Page 58 - MLD Book

2010
1860 to 2010!!!! That makes 150 years of Calvary Episcopal Church!! A Sesquicentennial Committee was formed and big plans were set forth for celebrations, centering on November 3, the actual date, so I am told, of the first service in 1860. That not being a Sunday, the gala celebration was held on November 14, using the Book of Common Prayer of 1789. These plans would include historical services in vogue at that time, plus an LBS concert narrated by John Hale, our eloquent professor of everything, titled Calvary’s Music Program and Calvary’s role as an early and continuing home for the Bach Society. The festivities would spread on into 2011 with lectures, displays, and morehistorical services.
But lots of things would precede these celebrations! For starters, a great deal of renovation in the chancel area was called for, necessitating a huge amount of
scaffolding. The organ was encased in plastic, and the console over which I presided was also encased in plastic, with a tiny little hole for me to crawl through to the bench. The choir during this time was relegated to the first pews in the nave, with Melvin conducting from the first pew – a challenge to see him for sure. The plastic around the organ console wasn’t air tight, and from time to time, little pieces of plaster would pop through. The scariest happening in this regard was for the funeral of my beloved Doris Kershaw. Midway through the funeral, chunks of plaster started falling on the keyboard. I exited quickly through my little hole until the dust settled, they crawled back in for the last hymn and postlude, sitting on the far end of the bench at a rakish angle. This interesting plastic house (bubble now??) lasted over three months, and went into the Lenten Series. The first three were moved to Parker Hall, but I was slated for the organ recital for the fourth concert. I had to play in the bubble! The last recital was played by my favorite organist, Glenna Metcalfe, and finally about an hour before her recital, the last plastic was removed!
On March 11, Ned Reiter was found dead on the floor in his bedroom under very strange and mysterious circumstances centering around a much younger guy that Ned had befriended. No charges were ever placed to my knowledge, and many stories abound as to their relationship that so many people had warned him about. Ned had been such an invaluable member of Calvary for so very long, and his intellect and knowledge of liturgical doings were a source of unending discussion and comfort for me. His funeral was on March 16, and his remains are still (cremated!!!) in one of the non speaking organ pipes at Calvary. Watch out if one person gets his way to remove the present organ, and rescue Ned if I am not around to do so!
Meanwhile, a parade of rector candidates had secretly passed through interviews and a couple through Calvary’s doors. The search committee was somewhat broadsided by committee member Emma Melo who inserted her candidate into the process without DUE process. It was the curate at her father’s church in NYC, Jonathan Erdman. Although it was never unanimous, and many hard feelings ensued, in April, a call was issued for Erdman to become Calvary’s rector. His acceptance letter was received. To quote one paragraph: