Worship & Music.
“O God, whom saints and angels delight to worship in heaven: Be ever present with your servants who seek through art and music to perfect the praises offered by your people on earth; and grant to them even now glimpses of your beauty, and make them worthy at length to behold it unveiled for evermore; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”
Prayer for Church Musicians and Artists, Book of Common Prayer, 1979
Music is an integral part of worship at St. Thomas.
The St. Thomas choir sings every Sunday and for principal Holy Days including Christmas and Holy Week from September through June. The choir rehearses on Sundays at 9:15 am prior to the service and at 11:45 am following the service under the direction of Bill Henderson, Minister of Music and Organist. The St. Thomas choir welcomes new members!
William Henderson, Minister of Music and OrganistThe Organ of St. Thomas of Canterbury Episcopal Church
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The organ of St. Thomas of Canterbury Episcopal Church is Opus 2 of organist and organ builder Robert Noehren (1920-2002). The instrument was originally installed in 1957 at the New England Conservatory of Music and in 1978 was moved to the New Hampshire Conservatory of Music and the Arts. Finally, in 1981 it was finally moved to St. Thomas of Canterbury Episcopal Church.
To read more about the history of the Noehren Opus 2, please use the following link: History
To view the specification of the Noehren Opus 2, please use the following link: Specification.
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Johann Sebastian Bach, Gelobet Seist Du Jesu Christ, BMW 604
Manuel Jorge de Elias, Cancion de Cuna
Louis-Claude D'Aquin, Noel VII, en Trio et en Dialogue
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Recordings by William Henderson:
Domenico Zipoli (17 October 1688 – 2 January 1726) was an Italian Baroque composer who worked and died in Córdoba, in the Viceroyalty of Peru, Spanish Empire, (presently in Argentina). He became a Jesuit in order to work in the Reductions of Paraguay where he taught music among the Guaraní people. He is remembered as the most accomplished musician among Jesuit missionaries.
Alan Gray, A LIttle Organ Book, IV:
Alan Gray (born in York, 23 December 1855; died in Cambridge, 27 September 1935) was a British organist and composer. Gray was born in York. He went to St Peter's School in York, and Trinity College, Cambridge. From 1883 to 1893, he was Director of Music at Wellington College, Berkshire. This piece is from “A Little Organ Book” in memory of Hubert Parry.
The Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church-
Worship at St. Thomas and virtually all Episcopal Churches in the U.S.A. is guided by the forms of service given in full in the Book of Common Prayer. This volume exists in a number of versions throughout the Anglican Communion, all of which are historically related to an original published in 1549 as part of the English Reformation.
The Book of Common Prayer contains Psalms, canticles, and collects, as well as forms for Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer, Holy Communion, Baptism, Confirmation, Marriage and Funeral services. Please follow the links below to explore this written symbol and instrument of unity in the Episcopal Church.
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