The "Photographing of St. James Episcopal" Story

It was an ordinary day. I was taking photos with my Minolta autofocus 35mm SLR camera. Had two or three lenses with me today. I was at St. James Episcopal Church in downtown Lancaster. This is the church that I have been a member of since I was 6 years old. Sang in the choir, was a Vestry member, helped with the church's Prime Rib Dinner for Lancaster Town Fair, got married here as well as my daughter got married here, brought my photography classes here for photo shoots, and was the unofficial photographer for the publications that were printed. Sometimes I had a specific subject to take a photo of, while other times I just wondered around the historical 1744 AD church and marveled at the architecture and the beauty of the courtyard and the cemetery at the rear of the church. Many famous people are buried here. Thaddeus Stevens, the only Leader of the House who was know as the "dictator" of the House as well as George Ross, signer of the Declaration of Independence are both buried here. In the graveyard are two granite monuments that were erected in the 1980s to allow members of the congregation to have their remains buried along with the many historical citizens of Lancaster. My father, mother, myself and Carol will all be buried here. Very quiet refuge in the heart of a great historic city. Today I decide to climb the bell tower for some photos of the courtyard below. At the north entrance to the church is located a small door, about 24" wide and 48" high, which can be opened to ring the church's bell. You can also squeeze through the door to climb the wooden steps to the top of the tower. Kind of spooky, even on bright sunny day. Sleeping bats hang from under the steps. I try not to wake them as I circle the inside of the tower. When I reach the final ten feet, I have to climb a metal ladder, push open the heavy wooden door, and climb onto the platform at the top of the tower. Wow, I must be close to 75' or more from the ground. Pigeon dirt is everywhere. The walls of the tower must be two feet thick as I lean over them to see the courtyard below. I imagine the many famous people who have stood in this same spot over the last two centuries. The huge bell is right next to me. I look over the city, finish my photos, and make the climb back down. I have photographed this church from every imaginable angle and position, in all seasons, but it never ceases to amaze me the feelings that I get from snapping photos of this beautiful place. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. PS - photos from the top are: photo of the tower from the north entrance, courtyard from the tower, tombstones in the courtyard illuminated at night, and thebeautiful archway taken with my polaroid and manipulated to make it look like a painting.