The Rev. Eleanor L. McLaughlin

The Rev. Eleanor McLaughlin, 90, of Randolph, passed away on Sunday, January 26, 2025 at the Androscoggin Valley Hospital in Berlin after a period of failing health. She was born in Boston, MA and raised in Beverly, MA, graduating from St. Mary's in the Mountains School, and going on to attend Wellesley College, graduating with a B.A. in History. She furthered her education by attending Radcliff College where she graduated with a Ph.D. in Medieval Church History, receiving two Fulbright Fellowships. She worked as a Professor of History at Wellesley College and later was a Professor at Andover Newton Seminary in Newton, MA, teaching the history of liturgy, of the early church, and the valuable spiritual role of women throughout the Church’s history. Ellie wrote many articles and co-edited a book on the historical justification for women to function as ministers and theologians in the modern church, Women of Spirit: Female Leadership in the Jewish and Christian Tradition. She was a pioneering advocate for women's ordination in the Episcopal church. Throughout her life she inspired numerous women to enter the priesthood, as well as influencing seminary curricula to shape a new theological view of the role of women in the church. In 1981 she was ordained an Episcopal Priest at St. John the Evangelist Church in Boston, a parish led by the Episcopal Monastic Order SSJE. Following her ordination, Ellie served as Dean of the Chapel at Mt. Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA. Later she served as Priest at Christ Church, South Barre, MA. She last served as Rector at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, Berlin.

 Ellie was an accomplished hiker, proudly having climbed all of the "4,000 footers" in New Hampshire. She was also a skilled chorister, singing in the Bach Choir under famous conductor Karl Richter in Germany, where she was pursuing her doctoral research.

 She is survived by her spouse The Rev. Betsy Hess of Randolph; her daughters: Hannah Carboneau and husband Victor and their son Benjamin of Bow, NH; Rebecca Burton and husband Evan of Portland, OR; and many dear friends, including other academics, former students, neighbors in Randolph and Berlin, and parishioners at St. Barnabas.

 A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, February 8, 2025 at 11am at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, 2 High Street, Berlin, with Bishop Robert Hirschfeld officiating. Interment will take place in the spring in the New Randolph Cemetery. There will be no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, donations in Ellie's memory may be made to St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, PO Box 545, Berlin, NH 03570. Memories and condolences may be shared online at www.bryantfuneralhome.net