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Music at St. James
Music at St. James' is
an integral part of the worship experience and parish life.
Congregational, choral and organ music at the 10:30 Sunday service and seasonal
feast days supports the appointed liturgical and lectionary themes and is based
in the traditional Episcopal/Anglican liturgical and classical styles, using
Hymnal 1982 and Wonder, Love and Praise.
 Dr. Mark Butler,
organist and choirmaster at St. James' since 1989,
plans the music for each service, rehearses and directs the Senior Choir, and
plays the organ for the weekly 10:30 Eucharist, as well as playing for most
weddings and funerals. Dr. Butler has been a church musician for over 30 years
in Arkansas, Tennessee and Mississippi. A professor of music at Delta State
University in Cleveland, Butler teaches courses in music education, music
theory, horn and organ. He is a member of the Association of Anglican Musicians
and the American Guild of Organists. He holds music degrees from the University
of Mississippi and Arkansas State University. Butler also serves as the
registrar and treasurer for the Mississippi Conference on Church Music and
Liturgy, a national church music conference held yearly at the Gray Center in
Canton, Mississippi.
The Senior Choir, comprised of adult parishioners who volunteer their
time and talent, provides choral music of various styles in addition to leading
in the singing of hymns and service music each Sunday at the 10:30 a.m. service.
Rehearsals are held weekly on Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m. and Sunday mornings
at 9:30 a.m. with a streamlined summer schedule. Membership is open to adults
and older teens. Anyone interested in singing should contact the
organist-choirmaster, Mark Butler, for more information about joining the choir
and the responsibilities and expectations of membership. Regular rehearsal
attendance is expected for full participation.
Other musical
expressions such as popular and folk-based
musical styles are on occasion integrated into or take the place of the
traditional musical style. Outdoor services may use bluegrass, blues, and jazz
styles exclusively, often performed by St. James’ members and area musicians. In
addition, instrumental musicians are used at times to supplement the traditional
service and choral music.
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