Church Review
2 March 2008 - 26 אדר א' 5768 by Huw
Following a sign (more to follow) I visited St Andrew’s Church, Buffalo.
They are “the” Anglo-Catholic parish of Buffalo, having been founded by a priest who was later driven from the diocese for the innovation of candles actually on the altar: the horrors! Can you imagine? It’s like Fr Brent used to say at St Mary’s Asheville: we (the Catholics) won: That same priest was later Bishop here. So it’s a “Shrine” Church. (One strike) They don’t have much on their webpage (that’s 2); and their posted newsletter is out of date. That normally would have put me right off. But they’ve invited a friend of mine to preach in April, one of the folks from the “Gathering the Next Generation” group. And I took that as a sign that something must be right…
An easy enough drive - only 4 miles away (as is pretty much everything in Buffalo): I was greeted at the door by a total of 3 different folks, including a random member of the congregation standing around who handed me a bulletin. Then they left me alone for a while - but not for long. The Clergy came out of the sacristy, moved around the room spotted a new-comer and made me feel quite welcomed.
Liturgy was BCP Rt 1 (because of Lent, I later found) but included 2 of my favourite hymns and and the Choir’s anthem was Faure’s Cantique de Jean Racine which I’d sung in High School (and still remembered the French words) - that got me misty-eyed. I told God I’d just about had enough signs, thanks. But he knows I’ve been quite dense, lately.
The rector, Mother Sarah Buxton-Smith, is a Yale Seminary Alum. She is, however, a recent graduate having attended just after or just before my friend. Her husband is the assistant priest. The sermon was quite good: left me thinking (and a blog post about to manifest from it). Communion was given by name to everyone. Which is impressive without nametags, even in a small congregation. The liturgy was decidedly unfusssy for a shrine church - happening in the basement (to save on heat) with the chairs arranged in a semi circle around the altar. Rose vestments, of course, and beginning with the Decalogue (!!!) but as I found out later all because of Lent.
The Parish does Rt 2 normally, and drifts as far as Rt 3 (”I hope that doesn’t bother you” she said. “I used to be a member of St Gregory of Nyssa Church” I said. “I’m quite comfortable with Rite 17″.) They are getting ready to tear out the pews, seeking to use the church for worship and a performance space; move the altar down to the people, put chairs in rows on the sides…
The parish is multigenerational on its own (and being located next to the University of Buffalo it also has an influx of folks) and multi-racial (which here means biracial, largely). During coffee hour the clergy introduced me to pretty much everyone and gave me a tour of the building: I’ve even seen the “innovative” candlesticks. It’s a small congregation, but they can sing.
I think I’ve found a wonderful home. As I told Mother Sarah, it was the welcome that hooked me - but everything else is awesome too. We’re having lunch this week.
Sounds like you have found a wonderful home. My continued prayers, and I pray lunch goes well: I need to have lunch with my (new) priest soon too. I’ve put it off long enough.