Grace Cathedral

On July 29, 1974, eleven women were ordained at the Church of the Advocate in Philadelphia, PA, slowly unleashing a new and more inclusive era in the ordained leadership of The Episcopal Church. In honor of the 50th anniversary of women’s ordination, Grace Cathedral is celebrating with topical sermons, prayers, and music by women composers. Our celebrations will culminate in a festal evening liturgy on Sunday, July 28 at 6 pm, with the Rev. Dr. Ruth Meyers preaching, and a mixed-voice choir singing.

The Mass for Three Voices to be sung at 11 am on July 21 and July 28 was composed by the prolific Canadian composer Stephanie Martin. 

At Choral Evensong on Thursday, July 25, the Preces and Responses are taken from a setting by June Nixon, a fellow of the Royal College of Organists, the first woman to receive the John Brooke prize for the Choirtraining Diploma. The canticles are from Sarah MacDonald’s Third Service. MacDonald is a Canadian-born conductor, organist, pianist, and composer, living in the UK, and she holds the positions of Fellow and Director of Music at Selwyn College, Cambridge and Director of the Girl Choristers at Ely Cathedral. She was the first woman to hold such a post in an Oxbridge Chapel. Congregational music is taken from Voices Found, a collection of hymns and spiritual songs by, for, and about women, published by Church Publishing.

Join us for any and all of these occasions:

Sunday, July 21, 11 am. Choral Eucharist (in person and livestream)
The Rev. Canon Mary Carter Greene, Canon Pastor, preaching

Thursday, July 25, 5:30 pm Choral Eucharist (in person)
The Feast of St. James
The Rev. Erin Wiens St. John, preaching
Priested on Wednesday, July 17, Erin is the newest female priest in the Diocese of California, and was sponsored by Grace Cathedral for ordination. She now serves as a Curate at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, San Rafael.

Sunday, July 28, 8:30 am. Holy Eucharist (in person)
The Feast of St. Mary Magdalene (transferred)
The Rev. Canon Sally Bingham, Canon for the Environment, Diocese of California.

Sunday, July 28, 11 am. Choral Eucharist (in person and livestream)
The Feast of St. Mary Magdalene (transferred)
The Rev. Canon Anna E. Rossi, Canon Precentor and Director of Interfaith Engagement, preaching.

Sunday, July 28, 6 pm Choral Eucharist (in person and livestream)
The Feast of St. Mary Magdalene (transferred)
The Rev. Dr. Ruth A. Meyers, Hodges-Haynes Professor of Liturgics, Church Divinity School of the Pacific, preaching.