This lovely album dates from 1964, at perhaps the peak of the Episcopal Church in this country. It is not likely any of the troops involved in the recording could foresee the drastic decline the institution would undergo only a few decades later, with the Cathedral’s future Bishop, the Rt Rev’d Paul Moore, Jr, tenure 1972-1989, leading the charge: not only to sink the Cathedral but, as probably the most influential figure in the Episcopal Church at the time, the entire Church as well.
How? The usual: embracing all the causes we now call “woke,” leading to the steady drain of parishioners, particularly the monied ones. There is irony here as Moore had piles and piles of the stuff himself, coming as he did from an old, distinguished family. In short, he made his money the old fashioned way: he inherited it.
Now days the Episcopal Church of the United States of America bears but a faint semblance of her former, influential self. Her numbers were never many, but the Church once was the church of many leaders in this country, both in government and the private sector.
They’re all gone now, with parishes going extinct on a regular basis. Your Tatler can’t help feeling wistful about the Church’s collapse as he was once an Episcopalian himself, with a great love for her and the Anglican worship tradition. Her sharp left turn however, and the ever-decreasing emphasis on the redemptive power of Our Lord and His teachings, at last resulted in your Tatler swimming the Tiber and becoming a Catholic–where, sadly, he is witnessing a similar left turn in Holy Church, led by Pope Francis.
That is a complaint for another time, however. Meanwhile, enjoy the splendid performances on this old LP. Despite the record’s rickety condition, not-so-great engineering, and the rumblings of IRT and IND trains underneath, it is a great pleasure listening to the fine Yuletide performances of your Tatler’s parochial alma mater. It brings forth many happy memories.
h/t RM
The Taos Tatler 