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| 2376: Church
of the Incarnation, Dallas, Texas, USA |
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Mystery
Worshipper: Preacher's Kid.
The church:
Church
of the Incarnation, Dallas, Texas, USA.
Denomination:
The
Episcopal Church, Diocese
of Dallas.
The building:
A Gothic cruciform building dating from the early 1950s. The
absence of carpeting or seat cushions makes for exquisite acoustics:
the decay may run to three seconds. The glass is extremely beautiful,
incorporating the stations of the cross in the lower range,
and the apostles, Mary, and heroes of the church in the clerestory.
There is a chapel in one transept. The high altar has not been
moved forward, nor is there a portable altar sitting in front
of it.
The church:
This congregation is an aggregate of the very wealthy from Highland
Park/University Park (the "Park Cities") and its close
neighbor, Southern Methodist University. By the same token,
the church lies outside of and south of the limits of the Park
Cities and so also serves the new "Uptown" of Dallas,
an area of young professionals, trendy restaurants, smart residences,
and endless entertainment. Because of its style of services,
it draws membership from across the Metroplex. It conducts eight
worship services every Sunday and provides all those weekly
activities one expects in a large church.
The neighborhood:
The Uptown area once lay outside the Dallas city limits and
was a working-class neighborhood of Hispanic-Americans and the
descendants of freed African-American slaves – folk not
exactly welcome in the city proper. Today, urban renewal begun
in the late 20th century has turned Uptown into a trendy pedestrian-friendly
district housing a wide variety of establishments, including
office buildings, residential towers, retail centers, restaurants
and night clubs. The nearby Park Cities area comprises what
is probably the most expensive residential real estate in Texas.
The cast:
The Revd Harry H. Hill, clergy for pastoral care, presided.
The choir was under the direction of Richard Sparks, A.Mus.D.,
interim choirmaster, with Roberts Dicks, organ scholar in residence,
at the organ. The names of the verger and lector were not given.
The date & time:
May 6, 2012, 5.30pm.
What was the name of the service?
Solemn Choral Evensong. The service followed the 1662 Book
of Common Prayer.
How full was the building?
About 25 per cent. It seats about 750 people on the floor and
in the gallery.
Did anyone welcome you
personally?
No.
Was your pew comfortable?
Yes. It was the standard pew with leather-covered kneelers.
How would you describe the pre-service
atmosphere?
Quiet and introspective. People were taking their places quietly.
As the service time approached and the organ voluntary began,
the verger lit torches placed at the ends of every six pews
in the center aisle, and then lit the appropriate candles at
the altar. The main lights of the church were dimmed for the
service.
What were the exact opening words of the
service?
"Welcome to evensong at the Church of the Incarnation."
What books did the congregation use during the
service?
Although the pew racks contained the Prayer Book 1979
and the Hymnal 1982, the service was set out on a card.
An insert contained the variable settings and lessons.
What musical instruments
were played?
Organ. The original instrument, opus 1370 of the venerable Boston
firm of Aeolian-Skinner organ builders, was enlarged and rebuilt
by the Noack Organ Company of Falmouth, Massachusetts, as their
opus 127.
Did anything distract you?
This service went off as well as any I have seen. There were
practically no distractions, but the thing we found unusual
was the particularly large number of persons attending who appeared
to be elderly or physically challenged.
Was the worship stiff-upper-lip,
happy clappy, or what?
It was definitely Texas High Church. Although labeled solemn,
there was no incense and few trappings that would allow you
to call it Anglo-Catholic. However, the music was to die for!
There was a preces and response by the late Gere Hancock, who
had served as professor of organ and sacred music at the University
of Texas, Austin, and organist and master of the choristers
at St Thomas Church, Fifth Avenue, New York; psalm settings
by Corfe/Lawes and Bairstow; Magnificat and Nunc
dimittis by Gustav Holst; and the final Amen by Orlando
Gibbons. Choral services just don't get any better!
Exactly how long was the
sermon?
There was no sermon.
Which part of the service
was like being in heaven?
In the opinion of this Mystery Worshipper, the choir are by
far and away one of the best-trained and disciplined volunteer
choirs in the country.
And which part was like being in... er... the other place?
The Revd Mr Hill’s body mike was not correctly tuned, with the
result that his already soft-spoken voice could not be heard
clearly.
What happened when you hung around after the service looking lost?
An organ recital was scheduled for immediately after the service,
and the service leaflet indicated that refreshments would follow
that. We stayed for the first two numbers of the recital but
then had to leave.
How would you describe the after-service
coffee?
N/A.
How would you feel about making this church your regular (where 10 = ecstatic, 0 = terminal)?
10 – If their other services are anything like this solemn
choral evensong, I couldn't possibly imagine a church that would
satisfy me better. Their fine approach to the liturgy, coupled
with their extensive community outreaches and programs, make
them a model for any church to aspire to.
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 actual celebration of the service, which is a rare treat
for me. |
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