The "Christ Church Cathedral of Nassau: Part II" Story

Church tower and clock

It was an ordinary day.  Walking the aisles of the historical 1841 Christ Church Cathedral in Nassau, the Bahamas which is Anglican/Episcopal.  As I near the right front of the church, I enter a dark mahogany pew, put the kneeler down and kneel for a prayer.  I give thanks for the opportunity to visit in this place of worship and kneel where many a famous person as well as commoner has knelt before me.  

The pipe organ of Christ Church Cathedral

 The history of this beautiful place was part of my story yesterday and will continue today with some of the interior  features of the church.  

The pipe organ has it's own history to tell.  In 1864 the original pipe organ was installed in the church which was manually operated until 1920 when an electric pump was installed.  

The non functioning pipes above the keyboard

 In 1935 the pipes were moved to the balcony or the west gallery at the rear of the church, but non functioning pipes remained above the organ in the front of the church, primarily for appearance.  Then, after nearly a century of service that included weathering a hurricane as well as a fire in the church, the organ was retired and replaced by a new one in 1954.  Again, in 1986 another new organ was installed which was featured in the American Guild of Organists Journal in 1987.  It has 3 manuals, 64 ranks and 3,200 pipes.  What caught my attention are the black keys with white keys for the sharp and flat notes.  Looks incredibly different than the traditional keyboard.  

Pipes were moved to the rear balcony of the church

 The organ is arguably the finest in the Caribbean.  The 1830 tower gained a clock in 1865 which was three feet lower than the clock that was placed on the tower in 1926.  The 1926 clock was made by Thwaites and Reed of London who are still in business today.  It is described as a flat bed turret clock which has a cast iron frame that sits on a horse of solid oak.  The wheels and bushes are brass with steel pinions and arbors.  

This photo shows the altar, candlesticks and cross

 The clock face is 48" in diameter of convex copper painted black.  The hands, minute markers and numerals are also copper with gold leaf decorations.  The altar, lectern, candlesticks and cross as well as other statues and paintings were all donated in memory of loved ones.  The Lady's Chapel, which was constructed in 1997, was made possible by a generous donation.  

Stained glass window above the altar

 The St. Martin's Chapel, dedicated to honor St. Martin of Tours is to the left of the main altar in which is kept the consecrated bread and wine in a veiled tabernacle.  The choir stalls which are on both sided of the main aisle in front of the altar have red cushions with embroidery on the rear seat cushions.  The main stained glass window behind the alter brings back memories of the window above the alter in my home church of St. James Episcopal in Lancaster, PA.  As I wander around the rear of the church I am met by a woman who introduces herself as the church administrator.  We talk about the church and I share some information about St. James which is slightly older that Christ Church Cathedral.  

Seating for the church choir

 She invites me to share in mass on Sunday with "The Dean of Nassau" who is the Reverend Patrick L. Adderley.  As I leave I get a chance to talk with the sexton of the church who shares a few stories of the church and church yard.  

Rev. Patrick L. Adderley blessing the wine

 I'm impressed with the friendly nature of the church workers, but guess I shouldn't be, since it is the same genuine interest that is shared by those at St. James in Lancaster.  I didn't make it back for mass, but my thoughts were with the church during that time.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.