Theology Classes begin September 26

The great reredos of Saint Thomas Church

Father Matthew Moretz (photo credit: Alan Barnett)

Dear Friends in Christ,

Our Theology Classes will be resuming on Sunday morning, September 26th, at 10am ET, and the subject matter will be the Theology of the Reredos of Saint Thomas as explored by Fr. Moretz.

This will be hosted on online on Zoom, and for those of you who attend the service in-person, we will have the 5th Floor Parish House room open for you to arrive in-person. In that room will be a screen that displays the class while it is taking place. I won’t be far away, for I will teaching on my office computer in the next room! But, in this temporary orientation, there will be no chance for interaction for in-person class attendees. There is so very much to reveal in that great ornamental screen, and I look forward to exploring this work of sacred art together with you.

In my studies for the class, I discovered this helpful passage from an article by Erest Peixotto in the periodical “Architecture” from July 1920:

This reredos is, I believe, one of the greatest accomplishments in modern ecclesiastical art. The union between architect and sculptor seems quite complete. Its several tiers of niches, peopled with saints and prophets, with great reformers and dignitaries of the Christian Church, rise one upon another, cut in stone of the same warm character as the rest of the church and forming an integral part of it. These niches are shaded by richly carved canopies and separated by slender columns or by delicate buttresses ornamented with exquisite detail.

I look forward to exploring much more than the architectural meaning, though, going deeper into what this great work of sacred art communicates to Christians and what it means for our faith.

If you would like more information and login credentials please contact me.


On October 3rd, we will be having our Bishop’s Visit, the Rt. Rev’d. Allen Shin, Bishop Suffragan of the Diocese of New York. The Candidates for Confirmation and those being received into the church will be meeting with him in the 5th Floor Parish House room beginning at 10:00am. In place of our Theology Class, we will be live-streaming that visit to you, via Zoom, with credentials and more information to follow in a subsequent e-blast.

Grace and peace to you,

Fr. Matthew Moretz+
Vicar