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From a Dec. 11, 2022 posting:
On Dec. 11, I attended the Holiday Concert at the Church of the Mediator Bronx .
As a child, I developed a love of churches and sacred spaces. As an adult, I became a local advocate of historic preservation, and when I moved to the Riverdale area, I was stunned by the degree of history that occurred in our community.
I visited the Church during one of their summer farmers markets, but didn’t get a chance to go inside to the sanctuary until this past Sunday.
I have to admit, I was expecting a nice performance, but nothing special. So I was surprised when the show began and it was nothing short of exceptional.
The show comprised only two performers: Cantor Lisa Williamson and Organist (and Music Director) Sam Westley. I wasn’t expecting such professional quality performances, but that is exactly what we received.
Lisa Williamson is a professional vocalist who has performed in a diversity of venues, including Broadway, symphony, opera, recorded music and soundtracks. She has also performed at Carnegie Hall.
Sam Westley has been the Music Director and Organist at the Church of the Mediator since 2015. He is a graduate of the Manhattan School of Music, and is also currently the Executive Director of the Washington Heights Choir School.
Also great thanks to Lydia Sadler , as the wonderful master of ceremonies and other Church members who decorated the church and prepared wonderful snacks for the after-performance reception.
The program was a lovely mix of Christmas Classics and sacred music with cabaret, Broadway and operatic vibes. It was thoughtfully choreographed to be engaging and touching. It was obvious that Ms. Williamson had put in a considerable amount of work developing a program that was balanced but uplifting.
Mr. Westley also performed an organ solo that was nothing short of masterful. Gazing up at the glorious carved triptych above the altar, it filled the heart, and uplifted the soul.
The audience was asked to not video or photograph the performance while it was going on, so as not to disturb the performers. I did however take many photos of the interior of the Church which is simply glorious, with artifacts and stained glass windows spanning the life of this Episcopal Parish, originally established in 1855.There was a reception after the performance at which I met parish and community members. It was obvious that visitors to the show were grateful that they ventured out on this rainy and cold early winter day.
Please continue to support this historic and very special spiritual landmark by attending services, future concerts and events, supporting their climate and social justice programs, and by donating to their building fund.
Recently there has been a lot in the media about the financial challenges facing the Church of the Mediator.
While it’s impossible to say what the future will bring, what is true is that this Church is an extraordinary cornerstone of the community, and a “Greater Kingsbridge” without it would be a tragedy.
Please do what you can to help this very special place.
https://www.churchofthemediator.org/
https://www.churchofthemediator.org/history.html -
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Thank you for this, Stephanie. KHS was recently gifted a collection of material from The Church of the Mediator, including many church bulletins that document the contributions of Lisa Williamson and Sam Westley to the services through many years. Photographs, vestry members, pastors, musicians, information on the windows and the 1923 Skinner organ are now included in the archive, thanks to a concerned church member who collected and notated the material.
Jackie -
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