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The Rev. Kenneth D. Aldrich, Jr.
09/26/2025

The Rev. Dr. Kenneth Davis Aldrich, Jr, 84 years old, of Whitehall, PA, died on September 26^th at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Cedar Crest, Allentown, PA, after enduring several years with Alzheimer’s disease. Family was present at his bedside. Kenneth was wed to Sharon Cook Aldrich in 1974 and was her loving husband for 51 years. Born on Easter, April 13, 1941, in Philadelphia, PA, and raised in Laurel Springs, NJ, he was the son of Kenneth Davis Aldrich Sr. and Janice Bertram Aldrich.

From a young age, Kenny, as he was then known, was motivated to excel academically. While praying in his youth, he had a vision of Christ, and by 14 years old he felt the calling to be an Episcopal priest. In 1963, he received his B.A. from Trinity College, in Hartford, CT. An avid student of European culture, history, and languages, he spent 1961-62 studying at the Sorbonne, in Paris. He went on to receive his M.Div and S.T.M. degrees from the Philadelphia Divinity School in 1966. He felt honored and inspired to have met and shaken hands with Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. one summer during seminary. He earned a D.Min from the Graduate Theological Foundation in South Bend, Indiana in 1997. Ken was fluent in French and conversational in other languages, including German, Spanish, and Italian. He was always delighted to speak foreign languages whenever possible.

During his life, he ministered to countless people whom he loved and cherished. In 1966, he was ordained a priest by the Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey. He first began his clergy ministry as a parish priest in Collingswood, NJ. He then became a rector in Camden, NJ at the height of the civil rights movement. He next served at St. Luke’s in Westville, NJ for 10 years where he started his family with Sharon.

Lovingly referred to as Father Aldrich by his parishioners, he was the rector of Trinity Episcopal Church in Red Bank, NJ for 25 years until 2005 when he retired. While there, he and Sharon raised their children in Little Silver, NJ. Shortly after retirement, they moved to Huntingdon, PA where he preached in area churches. Ken could often be found walking through downtown Huntingdon, relating to all that he encountered along his way. Later, in 2020, he and Sharon moved to Whitehall, PA. In 2023, he was named Rector Emeritus of Trinity Episcopal Church, Red Bank. He and his family were deeply touched by this honor. Through his calling, he continued to meet and minister to all he encountered, right up through his final days.

Over the course of his life, beyond parish ministry, he focused on ecumenical Christian fellowship and theological enrichment, both in the local community and on the national level through multiple organizations. Despite being a self-proclaimed lover of all things Anglican, he celebrated and studied many cultures and religions. In fact, for several years in the late 1970s, he hosted a Sunday morning talk show, “Dialogues”, which was broadcast locally by ABC Philadelphia (WPVI) on channel 6, during which he interviewed spiritual leaders of all faiths and backgrounds.

In the 1980s and continuing onwards, Ken became heavily involved with the Main Line Charismatic Movement within the Episcopal Church. He also helped orchestrate and plan Celebrate ’88, a Christian revival which took place in 1988. Headlined by the Rev. John Guest, it was held in Ocean Grove, NJ at the Great Auditorium, and brought many to the Lord. In his retirement, he was especially involved in the Mercersburg Society (a fellowship for theological inquiry) and enjoyed contributing articles for church publications. He thoroughly enjoyed theology and traditions across all denominations of Christianity.

As a genuine extrovert, Ken loved to travel and meet new people, especially in towns along the New Jersey shore. He once mentioned that he had visited every single shore town of New Jersey and found them all unique in their own way. Ken could often be found befriending a stranger, absorbing historical texts from a book or an online publication, catching up on the latest news stories, or looking up church websites. He frequently reread biblical passages, often in multiple translations and languages. He had a constant thirst for knowledge and true human connection and would strive to bring people closer to the Lord and each other. He knew many hymns and songs by heart, which he would easily apply to any person or situation, and would happily sing them to you with enthusiasm. He loved to share a meal of any cuisine with you and had an exuberant sense of humor.

He is survived by his wife Sharon Aldrich of Whitehall, PA; his sons Kenneth Davis Aldrich III of Nazareth, PA, and Matthew Graham Aldrich (wife Rebecca Aldrich) of Tryon, NC, and his daughter Dr. Mary Aldrich Sibley (husband Dr. Paul Sibley) of Allentown, PA; his six grandchildren: Elijah and Phoebe Aldrich, and Helen, Lily, Colin, and Chloe Sibley; as well as a large beloved extended family.

A Holy Eucharist, with the Commemoration of the Dead, will be on October 18^th at 10:30 am at Trinity Episcopal Church, Red Bank, NJ. All are welcome.

Trinity Episcopal Church

65 W Front St. Red Bank, NJ 07701

(732) 741-4581

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Trinity Episcopal Church (https://secure.myvanco.com/L-YR2Q/campaign/C-14CA1).