Purple reign: Marking Holy Week at Most Holy Redeemer

Photo and reporting by Stacie Joy

We mentioned a few weeks ago that Most Holy Redeemer/Nativity Parish on Third Street between Avenue A and Avenue B could change the color of the clock faces on the recently restored bell tower. 

The clocks were green for Saint Patrick's novena, but now they are a shade of violet-purple to mark Passion Week, aka Holy Week, which marks the observance between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday. (H/T Matthew 27: 1-62, and Mark 15: 1-47.) 

In other Most Holy Redeemer news, the church's historical bells are now used for the hourly chime. You will only hear the carillon bells for hymns and the noon/6 p.m. ringing. 

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• Up in the under-restoration belltower at Most Holy Redeemer

This is why Most Holy Redeemer is green around the bells on 3rd Street

Anyway, you really were seeing green last night on the recently restored bell and clock tower at Most Holy Redeemer/Nativity Parish on Third Street between Avenue A and Avenue B. 

Father Seán told EVG contributor Stacie Joy that the church can now add colors (sorry, only one color at a time!) to the clock faces. 

The clocks are green now for Saint Patrick's novena, and they'll remain that way until his feast on March 17. 

The church will change the colors for future civic and religious commemorations, Father Seán said. (Maybe midnight navy blue for opening day at Yankee Stadium on April 5?) 

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• Up in the under-restoration belltower at Most Holy Redeemer

Friday's parting shots

An EVG reader shared the top photo... showing the new green-tinged clock faces at Most Holy Redeemer on Third Street (Happy St. Patrick's Day?)... [Updated 3/9: Here's more about the green clock faces.]

Meanwhile at the church between Avenue A and Avenue B...EVG reader Carl Bentsen shares that workers removed the Christmas trees from the façade today... Happy daylight saving time weekend!

An evening of classical music at the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer

On Saturday (Feb. 10), the Most Holy Redeemer/Nativity Parish on Third Street hosts another evening of free music. 

Per the EVG inbox: 

Join us for a relaxing, family-friendly evening of classical cello, piano and vocal music at Most Holy Redeemer Church! 

Reverberant acoustics, a beautiful space, and your favorite masterworks by J.S. Bach, Claude Debussy, Gabriel Faure, Manuel De Falla, and more make for an unforgettable evening. 

The event, free and open to the public, starts at 7:30 p.m. at the church, 173 E. Third St. between Avenue A and Avenue B. Find more details here.

When it was time to light up the clocks on the bell tower at Most Holy Redeemer

Photos and video by Stacie Joy

Last evening, Timothy Cardinal Dolan, archbishop of New York, presided over a mass and ceremony to dedicate the newly restored bell tower at Most Holy Redeemer/Nativity Parish on Third Street between Avenue A and Avenue B. 

The four clocks on the tower that reaches 232 feet have been in disrepair for the past two-plus decades.

Outside, parishioners and residents gathered as Cardinal Dolan blessed the bell tower ... and the clocks were to be illuminated for the first time.

There was a countdown to the big moment... then an awkward pause and some chuckles as it took a moment for the lights to come on...

   

The four clock faces on the circa-1851 church will now be illuminated...

You can read more about the church's history and the restoration project in the links below...

Previously on EV Grieve:

• Up in the under-restoration bell tower at Most Holy Redeemer

• It's time for new clocks on the Most Holy Redeemer bell tower on 3rd Street 

Reminders: A ceremony for the restored bell and clock tower at Most Holy Redeemer

ICYMI ... 

There's a dedication ceremony this evening for the recently restored bell and clock tower at Most Holy Redeemer/Nativity Parish on Third Street between Avenue A and Avenue B.

Timothy Cardinal Dolan, archbishop of New York, will preside over a 5:30 p.m. mass and ceremony featuring a procession on Third Street (the block will be closed to traffic during this time).

Cardinal Dolan will bless the bell tower, which will be illuminated for the first time. The new electronic carillon system will also play a rendition of "Silent Night." Then, the bells will play Lou Reed's Metal Machine Music in its entirety. 

Previously on EV Grieve:

• Up in the under-restoration bell tower at Most Holy Redeemer

• It's time for new clocks on the Most Holy Redeemer bell tower on 3rd Street 

A mass and inauguration for the new bell tower at Most Holy Redeemer

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

There's a dedication ceremony this Saturday evening for the recently restored bell and clock tower at Most Holy Redeemer/Nativity Parish on Third Street between Avenue A and Avenue B.

Timothy Cardinal Dolan, archbishop of New York, will preside over a 5:30 p.m. mass and ceremony that will feature a procession on Third Street (the block will be closed to traffic during this time).

Cardinal Dolan will bless the bell tower, which will be illuminated for the first time. The new electronic carillon system will also play a rendition of "Silent Night."

Previously on EV Grieve:

• Up in the under-restoration bell tower at Most Holy Redeemer

• It's time for new clocks on the Most Holy Redeemer bell tower on 3rd Street 

Up in the under-restoration belltower at Most Holy Redeemer

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy

On Oct. 30, we reported on the restoration work underway on the bell and clock tower at Most Holy Redeemer/Nativity Parish on Third Street between Avenue A and Avenue B.

In recent weeks, you've likely noticed that the clocks are coming back into service after several decades, and there's an electronic carillon system playing seasonal hymns at certain hours. (Note: The top photo is a pre-restoration shot!)

Earlier in the fall, Father Seán took me on a tour into the 232-foot tower at the historic church, which was completed in October 1851... and it was one of the most exhilarating (aka, terrifying!) EV tours that I've taken!

Father Seán and church handyman Daniel Alvarado met me in front of the newly restored and painted gates and doors to Most Holy Redeemer ...

From there, we climbed!

And climbed!

We went up a steep spiral staircase to the staging grounds above the church's stained-glass windows, where I saw the old clock mechanisms and the about-to-be-installed new ones.

We marveled at the bone graveyard of the animals who have long since perished up in the tower and the beautiful exposed brick. The filtered light coming through the tall windows was awe-inspiring.

Father Seán explained that the church was lucky they didn't need to repair the clocks from outside, which would require cranes, street closures and scaffolding, and would be a much more expensive project. Workers have been transporting materials from within the stairs and ladders during this restoration. 

The church later shared these photos ... showing the spectacular view from the tower clocks...

You can read our previous post for more details on the restoration and history of Most Holy Redeemer. The church also accepts donations "to help alleviate this restoration's burden on our parish budget." You can find a link here.

It's time for new clocks on the Most Holy Redeemer bell tower on 3rd Street

Photos by Stacie Joy

Restoration work has commenced on the bell and clock tower at Most Holy Redeemer/Nativity Parish on Third Street between Avenue A and Avenue B.

The four clocks on the tower that reaches 232 feet have been in a state of disrepair for the past two-plus decades.

Below is a letter to the community about the project from Father Seán Connolly:

I am happy to announce to you the beginning of the restoration project of our church's bell and clock tower! 

This historic and beautiful tower reaches into the sky far beyond most structures of the East Village at 232 feet, but as you are aware, has been in a state of disrepair for over two decades. The clock dial no longer works and the wood of its four faces is deteriorating making it an eyesore for our local community. Of the five bells only a single striker on one provides a lone toll at the noon hour. 

In consultation with our parish finance council, we have accepted a bid from Elderhorst Bells, Inc. to restore our bell and clock tower. The dial will work again and there will be four restored faces that will be lit at night, even in different colors depending upon liturgical feasts or civic holidays. There will also be five working bells that will beautifully chime and an electronic carillon system that will play a seasonal hymn at certain hours. 

The church is also accepting donations "to help alleviate the burden this restoration will have on our parish budget." You can find a link here.

Construction of the current church was completed in October 1851 (EV Grieve was the first media outlet to report on this in 1851!)

And more history:

A major overhaul of the church began in 1912. Many of the renovations are still evident. With a tower that today reaches into the sky far beyond most of the structures of the East Village at 232 feet, it is hard to believe that it once was even taller. The 250-foot tower was reinforced and lowered to its current height and capped with a new copper dome and gold cross. 

And a view of the church dated 1875...

Father Seán provided a tour of the tower to EVG contributor Stacie Joy. We'll post those photos another day... here's a teaser...

For the Byrd: Celebrating the music of William Byrd at Most Holy Redeemer

On Saturday evening, the Most Holy Redeemer/Nativity Parish on Third Street is hosting a Byrd Fest. 

The church is celebrating the music of English organist and composer William Byrd (who was NOT a founding member of the Byrds), in the 400th anniversary year of his death featuring faculty members from Juilliard 

The event, free and open to the public, starts at 7 p.m. at the church, 173 E. Third St. between Avenue A and Avenue B. There are post-concert refreshments in the rectory garden. 

Find more details here.

Candlelight carols this Sunday at the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer

This Sunday (Dec. 18!), the Most Holy Redeemer/Nativity Parish on Third Street is hosting candlelight carols in celebration of the season.

The event, free and open to the public, starts at 4 p.m. at the church, 173 E. Third St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.

An evening of something not Halloween related at the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer

If you're looking for something not related to the Halloween weekend this weekend ... tomorrow (Saturday!) evening, the Most Holy Redeemer/Nativity Parish on Third Street is hosting An Evening of Sacred Vocal Music... featuring work by Bach, Handel and Parry. Find more details here. 

The concert starts at 7 p.m. at the church, 173 E. Third St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.

Sign up to sing with the Most Holy Redeemer Church youth choir

Via the EVG inbox... 

Calling all children and youth ages 7-16 to join the Youth Choir at Most Holy Redeemer Church! Tuition-free and open to all backgrounds, creeds and experience levels. Come and make new friends, find your unique voice, and learn to make music together as a team. 

Instructor Clara Gerdes Bartz is an experienced organist, pianist and choir director, a recent graduate of Yale University School of Music, and has worked with children's and youth choirs since 2015. Please text her at (704) 928-6280 if interested! 

The church is on Third Street between Avenue A and Avenue B.

Sunday's parting shot

A red-tailed hawk on the cross atop Most Holy Redeemer on Third Street today ... thanks to Steven for the photo...