I write with the news that Charles Raines, our Music Director and Organist, informed me on September 1st that he had decided that the time had come to retire from active music ministry. His last Sunday is October 30. We have begun the search for his successor with members of the choir as part of the process.
It has been a pleasure to work with Charles these last seven years. Before coming to Christ Church, Charles served in parishes throughout the South, the Mid-West, and the Northeast, including such prominent parishes as The Cathedral of St. Philip, Atlanta; Christ Church Cranbrook, Bloomfield Hills, MI; and Grosse Pointe Memorial Church, MI. He held leadership positions in national professional associations as well as at the diocesan level. Charles brought to us a deep familiarity with our rich Anglican tradition as well as the creativity to seek new texts, paired with familiar tunes, that speak to our times in language both contemporary and dignified. He lifted up women composers as well as composers of color. Charles’ liturgical wisdom and experience, and his magnificent organ playing, were a gift. Speaking of the organ, Charles is the person principally responsible for shepherding us through the complex process of saying goodbye to our previous faithful organ and of saying hello to the marvelous new instrument, the 125th Anniversary Memorial Organ. This organ will serve us well into the foreseeable future. I am only sorry we will not get to hear Charles play it for longer.
Following a music ministry that began on the organ in his home parish when a teenager in the late 1960s, Charles now plans to revel in his love of travel, among other endeavors. (As we can see from his picture, he is ready for fun.) We were blessed to be the final movement in a fruitful and consequential music ministry, and we say with gusto, "Well done good and faithful servant." A wonderful custom for departing staff has been to invite contributions (check made out to Christ Church, Charles' Purse in the memo line) to a collective purse as a sign of our gratitude.
Please join me in celebrating Charles’ ministry at Coffee Hour on October 30.
Faithfully,
