September 25, 2009

Morristown welcomes a rockin' rector

By Kevin Coughlin, Morristown Green

There was pomp and pageantry, enough clergy to move a mountain (or at least, to guarantee nice weather), a heavenly choir, and one of the finest bands in the land.

Somewhere amidst all this, Janet Broderick was given the ceremonial keys to St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, as its 17th rector. The Morristown celebration included actor Matthew Broderick, Janet’s brother; former Newark Bishop Jon Shelby Spong and present Bishop Mark Beckwith, and the Blaire Reinhard Band.

“It feels wonderful,” Janet Broderick said afterward. “I felt all the love. It’s incredible. I wanted to do one of these for everybody there.”

Matthew Broderick’s liturgy reading, from the the Book of Genesis, had a biographical ring to it. He told the story of Sarah, who miraculously conceives a child. The actor and his wife Sarah Jessica Parker (who did not attend) recently had twins, with a surrogate mother.

During her brief remarks, Janet Broderick made a point to thank clergy from Morristown’s other Episcopal congregation, Church of the Redeemer, for participating in last night’s ceremony. Redeemer split from St. Peter’s in the 19th century; the new rector said she looks forward to working with all the clergy in town.

St. Peter’s is looking for internal harmony, after churning through a few rectors in the last decade. Parishioner Christina Creighton was optimistic last night.

“I’m hoping it’s going to work,” she said of Janet Broderick. “She seems wonderful.”

All smiles: Matthew Broderick, Janet Broderick, and Janet’s children, Hannah and James, after Morristown ceremony in which St. Peter’s Episcopal Church officially welcomed Janet as the new rector.

Janet Broderick during a solemn moment in her installation as the first woman rector in the 182-year history of St. Peter’s Church in Morristown.

Actor Matthew Broderick reads from the Book of Genesis, at service celebrating his sister Janet’s installation as rector of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Morristown.

Matthew Broderick outside St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Morristown, prior to service in which his sister, Janet Broderick, was installed as rector.