Anglo-Catholic Tradition.
Grace Church in Newark was founded in 1837 to be
the standard-bearer for
Anglo-Catholicism in northern New Jersey.
Liturgy.
Our liturgy reflects the influence of both the
nineteenth-century Catholic revival in Anglicanism and the twentieth-century
Liturgical Movement. Incense, lights, and colorful vestments enrich our
worship, but the liturgy is uncluttered and provides ample opportunity for the active
participation of the people.
Music.
Music is central to our liturgy. At the ten o'clock Mass on Sundays most
of the liturgy is sung—some parts by the congregation and others by the choir. The people normally sing the Gloria or Kyrie, the responses, the
refrain to the Gradual psalm, the Alleluia, the Nicene Creed, the Sanctus, and
three metrical hymns. The choir sings one or two motets or anthems and the Agnus
Dei in addition to the introit, offertory, and communion antiphons, set to
their proper Gregorian chant melodies. Our organ is a 48-stop tracker
instrument built by Casavant Frères in 1990.
Christian Education.
Church school classes convene when the 10 a.m. Mass begins and meet during the
Liturgy of the Word. The children enter the church during the exchange of
the Peace and participate in the Liturgy of the Eucharist. An adult Bible
study group meets every week (normally on Wednesday evenings). Programs for
teenagers that combine education and recreation are scheduled on Saturdays.
Parish Community.
Our congregation includes people from Africa and the Caribbean as well as
Europeans, Caucasian Americans, and African Americans. Its members are young and
old, married and single, gay and straight. They are eager to welcome
others into the parish community. Coffee hour follows both Sunday Masses.
Church Building.
Our church building, erected in 1848, was designed by Richard Upjohn, and is a
Registered National Landmark.
