An Overview
IPC is dedicated to the use of sacred music that represents the rich heritage of our Protestant tradition. The choral and instrumental music used in corporate worship regularly spans a range of 500 years up to the present day. Our congregational singing reaches back even further, to the hymns of early church fathers and — most of all — to the Scriptures themselves. The Reformed tradition particularly emphasizes the congregational singing of metrical Psalms; and indeed, most of the music that Christians have sung through the centuries in the worship of God comes from the Psalms.
The Reformers sought to enable all worshipers to take an active role in corporate worship. For the Strasbourg pastor Martin Bucer and for his imitators (John Calvin chief among them), this was largely accomplished by paraphrasing the Psalms into metric poetry in local vernaculars that was easily sung and remembered. The first such collection, or psalter, known as the Genevan Psalter because of the Swiss city from which it sprang, was published in French in 1562. Reformers in other countries quickly followed with psalters in their own languages: England in 1564, Scotland in 1565, the Netherlands in 1566, and Germany in 1573, to name the most consequential examples.
IPC stands on the shoulders of these Reformers as we sing metrical Psalms that trace their ancestry back to these collections every Sunday morning and evening. We also draw on the great store of Christian hymns from the time of the early Church to the present.
Morning worship is the high point of the week at IPC—a time of praise, singing, and proclaiming God’s word. The singing is enriched by the Sanctuary Choir, located in the rear gallery. The Reformed tradition (see Leading in Worship) gives primary attention to the morning and evening Sunday services, but we also observe major church year events such as Christmas, Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter.
The Reformers sought to enable all worshipers to take an active role in corporate worship. For the Strasbourg pastor Martin Bucer and for his imitators (John Calvin chief among them), this was largely accomplished by paraphrasing the Psalms into metric poetry in local vernaculars that was easily sung and remembered. The first such collection, or psalter, known as the Genevan Psalter because of the Swiss city from which it sprang, was published in French in 1562. Reformers in other countries quickly followed with psalters in their own languages: England in 1564, Scotland in 1565, the Netherlands in 1566, and Germany in 1573, to name the most consequential examples.
IPC stands on the shoulders of these Reformers as we sing metrical Psalms that trace their ancestry back to these collections every Sunday morning and evening. We also draw on the great store of Christian hymns from the time of the early Church to the present.
Morning worship is the high point of the week at IPC—a time of praise, singing, and proclaiming God’s word. The singing is enriched by the Sanctuary Choir, located in the rear gallery. The Reformed tradition (see Leading in Worship) gives primary attention to the morning and evening Sunday services, but we also observe major church year events such as Christmas, Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter.
Other special services throughout the year include Georgia Heritage Sunday, Reformation Sunday, and our annual Lessons & Carols Service.
The guiding principle of all the music selected for use in corporate worship is “God deserves our best.” Scripture shows us that matters of musical quality and skill of performance go beyond personal taste, so we strive to honor God by “making music in your hearts by the singing of Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs” (Eph. 3:15).
The guiding principle of all the music selected for use in corporate worship is “God deserves our best.” Scripture shows us that matters of musical quality and skill of performance go beyond personal taste, so we strive to honor God by “making music in your hearts by the singing of Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs” (Eph. 3:15).
The Organ
In the beginning of the year 2005, a new organ by the Czech firm Rieger-Kloss was installed in the sanctuary. A pipe organ has been used to accompany the corporate worship of the Independent Presbyterian Church since the completion of the original building on this site in 1819. The rear gallery placement (a normal practice in Europe) was chosen for theological as much as acoustical reasons.
The Rieger-Kloss is the sixth organ in the current location of the Independent Presbyterian Church. The first was built by William Goodrich of Boston in 1820 and played initially by Lowell Mason. Successive organs were built by Knauff (1856), Hutchings (1891), Skinner (1919) and Harrison & Harrison (1974). The new organ features a split mahogany case, and more than 40 ranks of pipes across three manuals and pedal.
The Rieger-Kloss is the sixth organ in the current location of the Independent Presbyterian Church. The first was built by William Goodrich of Boston in 1820 and played initially by Lowell Mason. Successive organs were built by Knauff (1856), Hutchings (1891), Skinner (1919) and Harrison & Harrison (1974). The new organ features a split mahogany case, and more than 40 ranks of pipes across three manuals and pedal.