Church Rededication
“The church is not a building. The church is the community of people on a journey of faith — struggling, searching and singing their way toward what God is calling them to be.” — George Regas
James Walker named Director of Music
In the summer of 1991 the church sanctuary was closed the Sunday after Easter for a six-month renovation, and that summer there was a bit of a blow-up in the music office. I was called back from vacation to help “make it work.” After four months of doing just that, >
First gay blessing at All Saints Church
Mark Benson remembers: ”Early on in James' career as Director of Music at All Saints, George Regas had been leading the parish in the direction of more substantial inclusion of the LGBTQ community. A decision had been made to celebrate the first public blessing of a same-gender union, and so plans were underway. ”James requested that I (as one of the principals of the first couple) make an appearance at a Coventry Choir rehearsal on Thursday, November 7, 1991, to ask for their presence at the service. They all graciously and enthusiastically, said ’Yes!‘ ”On December 5, Phil Straw and I met with James and went over the ideas we had for music at the event. What was especially exciting was how much James and Coventry Choir were involved in the musical offerings on January 18, 1992. ”That public turning point at All Saints was also a great launch for the wonderful career that has unfolded for James in the years since.”
Canterbury discerns, Coventry re-auditions
During the winter and spring of 1992, Canterbury members had a lot to consider. We began a discernment process that leads to rehearsing every Wednesday evening (as opposed to a very irregular schedule of some Wednesday evenings and some Saturday mornings.)
At the same time, Coventry members scheduled “time with James” >
First Coventry Choir Cabaret
is a night at the coffeehouse — the first of many special events that raised scholarship funds for our tours.