[Magdalen] St. Martins and nearby in Houston / was -Re: Funeral Service at Saint Martin's, Houston.

[Lynn Ronkainen]

St. Martin's building that today's service was held in dates to about 
2003/4. It was based cathedrals from Germany and France. Several years after 
it was finished it installed all of the stained glass at one time - the 
largest order of stained glass ever, an article in the Houston Chronicle 
said and the price (which I can't remember exactly) seemed over the top.  It 
replaced a building dating from the '50s, as it was founded in 1952, that 
had become too small for the congregation at the time and now numbers 9,000. 
This parish became, over time, a conservative voice in TEC and especially in 
Dio TX. Bishop Wimberly, called as an 'assisting' Bishop to Dio TX several 
years after he left Louisville KY (and was a candidate for PB when Frank G 
was elected).  He was then elected our Diocesan a few years later, just as 
the sexuality issues began to be unable to be ignored. I did have great 
admiration for him when he told his diocesan flock that no one would 'walk' 
away, and no one did. That did not prevent 'division' within but it did hold 
us together during his tenure and beyond. He also worked to bring all of the 
TEC Bishops together to meet once a year, the first few meetings taking 
place at 'Camp Allen' our Diocesan 'camp' and conference center (which 
itself has since grown much larger), and these meetings are still held 
annually AFAIK.  We currently have 4 Bishops - +Andy Doyle (diocesan), and 3 
suffragans: +Deena, +Jeff and +Hector.

Interesting overview with photos: 
http://www.structuremag.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/D-Spotlight-St-Martins-Church1.pdf

Located less than a mile from 'The Galleria", famed giant mall finished in 
1970 has several giant anchor stores (Neiman Marcus  being one), and 
Tiffany, and more. It is 3 stories high (with the exception of a brand name 
high rise hotel (has changed names several times in the 30 years I've lived 
here)also in the mix all connected, a full size ice rink on the below ground 
level (1) and significant underground parking.  The Galleria 'area', at the 
time it was built had both residential neighborhoods and office buildings 
already nearby so There were plenty of people who lived and worked in the 
area where St. Martin's grew itself.  The Galleria area has changed a lot in 
the last 10 years with major development of a number  high rise condos and 
newly re-done strip centers EVERYWHERE. Residential property in the general 
vicinity of the Galleria & St. Martins area is in the millions. Many 
'neighborhoods'/subdivisions are private and gated now, after some of their 
'deed restrictions' became unconstitutional. A bit further out, some of the 
'neighborhoods' incorporated into 'towns' so they could have their own 
schools and governance - a 'sovereign' town within the cit of Houston - I'll 
leave you to decide why that was done in the '60s ...

I still wonder about using resources this way....
Lynn
--------------------------------------------------
From: "cantor03--- via Magdalen" <magdalen at herberthouse.org>
Sent: Saturday, April 21, 2018 1:07 PM
To: <magdalen at herberthouse.org>
Cc: <cantor03 at aol.com>
Subject: [Magdalen] Funeral Service at Saint Martin's, Houston.

>
>
>
> Even though I tuned in somewhat late, I saw the
> entire Barbara Bush televised funeral service.
>
> Funerals tend to be highly personal, even sometimes
> in denominations with a strong fixed liturgy like the
> Anglican churches.  This funeral seemed not to evidence
> much from the Anglican Tradition, being as it was a sort
> of free form prayer service with no reference to either
> the Prayer Book Eucharist or Morning Prayer.  The BCP
> final Burial Office and the opening funeral anthems were used.
>
> There were two standard hymns that one finds across the
> board in the various Christian denominations, including
> that ever popular "Amazing Grace," augmented with
> trumpets on the last verse that made it seem to be out
> of an English Coronation.
>
> Saint Martin's is newish, and very large by USA standards.  Even
> with the place packed for this funeral, there appeared to be at
> least a 3-4 second reverberation time.  What a marvelous
> place for choral music.
>
> Two Protestant warhorses sung by church choir and a soloist
> were "In the Garden," and "Jerusalem."  They are (?too)
> frequently heard in my family Methodist Church, and in this case,
> must have been something the senior Bushes brought with them
> from (was it?) their youthful Presbyterian background.  Barbara Bush
> was apparently Confirmed in 2015.  At least that's what the Rector
> of Saint Martin's implied.
>
> Several bishops in rochet and chimere were there, and the Bishop
> of Texas gave the final Comendation and Blessing.
>
>
> David S.
>