Christmas in Chelsea Square

Aired 2011-12. The Chapel of the Good Shepherd, a 194-year-old seminary in the heart of New York City’s historic Chelsea district, was the site for readings from Scripture, a variety of choral works and musical performances. The holiday special “CHRISTMAS IN CHELSEA SQUARE,” a service of Lessons and Carols from the General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church, was broadcasted on Saturday, Dec. 24 (11:35 PM-12:35 AM ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

“CHRISTMAS IN CHELSEA SQUARE,” FROM THE HISTORIC GENERAL THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY IN NEW YORK,  BROADCAST DATE: SATURDAY, DEC. 24 2013, ON THE CBS TELEVISION NETWORK

 

The holiday special “CHRISTMAS IN CHELSEA SQUARE,” a service of Lessons and Carols from the General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church, was broadcasted on Saturday, Dec. 24 (11:35 PM-12:35 AM ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

 

The Chapel of the Good Shepherd, a 194-year-old seminary in the heart of New York City’s historic Chelsea district, was the site for readings from Scripture, a variety of choral works and musical performances.

 

Bishop Catherine Roskam and the retiring Bishop Suffragan of the Dioceses of New York hosted the program, which was rich in liturgy and Christmas carols. The Dean of the Seminary, Rt. Rev. Peter James Lee, introduced the Seminary’s mission to the viewers.

 

Members of the seminary community offered readings from scripture interspersed with choral works, and other musical performances featuring a pipe organ, woodwinds and brass. Christmas carols were also played on chimes. The Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, Rt. Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, delivered a brief homily.

 

The special ended in the Seminary Refectory with a warming hearth fire and a bright Christmas tree. It was here that “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” the beloved poem by Clement Clarke Moore, was read to a group of young children. This reading of the poem has become a Christmas tradition at the seminary over the years. Moore was a professor of biblical languages at the Seminary.

 

The producer for the Seminary Christmas Special was Bruce Parker; the executive producer for CBS is John P. Blessington.