Staff
Andrew David Kruger, Rector
Father Andy was ordained an Anglican priest in November 2011 in South Africa. In 2011 and 2012, he was Curate at the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. George, Grahamstown, SA. In 2013, he served as Assistant Priest of the Parish of St. Faith’s, Durban, SA. From January 2014 until December 2016 he was the Rector of the Parish of Umkomaas with Scottburgh, SA. He began his ministry at Trinity Cranford on Feb. 5, 2017. Father Andy has a Masters in Theology from the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa and received Liturgical Formation at the College of the Transfiguration in Grahamstown, SA. He is an avid student of the Liturgy and worked on the Anglican Church of Southern Africa’s Prayer Book Revision Project. Father Andy has broad experience in intergenerational pastoral care, youth ministry, and parish growth. He is the President of the Board, of Trinity Episcopal Day School, which is one of the ministers of Trinity Church. In his ‘downtime’ he enjoys archery, hiking, and family time with his wife, Heather, and son, Edward.
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Listen to Bernie Wagonblast’s interview with Fr Andy on Cranford Radio.
Anthony Vitale, Verger
Tony Vitale has been a Trinity parishioner for the last 25 years and is the Verger of the parish; he has been a member of the choir, member of the Vestry (twice), Junior Warden, and acolyte master. He brings a variety of talents, including familiarity with the Diocese (serving on the Committee on the Diaconate since 2010) and the national Church (he was formerly an editor for Church Publishing – publisher of the BCP and Hymnal 1982).
Anthony J. Rafaniello, Director of Music
Anthony J. Rafaniello has served as Director of Music and Organist of Trinity Church, Cranford since 2020, and previously from 2013-2017, directing the Choir, Handbell Choir, and Children’s Choir.
Mr. Rafaniello is also the Director of Choral Activities at Cranford High School. He teaches Advanced Placement Music Theory and directs students in five choral ensembles, with repertoire ranging from the Baroque to current popular music. Under his direction, the Cranford High School Choirs have given multiple performances at Carnegie Hall and made concert tours through New York, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., New England, Florida, and Southern California. The CHS Madrigal Choir has become a fixture in Cranford, performing carols and holiday songs for dozens of holiday events and service projects. Mr. Rafaniello's choral students have been selected for numerous state, regional, and national honors choirs, and have continued on to study music at major institutions including Berklee College of Music, Manhattan School of Music, Carnegie Mellon University, Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Yale University, and The Juilliard School.
From 2017-2020, Mr. Rafaniello served as Supervisor of Fine and Performing Arts for Cranford Public Schools, overseeing music, art, theater, and dance programs for the entire school district. Anthony was selected as the Cranford High School Teacher of the Year for 2011-2012, received the 2016 Centennial Medal for Outstanding Educators from Philadelphia University, and was the Cranford Rotary Club’s Teacher of the Year in 2017. He served as the pianist for the NJ High School All-State Chorus in 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2018, and contributed to the 2017 edition of The Oxford Handbook of Choral Pedagogy.
Mr. Rafaniello holds a Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education and Sacred Music from Westminster Choir College and a Master of the Arts Degree in Music Education from Teachers College, Columbia University.
Marion Nechuta, Office Manager
Marion Nechuta has been a member of the parish since 1985. She has been our volunteer Church Office Manager since 2018. She enjoys learning about how the church runs, working on the many tasks needed to keep the office running, and helping where needed. A year before her first child was born, she began teaching in Sunday School and has done so on and off since then. Besides wearing the hat of Office Manager, she is presently teaching Confirmation Class with John Beier and Beth Rees. Since 2012, she became the Committee Chair for Outreach and continues to serve in that position. She and her husband, Terry Nechuta have two children, Erich and Danielle.