O God, whom saints and angels delight to worship in heaven: Be ever present with your servants who seek through art and music to perfect the praises offered by your people on earth; and grant to them even now glimpses of your beauty, and make them worthy at length to behold it unveiled for evermore; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. -BCP p819

Adult Choir: Mondays, 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Choir Room.  On the first Monday of the month, we conclude choir rehersal with a sung Compline service in Hallam Chapel (all are invited!)

We are always looking to add new singers—it’s an important part of our worship. For additional information about joining the choir, e-mail Andrew Howell at a.howell1@cox.net.

An Exciting New Program at St. James Episcopal Church

In January of 2011, the Vestry and Clergy of St James approved the creation and funding of an organ and choral scholar program as both a boost to our music program and an outreach program to the local collegiate community. We offer scholarships for four choral scholars to serve as section leaders for our volunteer adult choir. The scholars are expected to sing all Sundays that school is in session as well as weekly Monday evening rehearsals with the choir. It is very important that anyone applying for these positions be able to read music well enough to learn their parts outside of rehearsal and to come fully prepared to each rehearsal and service. As well as providing leadership in choral music, there is ample opportunity for solos and some choral conducting if desired. 

We are always interested in hearing from new applicants. Contact Andrew Howell at a.howell1@cox.net or 401-864-8066 for more information or to schedule an audition.

Current Choral Scholars:

Soprano: Adrienne Bitting - Connecticut College '11

Alto: Genvieve Ashley-Spitale - University of Rhode Island '08

Bass: Ryan Foley - Connecticut College '13

Andrew Howell, Organist and Choirmaster, received his Bachelor of Music in Music Education in 2005 from the University of Rhode Island. He was the first graduate of the Master of Music program in Choral Conducting Performance at URI, also specializing in Organ Performance with George Kent. Andrew is Music Director at the Watch Hill Chapel in Westerly, Rhode Island during the summer and is on the conducting faculty at the University of Rhode Island as director of the University Chorus. When not making music, he can be found making musical instruments at Zuckermann Harpsichords, International in Stonington, Connecticut, where he works as builder and primary voicer for the company. Having sung in the Chorus of Westerly from the age of ten, Andrew happily serves on its board of Directors and co-chairs the Children's Committee with his wife, Emily.

Andrew has played organ recitals at numerous churches in Rhode Island and Connecticut and at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin, Ireland.  He was Music Director and Conductor for the Stonington Choral Society from 2007 to 2009 and Organist for the Anglican Singers from 2007 to 2010.  He sings tenor with Connecticut Choral Artists (CONCORA) and regularly assists the Chorus of Westerly in both child and adult rehearsals. Beyond his work with established choral groups, Andrew regularly organizes groups of talented local singers for concerts of sacred and secular choral music, both accompanied and a cappella. In 2009, Andrew founded the Eastern Connecticut Children's Chorus (based at St. James) with Francis Ferrall and co-directs the group of singers aged 8-14 years.

2011-2012 Evensongs at St. James

(Sundays at 5:00 p.m.)

See above for list of dates.

St. James is blessed to host The Anglican Singers, an independently organized choir-in-residence who are dedicated to the English choral tradition. The Anglican Singers have been artists-in-residence since 1997 and sing the majority of Evensong services each year at St. James Church, as well as the annual Service of  Lessons and Carols for Advent. Members of this auditioned 30 member group are directed by Kevin Jones with organist Joseph Ripka. Click here to learn more about this talented organization.

St. James Episcopal Church has a long-established tradition for musical excellence. The organ, an Ernest M. Skinner, Opus 220 built in 1914, is one of the finest instruments in New England, and was donated to the Parish by local philanthropist and railroad magnate, Morton Plant in memory of his wife. The inscription on the memorial plaque designed by Gorham Company-New York reads “To the Praise and Glory of God and in the loving memory of Nellie Capron Plant”. Opus 220 has 43 ranks of pipes with four divisions and pedal, and contains 2680 pipes. Major tonal changes were done by the Möller Company in 1952.

The organ was reconditioned in 2002 by the Foley-Baker Organ Company. This work involved removal of the entire instrument for shop restoration including every valve, pouch, bellows and pneumatic device. All the pipes were removed, washed and regulated. The organ's original mechanical systems were replaced with state-of-the-art electronic switching that includes recall and playback of performances precisely as originally played by the organist.