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A Letter from the Rector...

7 October 2026

Dear Ones,

I am excited to announce that that we have called Henry Lee to be our Interim Director of Music. Henry will begin his ministry with us on Sunday, November 1.

I am so very thankful to our Music Search Team - Claudia Fedarko & Martha Robert, Co-Chairs - along with John Branan, Reyn Graves, Paul Martin, and George Shingler. They have completed this first phase of discerning new musical leadership for St. Bede's.

Why an interim? After any long tenure, it is valuable to have a period of transition where the Parish can move beyond where it has been and be present to where God is calling it to be in a new season of its existence. We are calling Henry as our interim for a period of around six months (at least through Easter) to give the Parish the chance to move through the significant seasons of the Church year under new musical leadership. During this time, the Music Transition Team will continue its discernment about a search for a permanent Director of Music for St. Bede's.

Can Henry be considered for the permanent Director of Music? Yes, he can, and that will be part of our collective discernment as well.

But for the time being, we look forward to welcoming Henry on November 1 and we look forward to the blessings that his musical leadership will bring us for the season ahead.

Peace,

Chad

Getting to know Henry Lee...

Henry Lee is an organist, pianist, and conductor based in the Atlanta Metropolitan Area. He is currently an adjunct music professor at the University of West Georgia. 

Henry comes to St. Bede’s from Central Baptist Church in Newnan, Georgia. Having worked in denominations such as Congregational (UCC), Reformed (RCA), Lutheran (ELCA), Baptist (CBF), he is excited to bring his ecumenical spirit to St. Bede’s.

Henry believes in the power of music to bring people together, to foster hope, and to further community outreach. Before moving to Georgia, he was the director of music ministry at West End Collegiate Church in New York City for two and a half years, where he started a community choir that grew to 50 members. Under Henry’s direction, the group’s performance of the Mozart Requiem drew a standing-room only crowd to West End’s historical sanctuary (see concert video here).

Henry also served for nine years as the music director at Grace Lutheran Church in Astoria, New York, where he rebuilt the church adult choir and helped the congregation obtain a new 14-rank pipe organ.

Born in Taiwan and raised in California, Henry holds a Bachelor of Arts in political economy and music from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Master of Music in organ performance from the Manhattan School of Music.

Henry lives in Newnan with his wife, Yen Yu Chen, who is also a musician, their two sons, two cats, and a dog.