As part of its efforts to revitalize the church, St. Benedicts is taking steps to add to our liturgy in ways that increase the beauty of worship. On Sunday, October 26, 2025, Fr. Nicholas Harrelson worked with parishioner Grayson Currin and Atticus Harrelson, in an effort to train Grayson as the next thurifer at the church and Atticus as his attendant Boat Boy. The first part of training focused on the first third of the Mass, centering primarily on the procession into the sanctuary and the censing of the altar.
Training will continue next week. Fr. Nicholas will review the various parts of the Liturgy of the Word and the thurifer’s role in censing the Gospel Book, culminating with the censing of the elements at Communion and the second censing of the altar. The training will culminate in the third week with the aim being at drawing it all together in time for Archbishop Mark Haverland’s Episcopal Visit at the end of November.
Further additions to the liturgy are being made. St. Benedict’s Anglican Church recently named Dr. Benjamin Musachio, a local parishioner and professor at the University of North Carolina (UNC), as a cantor. Dr. Musachio will be chanting the propers in Latin for the Feast of All Souls, another liturgical addition being added to certain feast days and festivals.
Finally, St. Benedicts will be training selected laymen to perform the liturgical functions of Sub-Deacon in an effort to make a complete Solemn High Mass celebrations possible. Although not part of the three-fold ministry of Bishop, Priest, and Deacon; Sub-Deacons are considered part of the Major Order in the Western tradition (while considered a Minor Order in the Eastern Church). Although part of the Major Order, the Anglican Church does allow for laymen to serve the liturgical function during Mass and are differentiated from an ordained Sub-Deacon by the exclusion of a maniple (a piece of Eucharistic vestments worn by an ordained Priest, Deacon, or Sub-Deacon handling the Holy Eucharist). Sub-Deacon training will be announced in November.
It is the case that most Western Christians are no longer well versed in the intricate and beautiful liturgies of their forefathers. While St. Benedicts has always maintained a robust tradition offering a Sung Mass on Sunday mornings, it has not included such traditional aspects as the thurifer or been capable of offering a full solemn high mass due to a lack of clergymen available to serve the function. It is Fr. Nicholas’ hope that in making such additions to the liturgy, people will again become acquainted with the rich liturgical traditions of their ancestors and providing a fuller, richer worship experience for the community.
“Let my prayer be set forth in thy sight as the incense; and let the lifting up of my hands be an evening sacrifice.”
