From the Organist and Choirmaster

Last Sunday at our Parish meeting we discussed the future of Trinity Commons on our campus. It’s with great excitement I write this as I believe this ministry strongly supports a unique and special way that Saint Andrew’s can reveal the face of God to universities in our city. In case you were not able to attend the meeting, I’ll give an explanation:

Saint Andrew’s came into administrative oversight of Trinity Commons on August 1, 2024. Through conversations with the Diocese, several of us at Saint Andrew’s worked carefully to imagine what campus ministry could look like at Trinity Commons if Saint Andrew’s were to “take over” the building. The Rev’d Canon Kelley Hudlow proposed the idea of choral scholars, after a similar concept that Pennsylvania State University developed called “Episcopal at Penn,” a program where students offered Evensong on the campus four times an academic year. We realize the ways that music plays a crucial role in our worship of God, so we took this concept a bit further given the physical building of Trinity Commons. It houses two apartments with four bedrooms in total. We thought, what if the students lived in an intentional community in these apartments and joined the musical life of Saint Andrew’s? From this we developed a choral scholars program made up of university students from UAB, Samford, and Miles College as well. Then came the campus ministry aspect of this. It’s one thing to add additional singers to the Parish Choir, but it’s another to intentionally live together, share meals, go to workshops, and serve the community. Though tentative, this life of togetherness that Jesus calls us to will be housed under The Center for Anglican Music at Trinity Commons. As Elin Glenn reminded me Sunday, this is a type of college ministry that Saint Andrew’s can do well, music and service is natural to this Parish. For months, years even, we sat in conversation that felt stagnant at times because we couldn’t figure out how we could make spaghetti dinners and ping pong tables work. Music felt much more attainable and I could see genuine expressions of excitement, readiness, and willingness in the faces of people I respect and have come to love. Thank you to Fr Peter, Elin Glenn, Jason Quarles, and Ben Johnson for all your work. Thank you, Saint Andrew’s, for your support and prayers as we journey through this wonderful adventure together.

There is still work to do to launch this ministry. Conversations with universities have already begun, physical work on Trinity Commons' spaces are underway, and “canvassing the town” with posters is imminent. It’s all very exciting stuff which I’m proud to jointly lead along with Fr Peter and several others.