning Center in 2003 as a teacher. She became the assistant director In 2011 and was named director in 2023. In this role, she provides a safe, nurturing and developmentally appropriate environment for children ages 6 weeks to 12 years to grow and develop with the help of my teachers.

Sakina is currently pursuing a master's degree in early childhood education at the University of South Carolina. 

Sakina and her husband live in Columbia and have two daughters and one son. Two of them are graduates of Trinity Learning Center and have now left the nest to pursue their careers - one as a nurse in Indiana, and the other as a health administrator in Dallas. Their son attends MUSC dental school.

Outside of Trinity, Sakina loves to travel, try different cuisines and go for long walks.

Carole Carter joined the Trinity staff in 2004 as an administrative assistant to the canons and pastoral care ministries. In 2008, her role changed to administrative assistant for pastoral care,  and communications & membership secretary. She has served as executive assistant to the dean since 2013. In this role, she manages the dean's calendar and correspondence, schedules weddings and baptisms, handles arrangements for funerals, serves as the liaison for the Vestry meetings, and manages the Church Registers and Parochial Report.

Carole has a graduate degree from West Virginia State College.

After moving to South Carolina from West Virginia, Carole worked at the SC Department of Employment for a year, then joined the staff at Unisource for 10 years as a sales secretary/receptionist. She was then hired by the director of development at The SC Home at Still Hopes as administrative assistant, where she worked for 10 years before coming to Trinity.

Carole has been an active member of Trinity for 34 years. She lives in the Rosewood area of Columbia and has three adult children, 12 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren, who lovingly refer to her as Cat Lady.  Her hobbies are gardening, reading and going to birthday parties, weddings, and other family get-togethers. 

William Douglas joined the Trinity staff in 2020 and currently serves as the acting director of music and organist. In this role, he directs the Cathedral Chorister program, which features advanced choirs for boys, girls, and young men. William also works closely with the dean to plan and execute all Cathedral liturgies.

William is a graduate of the University of South Carolina where he earned a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in organ performance as a pupil of Dr. Jared Johnson. He also studied continuo and harpsichord with Dr. Jerry Curry. William was a recipient of the Summerall Award from USC.

Prior to joining the Trinity staff, William served as the Lloyd Cast Organ Fellow at Cathedral of All Saints in Albany, NY. There he fulfilled the role of sub-organist of the Cathedral and assisted in the education and running of the historic Cathedral Choir of Men and Boys.

Outside of Trinity, William enjoys diverse interests such as reading, camping, cooking, auto mechanic work, hiking, and watching movies.

Allison C. Fowler joined the Trinity staff in 2000 as the receptionist for Trinity Cathedral. Her title and responsibilities have changed vastly over the years. Since 2014, Allison has served as membership secretary.  In this role, she oversees the membership transfers in and out of the cathedral and assists all of the clergy and canon staff with day-to-day projects.  Allison oversees a wonderful group of volunteers who serve at the Trinity Welcome Center, answering phones and greeting visitors.

Allison is an accomplished and published professional artist who taught painting classes for more than 10 years at a well-known art bar, Grapes and Gallery, before the COVID pandemic. You will always find a blade in her pocket as she is an avid collector of knives and swords with well over 100 pieces in her collection to date.

Allison is calm and quiet, but don't be fooled. It's the quiet ones you need to look out for!

Julie Fulmer joined the Trinity staff in 2011 as an accounting associate. In that role, she supports financial and accounting functions of the parish, but also works on human resources matters, new hires, payroll and insurance, payables, receivables and contributions.

Julie graduated from Winthrop College when it was still a women's college and received a graduate degree from the University of South Carolina.  
Prior to coming to Trinity, Julie worked for Ducane for 19 years, managed the Rockbridge Club for more than 10 years, and handled books for a trucking and truck wash business for a few years.

Julie says she will retire one day, but for now, she enjoys working and being with fellow staff members and parishioners. She lives in Columbia with her husband and spoiled Yorkie. She enjoys spending time with her mother and grand-nieces, and her happy moments are sitting in the dirt working in my yard.  
 

Katie Gatch joined the Trinity staff in 2017, and currently serves as an artist-in-residence and assistant choir director. In this role, she assists in conducting the Cathedral choirs in rehearsals and services; serves as the head staff singer, helping to welcome and mentor new choir members; and routinely sings solos for Bach Vespers, Friends of Music concerts and worship services. 

A native of Lexington, SC, Katie holds a bachelor’s degree in music with an emphasis in choral music education, a performance certificate in voice, and a master’s degree in opera theatre from the University of South Carolina. Katie’s opera and musical theater roles have included the Queen of the Night, Die Zauberflöte; Governess, Turn of the Screw; Despina, Cosí fan tutte; Belle, Beauty and the Beast; Marian, The Music Man; and Brenda, Catch Me if You Can. 
Katie is the director of the Junior High Choir of Cardinal Newman School and is a singer and voice teacher in Columbia. She teaches private voice lessons at Cardinal Newman and Town Theatre, where she is also music director for the Youth Theater program. She is a member of the Cathedral Singers at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral and has also been working with children’s choirs since 2011, including the Capella Pueri at St. Peter’s Catholic Church and the Cathedral Choristers at Trinity. 
 

Taylor Gibby joined the Trinity staff in 2022 as the director of youth ministries. In this role, she coordinates youth Bible studies, develops Sunday school lessons, hosts EYC, and plans youth retreats and other events. Before accepting the call to come to Trinity, Taylor served at Grace Episcopal Church in Anderson as the director of children and youth ministries. 

Taylor graduated from Winthrop University in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a minor in community based learning. When she’s not hanging out with the teens of Trinity, she enjoys taking her dog Birdie on walks, going to Greenville to see family, and spending time with friends.
 

Katie Rankin joined the Trinity staff in 2022 as Director of Parish Life. In this role, she creates fellowship opportunities (including special Parish Life events), helps parishioners find ways to be fully engaged in the work of the church, and implements new hospitality procedures to welcome guests on Sunday and throughout the week. 

Before starting her work at Trinity, Katie was a stay-at-home mom for 10 years with her four kids and one very crazy chocolate lab! She is a graduate of the University of South Carolina. Katie and her husband Sean joined Trinity in 2011. In her free time... wait, what’s free time?

Curt Richardson joined the Trinity staff in 2014 as a sexton. In that role, Curt assists with routine care of our facilities, including addressing maintenance and security concerns. The team of sextons is instrumental in set-up and clean-up for our classes and events, and in providing a welcoming environment to our parishioners and visitors.

Prior to coming to Trinity, Curt worked in retail management for 10 years. He enjoys cooking, reading and writing, and loves luxury automobiles. A native of Charleston, Curt also loves to spend time in the Lowcountry with family and friends.

Laura Rosier joined the Trinity staff in 2019 as the associate musician and music administrator. In this role, she serves as support organist, manages day-to-day administrative tasks for the music office, and assists with the chorister program and Trinity Youth Choir.

Prior to joining the Trinity staff, Laura served as director of music at St. Michael and All Angels (Columbia) for many years, and also served as interim director of music at Mt. Hermon Lutheran (West Columbia) and Incarnation Lutheran (Columbia).

She earned degrees in organ performance and German from the University of South Carolina. 

Laura and her husband Lonnie have a son, Walker, who is a USC student and musician at Northeast Methodist Church. Their cats, Milo and Zim, are Facebook famous.

Laura enjoys reading, listening to true crime and spooky-story podcasts, working with plants, traveling with Lonnie, cooking, and hanging out with friends and family. One day, she hopes to complete the Midlands Master Gardener course and see Mount Everest with her own eyes.

Tony Smoak is currently serving in his third stint as a sexton for the Cathedral. He first came to Trinity in 1986, and left briefly in 1999. He joined the staff again from 2000-2009. He returned in 2011 and is thankful to have spent more than 35 years combined at Trinity.  

As a sexton, Tony assists with routine care of our facilities, including addressing maintenance and security concerns. The team of sextons is instrumental in set-up and clean-up for our classes and events, and in providing a welcoming environment to our parishioners and visitors.
 

Edgar White joined the Trinity staff in 2003 as a sexton. In that role, Edgar assists with routine care of our facilities, including addressing maintenance and security concerns. The team of sextons is instrumental in set-up and clean-up for our classes and events, and in providing a welcoming environment to our parishioners and visitors.

Bridget Winston joined the Trinity staff in 2023 as director of communications. In this role, she oversees print and digital marketing of the Cathedral's activities, including the website, social media, the weekly Tidings newsletter, and media outreach.

Prior to Trinity, Bridget worked as director of communications at the SC Office of Rural Health, and as director of development for Senior Resources. She began her career as a newspaper journalist. She is a native of New Jersey and suburban Chicago, and a graduate of the University of Notre Dame.

Bridget and her husband Chris live in Lexington and have two teenage sons, Charlie and Jackson. She is a runner, reader, and avid spectator at her sons' swim meets and musical performances.