[Magdalen] Hidden Gems.

[Cantor03 at aol.com]

The back pages, especially, of the monthly "The American Organist"  are
fun to read, because events taking place in a wide variety of church
locales are chronicled on those pages, and there are lots of pictures
of these events.
 
Shown in those pictures are sometimes ravishing church structures
that are little known out of their own neighborhoods.  There were  two
churches, both Episcopal, that caught my eye this month.  
 
They are:
 
(1) Christ and Saint Luke's, Norfolk, VA 
 
and
 
(2) Saint Paul's, Chestnut Hill (Philadelphia Area).
 
Both are large Episcopal churches with huge pipe organ installations  and
a very active music ministry.  There are other activities that lead me  to
believe they are very active and vital congregations.
 
They both are gothic revival (of course!) with large and impressive
wooden (St. Paul's) and stone (Christ & St. Luke's) rererdoses  and
acres of quality stained glass.
 
My only complaint is that their high altars seem to function only as
a large shelf for flowers.  The smaller, freestanding altars get all  the
action.
 
These congregations need to be more well known.  I've been in  both
Norfolk and Philadelphia many times, and didn't know about these  locales.
 
 
David Strang.