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Photo: QPHOTONYC
‘Twas the Sunday before Christmas, and all were in sight, at The Church of the Intercession to celebrate the life of Clement Clarke Moore and to rejoice in the bountiful holiday spirit.
Moore, popularly known as the composer of the famous Christmas poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas” was a philanthropic New Yorker, who accomplished much in his lifetime. On Sunday his efforts were recognized with a procession, for the hundredth and one time, to his grave in Trinity Cemetery, and there lay a wreath upon it.
But first there was song, and prayer, and poetry.
Children clad in reindeer antlers and parents in similarly festive apparel filled The Church of the Intercession on West 158th Street and Broadway to both pay homage to Moore and revel in the season’s cheer.
“The [holiday] spirit is very welcoming, and the happiness of Christmas can bring everyone together to sing some songs and go down to Moore’s grave,” said attendee Laura Rollings.
Others were far more focused on the education at hand.
“I really love New York history, so I thought that was very cool,” said Estefanie Alvarrado.
Clement Clarke Moore was renowned as a biblical scholar, a professor of classics at the General Theological Seminary in New York City (which he founded), author of a Hebrew lexicon, and still is most remembered for composing the perennial Christmas favorite, “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” better known as “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.”
As choir members sang favorites like “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and “Do You Hear What I Hear?” the crowd sang and clapped along. The Church was lavishly decorated with wreathes, poinsettias, and Christmas lights, and was filled with the sounds, songs and words of the congregation.
After the recitation of prayers, celebrated jazz musician Ron Carter prepared to read the famed poem aloud, but not before asking all of the children to first sit at his feet in the steps at the nave of the church.
PHOTO: Sandra E. García
As the children settled in and looked up at Carter, he began.
“'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse,” he intoned.
Directly after the reading, St. Nick himself popped out from behind the altar, gifting children with candy canes, and began the illuminaria-lit way towards Moore’s grave. There was a wreath-laying ceremony that included a prayer by The Reverend Dr. James H. Cooper from The Trinity Church at Wall Street.
The prayer was followed by a sing-a-long of “Silent Night” by those in the procession. The crowd of about 70 people was then asked to head to the cemetery chapel for hot chocolate and cookies for all, and wine for the adults.
At the end of the last prayer, Reverend Jose-Roberto Gandara Perea, the priest of the Church of the Intercession, yelled out “Merry Christmas to all!”
It was promptly followed by an immediate response by the crowd, who shouted back, “And to all a Goodnight!”
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