Christ Church, Greenwich | |
---|---|
41°02′10″N73°37′07″W / 41.0362°N 73.6186°W | |
Location | 254 East Putnam Avenue, Greenwich, Connecticut |
Country | United States of America |
Denomination | Episcopal Church (United States) |
Website | christchurchgreenwich |
History | |
Founded | 1749 |
Consecrated | 1 June 1910 |
Architecture | |
Style | Gothic Revival |
Years built | 1910 |
Administration | |
Diocese | Diocese of Connecticut |
Clergy | |
Rector | Rev. Marek Zabriskie |
Priest(s) | Rev. Dr. Cheryl McFadden · Rev. Terry Elsberry |
Deacon(s) | Rev. Dn. Susie McNiff |
Laity | |
Organist/Director of music | Jamie Hitel |
Organist(s) | Jonathan Vaughn |
Christ Church, Greenwich, is an Episcopal church in the Diocese of Connecticut, United States, located in the Putnam Hill Historic District along the Boston Post Road (U.S. Route 1) as it passes through Greenwich in Fairfield County, Connecticut. [1] The parish was established in 1749, and the current church building dates from 1910. The church runs a number of programs and courses and is also known for its choirs. [2]
Anglican worship in Greenwich dates from 1705, when the first Church of England mission was established in the town with the help of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts and the first services were conducted in a private home by the Rev. George Muirson, rector of nearby Grace Church in Rye, New York. Following the appointment of the Rev. Ebenezer Dibblee as missionary to Stamford and Greenwich in 1748, the congregation constructed a small wooden chapel, known as the Horseneck Chapel, on Putnam Hill. Services were held there until the chapel was destroyed in a gale in 1821. [2] [3]
A new chapel was built on the other side of Putnam Avenue (on the site of the present church) and consecrated in 1834. It was replaced by a larger church in 1857, and again in 1910 when the present building was completed. [2] [3]
The Christ Church campus comprises the church, chapel, parish hall, bookshop, nursery school and various administrative offices and other rooms. [1]
The church, built of stone in the Gothic Revival style, features a square tower with battlements and pinnacles, and stained glass windows. [3]
In 1839 a three acre plot of land was acquired next to the church for a cemetery. [2]
The parsonage was built in 1843 and replaced in 1997. [2]
Christ Church has an extensive music program, which follows the Royal School of Church Music certification course. There are six choirs for children and adults, currently directed by Jamie Hitel and assisted by Jonathan Vaughn, which sing regularly at services and concerts and have also conducted international tours, including to Canterbury Cathedral in 2022 and Westminster Abbey in 2024. [4] Philip Moore, organist emeritus of York Minster in England, has been a visiting artist at Christ Church since 2009; [5] [6] and James O'Donnell, organist emeritus of Westminster Abbey and professor of organ at the Yale Institute of Sacred Music, was appointed artist-in-residence in 2023. [7] [8]
A new Harrison and Harrison pipe organ was installed in 2022, [9] replacing the Austin Organs instrument dating from 1976. [10] [11]
Christ Church offers regular services of worship, including Evensong, which are also livestreamed, and has a wide range of education and outreach programs.
It runs a nursery school, which opened in 1961, and a book and gift store, which opened in 1984. [2]
Westminster Abbey, formally titled the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster, is an Anglican church in the City of Westminster, London, England. Since 1066, it has been the location of the coronations of 40 English and British monarchs and a burial site for 18 English, Scottish, and British monarchs. At least 16 royal weddings have taken place at the abbey since 1100.
Selby Abbey is a former Benedictine abbey and current Anglican parish church in the town of Selby, North Yorkshire, England. It is a member of the Major Churches Network in England.
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Thomas Tertius Noble was an English-born organist and composer, who lived in the United States for the latter part of his career.
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The Choir of St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle exists to sing services in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.
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James Anthony O'Donnell is a British organist, choral conductor and academic teacher who has been a professor of organ at the Yale Institute of Sacred Music in Connecticut, United States, since 2023.
Philip John Moore is an English composer and organist.
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J. W. Walker & Sons Ltd is a British firm of organ builders established in 1828 by Joseph William Walker in London. Walker organs were popular additions to churches during the Gothic Revival era of church building and restoration in Victorian Britain, and instruments built by Walker are found in many churches around the UK and in other countries. The firm continues to build organs today.
Christopher John Robinson is an English conductor and organist.
The Southern Cathedrals Festival is a five-day music festival held in rotation among the English cathedrals of Chichester, Winchester and Salisbury, in the penultimate week of July. The festival was restored in 1960 after initial attempts to create the annual occasion were followed by 28 years without it. The respective director of music acts as festival director when it is that cathedral's turn to host the event.
Marcus Wibberley is a British organist, conductor and choir trainer.
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists. In addition, an organist may accompany congregational hymn-singing and play liturgical music.
Jonathan Vaughn is a British-American organist and choir director who currently serves as the associate director of music at Christ Church, Greenwich, in Connecticut, USA. He was an assistant organist at Wells Cathedral for ten years and has held similar positions at other churches and cathedrals in England and the United States.
Stuart Nicholson is an English organist.