For those who like sacred music: Saint Thomas Church, Fifth Ave Webcasts

[jserraglio]

Just stumbled upon this amazing site of what I always thought was hands down the most drop-dead glorious church in Manhattan. I used to walk there from my apartment just to absorb some of its beauty.

Broadcasts of Eucharist and Evensong services, organ recitals and more. The church just installed an expensive new organ last month. Many of their webcasts are tracked, so you can pick out the pieces/parts of service you want to hear.

https://www.saintthomaschurch.org/webcasts

[lennygoran]

Just stumbled upon this amazing site of what I always thought was hands down the most drop-dead glorious church in Manhattan.

We walk by there alot but somehow never really paid attention to this church-it was just last week in NYC we walked right by as we headed north on 5th ave toward Central Park-of course Sue had to stop and go into the UNIQLO store-while she was in there I could have checked this place out-next time! Regards, Len

[jserraglio]

This precious stone set in the silver sea,
Which serves it in the office of a wall,
Or as a moat defensive to a house
Against the envy of less happier lands.

Saint Thomas Church (New York City) by Darren Barnes (Dwood Photography), on Flickr
The High Altar and Reredos of Saint Thomas Church designed by architect Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue (1869–1924) and sculptor Lee Lawrie (1877–1963)

[lennygoran]

Wow, that's beautiful--I can't wait for the next time Sue needs to shop at that store--"this UNIQLO store is the biggest retail location on New York City’s famed 5th Ave., and the largest UNIQLO store in the world." Regards, Len

[jserraglio]

[Moses] took the [golden] calf that they had made, burned it with fire, ground it to powder, scattered it on the water, and made the Israelites drink it.

[lennygoran]

Yeah pass it all the time but I walk on the other side of 5th Ave-when I passed it this time there were demonstrators with signs indicating they didn't want this clown to remain as President! Regards, Len

[barney]

It is the highest of high Anglican churches I have ever been to, which includes a lot of cathedrals. I wouldn't choose there to worship God (the Presbyterian in me) because it's just TOO overpowering, but I would happily worship music there. And that of course is purely personal; I understand that for many the beauty and grandeur enhance worship.

[jbuck919]

I heard John Scott give a recital in Glens Falls NY just before he died tragically young of a heart attack. Prior to St. Thomas, he had been the organist at St.Paul's Cathedral in London. Here is the specification for the organ:

http://www.dobsonorgan.com/html/instrum ... wyork.html

BTW I have heard a number of the webcasts. There are only eleven choirs of men and boys left in the US (another is in the Cathedral of Albany, the oldest Anglican cathedral in the country). Though the St. Thomas choir is nonpareil, it is still not the equal of the great English cathedral and collegiate choirs.

[jserraglio]

It is the highest of high Anglican churches I have ever been to, which includes a lot of cathedrals. I wouldn't choose there to worship God . . . .

I've heard the Anglican Church praised for keeping Christianity at bay in England.

[barney]

It is the highest of high Anglican churches I have ever been to, which includes a lot of cathedrals. I wouldn't choose there to worship God . . . .

I've heard the Anglican Church praised for keeping Christianity at bay in England.

Well said!
There's a lovely quote from a 19th century verger at an Oxford, who said something along the lines of "I've heard every sermon here for 46 years and I thank God that despite that I am still a Christian."

[jbuck919]

It is the highest of high Anglican churches I have ever been to, which includes a lot of cathedrals. I wouldn't choose there to worship God . . . .

I've heard the Anglican Church praised for keeping Christianity at bay in England.

Well said!
There's a lovely quote from a 19th century verger at an Oxford, who said something along the lines of "I've heard every sermon here for 46 years and I thank God that despite that I am still a Christian."

Most Americans do not know what a verger is. They are not used most of the time even in most Episcopal (Anglican) churches here. I'd be surprised if one were used at St. Thomas except on the most special occasions. A verger is someone who leads someone else from one place to another carrying a special kind of cross and often walking backwards. Once I read in an organ magazine a very badly written (surprising coming from an educated Englishman) article by the man who played the organ for the Queen's coronation at Westminster Abbey. He said that in that church the organist is always verged to the organ, which made me break down in laughter. Speaking of which, the one time I was in London I saw the interior of the Abbey but it happened to be a Sunday so I couldn't walk around. I stood in the back and listened to a stuffed-shirt sermon that gave new meaning to what eternal suffering in Hell might be like. American Anglican priests can give long boring sermons too, as well as excellent ones (I've been at this for many years and have heard everything), but not long and boring like this one. No wonder no one goes to church in England anymore.

[barney]

I know we're verging (boom boom, geddit?) from the point, but you are right, John. At St Paul's Cathedral in Melbourne we still have vergers; nowhere else in this diocese. I've heard very many utterly trite 10 minute homilies, whose only virtue was their brevity, as well as (in a Baptist Church I used to attend) 50-minute ones. My now-adult children well remember the preacher winding up for his peroration: 'Now for my fifth final point"!
Are you aware of the lovely story about (from memory) Lord Canning attending a rural church service in the 19th century.
Preacher: "Did you enjoy the sermon, my Lord?"
Canning: "It was brief."
Preacher: "Yes, I try to avoid being tedious."
Canning: "It was tedious."
How wonderfully encouraging for the poor vicar.