Avery C. Manchester

His life began in Winsted, Connecticut in 1929, son of Seward and Lillian (Avery) Manchester. He grew up in Winsted attending the local schools. Avery spent time each summer in South Bristol, Maine where his grandparents had a summer cottage. He learned to sail and discovered his love for the sea. After graduating from high school, he went to the College of Emporia, in Kansas, where he met Rosemary (Ingold) Manchester. They wed in 1950, in Newton Kansas and moved to Dallas, Texas after the birth of their first son, Timothy Grant. Avery attended SMU where he earned a degree in Divinity. When their second child, Peter John was born in 1952, they moved to West Hartford, Connecticut where Avery became the pastor of the West Hartford Methodist Church. In West Hartford, two more children were added to the young family: Mary Elizabeth in 1954 and Martha Rose in 1956. At this point their lives took a turn from the conventional as they became Missionaries for the Methodist Mission and moved to Brussels, Belgium in 1957 for French studies and then to Jadotville in the Belgian Congo in 1958. They found themselves in the turmoil of the independence movements of central Africa, as colonies dissolved, often with tragic violence.

The family returned to the US after 3 years and Avery earned a Masters of Divinity at Yale Divinity School. After graduating they departed for the Congo for another two years. The political circumstances of the day, challenges with schooling, and health problems had them pulling up stakes again. They settled in Hamden, Connecticut and Avery accepted a job with the Methodist Board of Missions. In 1967 Avery took on the liturgical responsibilities of a Methodist church in Bellmore, New York. He remained there for three years then returned to work for the Board of Missions, in NYC.

In the early 1980’s, Avery began studies to be certified in psychoanalysis at the Center for Psychoanalytic Studies in NYC. Avery and Rosemary divorced. In 1986, Avery again took on ministerial duties at The First Church of Round Hill in Greenwich, Connecticut and married Pamela Armstrong. At this time he also became certified as a psychoanalyst. During his long career as a minister he officiated many weddings including those of his four children and many of his grandchildren. After retiring from the ministry at Round Hill, he continued to participate in many other churches including the First Congregational Church of Greenwich and the Union Church in South Bristol, Maine.

Avery spent time each summer for the past twenty-five years at the cottage he and his wife Pamela bought perched at the edge of McFarland’s Cove in South Bristol on the coast of Maine. He had a passion for sailing, kayaking, and gazing out towards the Atlantic Ocean. In this place so familiar to him he spent time surrounded by relatives and friends. He basked in the sounds of children on the beach, boaters setting out, swimmers braving the cold waters, the changing light on the water, and his view out across John’s Bay.

Avery is survived by his wife Pamela, siblings George, Sue and Peter, his former wife Rosemary, three of his children: Peter (married to the late Sheelagh Callaghan), Mary (married to David Ottinger) and Martha (married to Brian Kautz). His son Tim (married to Jill Burlingame) died in a tragic accident in Tanzania in 2013. Nine grandchildren: Katherine, Chloe, Caitlyn, Everett, Elijah, Sebastian, Dante, Peter, and Sarah. His great-grandchildren: Callum, Juniper, Esben, Aedan, Sophie, Edward, and Levi. Avery was an anchoring presence in many people’s lives, a friend and mentor, and will be missed by all.

A service is taking place at First Congregational Church of Greenwich on Saturday, May 10th, 2025 at 11 AM