Christ Church Cathedral An Episcopal Parish in the Heart of Houston
December 6, 2009
Receiving the Surprise by Bob Simpson, Canon for Music
W
hen I was 5 my grandmother and I started having church services when I’d visit my grandparents overnight. Fun loving and playful, Gram Simpson suffered periods of near immobility due to rheumatoid arthritis. At those times I’d sit by her as she lay on the sofa. We would read or watch the “shoot-emups,” as she called the old westerns movies on TV. She was quick to point out that this was all make-believe—no matter how fast they rode or fiercely they fought these cowboys never lost their hats or had to reload their six-shooters. On these visits I’d hear my grandfather play hymns on the large Wurlitzer Reed organ that occupied one whole wall of their living room. This fascinated me and during those times with Gram I’d inevitably drift over to the organ and in imitation hike myself up on the bench and pick out stiff-fingered random note melodies to her great approval. One day she called whatever I had just done a Prelude and our game of “playing church” was born. Our services developed into quite a formalized ritual. I’d play a Prelude and then offer a few inspirational words before passing the collection plate and returning to the organ for the Postlude. Gram made everything fun, but I remember thinking this was really fun.
Cathedral Services
Those fleeting moments “playing church” with my grandmother have a prophetic quality as I look back on 30-plus years as a church musician. While I temporarily toyed with other career paths there was never any real doubt in my mind that I would (for better or worse, for richer or poorer) become a musician, more specifically, a church musician. Graduate school and European studies followed eventually leading me to wonderful experiences as OrganistChoirmaster at Episcopal Cathedrals in Orlando, Atlanta, and in 1993, at Christ Church Cathedral. Nothing, however, over the years has ever meant more to me, or caught me more by surprise, than being named Lay Canon for Music by Bishop Doyle on Sunday, November 8. This is a break with Cathedral tradition. While both of my extraordinary predecessors, William Barnard and Clyde Holloway, received this designation, it was not until their retirement. I am the first to hold this title and still get to stick around. I now know about some of the elaborate plans that had been underway for some time. Not only were there official channels to work through, but a beautiful new vestment in “Canon Purple” had to be ordered and made without my knowledge. How grateful I am to Bishop Doyle, Dean Reynolds, Nancy Younger and Wick Rowland and a host of
Bob Simpson with his new vestment others for this great honor. And I will never forget the gleeful expressions on the choir members’ faces and the outpouring of appreciation from the congregation. Though Gram and I laughed about those church services for years afterward, I never did ask her the really central question, “Why did you suggest we play ‘church’?” Why not “concert hall” or even “show time?” Why “church?” I am sure Gram wouldn’t have been able to really explain it. But, I am equally sure that she would have been the only person not completely surprised on November 8th.
See more pictures of this extraordinary service by visiting www.christchurchcathedral.org and linking to About Us and then Photo Gallery.
S U N D AY S
W E E K D AY S
8 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite I 9 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite II 10 a.m. Education Hour 11 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite I 1 p.m. La Santa Eucaristía, Rito II 5 p.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite II
7:30 a.m. Morning Prayer 12:05 p.m. Holy Eucharist* 6 p.m. Evening Prayer *On Fridays, the 12:05 Eucharist includes a Service of Healing
T H E G O L D I N G C H A P E L is open throughout the day Monday through Friday for prayer and quiet introspection. C H R I S T C H U R C H C AT H E D R A L 1117 Texas Avenue, Houston, Texas 77002 713-222-2593 www.christchurchcathedral.org