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| 2505: Trinity
Church, Boston, Massachusetts, USA |
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Photo: Roger
Rex |
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Mystery
Worshipper: Hector the Lector.
The church:
Trinity
Church, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Denomination:
The Episcopal Church,
Diocese of
Massachusetts.
The building:
Guidebooks devote pages to describing this imposing structure,
so I'm sure I will fall short. Trinity Church was designed by
19th century American architect Henry Robson Richardson, inventor
of the style known as Richardson Romanesque, characterized by
rough stone, heavy arches, and massive towers. It is considered
one of the most significant buildings in America. The granite
and red sandstone structure actually sports a relatively low,
wide tower. The interior is by American muralist and stained
glass artisan John LaFarge, and features oxblood walls, gold
trim, and dark wood, with a Byzantine feel (to my uneducated
eye). One's gaze is drawn to the glowing (with gold bas-reliefs)
chancel wall behind the simple altar. The stained glass windows
are beautiful. LaFarge is said to have worked day and night
without rest so that the interior would be ready for the church
to be consecrated before Lent began.
The church:
Trinity looks like a wealthy dowager church, but its vibe is
definitely an urban family parish. I enjoyed the demographic
range of ages and ethnicities. Their website describes the many
ministries and outreaches supported by the parish. There were
announcements made about an upcoming meeting on the congregation's
response to gun violence and a planned children's mission trip
to Africa.
The neighborhood:
Boston's Back Bay district is considered to be one of the most
architecturally significant neighborhoods in the United States.
Elegant Victorian brownstone town houses sit in stately rows
amid venerable institutions such as the Boston Public Library
and modern skyscrapers and shopping venues. Trinity Church faces
the Boston Public Library across Copley Square near the upscale
shops on Newbury Street.
The cast:
The Revd Samuel T. Lloyd III, priest in charge, was the celebrant.
The Revd Rainey G. Dankel, associate rector for pastoral care
and community life, was the preacher.
The date & time:
March 10, 2013, 9.00am.
What was the name of the service?
Holy Eucharist.
How full was the building?
About two-thirds full.
Did anyone welcome you personally?
An usher said "Good morning" as she gave me the service bulletin.
Was your pew comfortable?
My pew was comfortable, with seat cushions that have seen better
days but still do the job.
How would you describe the pre-service
atmosphere?
The 32-member all ages choir was practicing and the choir director was shouting out instructions, mingling with sounds of greeting from the church entrance. Those in the pews were quiet and prayerful.
What were the exact opening words of the
service?
"Bless the Lord, who forgives all our sins."
What books did the congregation use during the
service?
Hymnal 1982 and an eight-page bulletin printed for
the service.
What musical instruments were played?
Only the chancel organ, a 49 rank instrument by the venerable
Aeolian-Skinner company dating from 1960. It was cleaned and
refurbished in 1990 and again in 2007.
Did anything distract
you?
I suppose one of the dangers of worshipping in one of America's
ten finest buildings is being distracted by the building itself.
The interior is opulent and ornate, and the stained
glass windows are beautiful. However, I don't think
I succumbed to the danger. Maybe I really needed to be at church!
Photo:
Roger Rex
Was the worship stiff-upper-lip,
happy clappy, or what?
I'd call it warmly Episcopalian, responsive: hearty singing
for the processional and recessional hymns, less hearty for
the trisagion and chanted psalm.
Exactly how long was the sermon?
12 minutes.
On a scale of 1-10, how
good was the preacher?
7 – I was worried at first that the Revd Mrs Dankel would
limit herself simply to retelling the gospel narrative. But
as she went on, she widened her focus. She mentioned Archbishop
Desmond Tutu's book No Future Without Forgiveness.
In a nutshell, what was
the sermon about?
She spoke on Luke 15:11-32 (the parable of the prodigal son),
and her message was reconciliation. This story is one of Jesus'
masterpieces. It embodies the heart of the gospel, the good
news of God's love. The relationship between God and man was
broken by sin. But God, through Jesus, reached out to close
that gap. The parable questions our notion of justice. Those
who need no forgiveness don't understand God's grace. God's
love for us is inexhaustible. God is throwing a party. Is something
holding us back from joining it? Are we resentful that "those
people" are invited?
Which part of the service
was like being in heaven?
On my way to communion I passed between the choir stalls. I
was closest to the young boys as they sang the motet, Palestrina's
Sicut Cervus. Pretty nice.
And which part was like being in... er... the other place?
No snacks afterwards, only coffee. Qualifies as being at least
in the outermost circle of hell, I suppose.
What happened when you hung around after the service looking lost?
No one spoke to me as I loitered, although several smiled as they walked past. I finally asked the celebrant, as he walked past after greeting worshippers after the service, how to get downstairs. He invited me to walk with him and was quite chatty.
How would you describe the after-service
coffee?
Simply coffee in ceramics cups. But in a beautiful recently remodeled space, near a gift/bookstore.
How would you feel about making this church your regular (where 10 = ecstatic, 0 = terminal)?
8 – The parish's involvement with social justice issues
is encouraging, as are the many activities and groups for all
ages described on their website.
Photo:
PD-Art
Did the service make you feel glad to be a
Christian?
Yes.
What one thing will you remember about all this in seven days' time?
The pleasant contrast between the opulent setting and the simplicity
of the service. Yea, Lent! |
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| One of our most seasoned reporters makes the Camino pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Read here. |
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