Meet Milton Gilder

The Rev. Milton Gilder, Deacon

The Reverend Deacon Milton Gilder joins Saint Paul's as Curate in October 2026. Born in Long Beach, California, he grew up attending a Charismatic nondenominational church in South Central Los Angeles and his great-grandparents' Baptist and Methodist churches. He began attending The Episcopal Church in his early twenties and was confirmed while studying at Berkeley Divinity School at Yale University. After completing his undergraduate studies in Public Policy and International Studies with a concentration in the Middle East and post-baccalaureate studies in secondary education at Duke University (Durham, NC), he spent nearly a decade working in youth ministry, scaling Christian youth leadership programs. He began working to launch a career and college readiness program at a Christian parachurch organization in Walltown - a historic Black and Brown neighborhood in Durham, North Carolina.  At Duke Divinity School, he directed the Duke Youth Academy, a year-long ecumenical youth leadership and service learning program that expanded young people’s imagination and service in the church and beyond. Immediately before entering seminary at Berkeley Divinity School, he worked at Teachers Pay Teachers, an education technology company, working with internal stakeholders on sales and product marketing strategy. 


An educator by training, administrator by profession, and an entrepreneur and innovator by passion, Deacon Milton brings experience teaching in secular and religious contexts, building and sunsetting ministry programs, fostering community, and a penchant for modern languages. He is conversant in Spanish and French.   


As a proud Black queer man, Californian, global citizen, and adopted Nutmegger, he is delighted to be moving to one of Connecticut's most culturally rich urban corridors: Norwalk. 

Deacon Milton is excited to get to know, love, and serve Saint Paul's and Norwalk. He was ordained to the diaconate in June 2026. God willing and the people consenting, he will be ordained to the priesthood on January 9, 2027, at Christ Church Cathedral in Hartford, Connecticut.


You might also like

Music at St. Paul's

By Marsha Dunn • September 16, 2025
Music at St. Paul's Choirs Adult volunteers and the St. Paul’s Choristers and Choral Scholars come together to lead the hymns and anthems at worship each Sunday. The choirs also participate in concerts, special services such as Evensong, and other events throughout the year. The Compline Choir (separate upper and lower voices choirs) sings chant and polyphony every Sunday night for the 8 PM service of Compline. St. Paul’s maintains a roster of professional singers that are called to sing special services throughout the year. St. Paul’s believes deeply in the power of congregational singing, and so our choir’s primary responsibility is to lead and inspire congregational song. Though we use the Hymnal 1982 as our primary musical resource, we frequently draw from other sources as well. Organ Our 1928 E.M. Skinner organ was installed and enlarged in 1992, and was restored and enlarged in 2007 by the Reuter Organ Company of Lawrence, Kansas. Seasonal recitals featuring talented organists are offered during the year. Visit the Events Calendar for updates. Read more, and see the organ’s specifications. St. Paul’s Chorister Program The St. Paul’s Chorister Program, is open to all children in grades 2 – 8. The Choristers meet weekly to rehearse and sing with the Schola Choir bi-monthly at the 11 am service. Rehearsals incorporate supplemental music education and fun! The program is free to all students and you do not need to be a member of St. Paul’s (or any church!) to participate. St. Paul’s Choral Scholars Program The Choristers are supported by Choral Scholars, high school aged students who often are pursuing musical careers of their own. This program offers an exposure to a wide variety of choral repertoire, and develops skills in sight reading and leadership. A honorarium is available to Scholars. If you would like more information about music and arts programs at St. Paul’s or would be interested in joining the choir contact Josh Ehlebracht at music@stpaulsnorwalk.org .

Art with Heart

By Marsha Dunn • August 11, 2025
Art with Heart 1st & 3rd Saturday of the Month at 10 am Explore spirituality through art! No experience needed—just bring your creativity and an open heart! Everyone from preteens to adults is welcome to join the fun! Supplies are provided, or bring your favorite medium.

Juneteenth

By Gail Bindley-Taylor • June 2, 2025
June 19th is the day in 1865 in Galveston, Texas when a Union general rode in to inform the city that the institution of slavery had ended and that all enslaved people were from that moment, free. This should not have been a surprise to the enslaved African Americans of Texas since President Lincoln had in fact already issued a proclamation two years earlier, on Jan 1, 1863 liberating all enslaved persons living in Confederate states. But the order carried little weight in Texas, where there were few Union soldiers to enforce it, and where, according to Annette Gordon-Reed in her book “On Juneteenth,” despite the formal surrender of the Confederate General Robert E. Lee two months earlier, the Confederate army continued fighting until mid -May. Many of the enslaved persons in that state therefore continued working for their enslavers, but others we are told by Annette Gordon-Reed “knew the gist of the general order prior to June 19, as Galveston, the largest city in Texas was a port city through which most of the cotton picked and processed in the state was shipped out to the world.” And she stresses, “port cities are prefect vehicles for transmission of information to people of all degrees of literacy.” Ms. Gordon-Reed herself a Texan says: “Two days before General Granger arrived on the island, Black men working on the wharves began to shout in exultation. When asked what they were celebrating, they replied, because they were free.” The news began to spread to other towns but the enslaved had to be careful about openly celebrating as “White in Texas were incensed by what had transpired so much so that some reacted violently to the Blacks’ display of joy at emancipation.” Nevertheless, once the announcement was made in 1865 African Americans in Texas and elsewhere in the United States as the cultural practice spread began to celebrate the day. But though acknowledged by some 47 states and the district of Columbia it is only in 2021 that Juneteenth was made a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. St. Paul's Juneteenth Celebration has become a major event in the life of the Parish. As part of past celebrations, we honor the rich traditions that have long been associated with Juneteenth gatherings. Food has always been central to these celebrations, bringing families and communities together around shared tables. Everyone was invited to bring a favorite dish from their own family or cultural tradition to share, as we celebrate both our diversity and our common humanity. Traditional Juneteenth foods and beverages often feature red ingredients and drinks—such as strawberry soda, hibiscus tea, red velvet cake, or watermelon—which symbolize resilience, sacrifice, and the strength of those who endured slavery and passed on a legacy of perseverance and freedom.