+Ward Hamlin loved beauty. The beauty of a well-done liturgy is how I will always remember him. Perfect choral music, well recited prayers, graceful movement throughout the chancel, a well-crafted and delivered sermon and at the end a meal fit for kings and peasants alike, the Holy Eucharist. This is how several of us who had the honor of serving as priests at this Cathedral, remember him.
He appreciated all that went into liturgy including, but no limited to, the choral music. Former Dean Liza Spangler, former Canon Paul Lillie and I all agree---having Ward Hamlin as a member of the congregation was a tremendous gift. His dedication to the church went beyond the choir stalls. As Liza told me, Ward was the finest Warden she had ever worked with in her career. I remember his support of me as I worked with the youth in this place, understanding that we needed to provide services for children who weren’t part of the choral program. He served God in a wide array of ways and he did it all with classic Ward Hamlin precision and dedication.
Ward pursued excellence in all things not just because that’s what he expected of himself and those around him, but because it is in excellence where the beauty of God is so often found. And for Ward, beauty is what it was all about.
For Ward beauty could be found in many places and in many forms... first and foremost he found beauty in his family---nothing made his face light up more than his family. Your joy was his joy. He loved discussing choir music with Emma and Grace, especially enjoying a friendly competition about who got to sing what piece of music first! He and Steven engaged in lengthy conversations about Yankees baseball and fast cars. And then there was Lynn. On a number of occasions Ward told me of his deep and abiding love for his wife. A love he felt unworthy to receive, but a love he was bound and determined to honor.
Ward Hamlin is the only person I know who could regale one with details about a well-crafted legal debate, the sweet swing of Derek Jeter, riding his tractor along the death defying hill at the house in Colden, and drinking in some obscure 800 year old pub in the English countryside...all in one conversation! There was beauty in all of it, and Ward relished it.
You see, to appreciate beauty, to see beauty, to notice beauty, one must understand beauty.
Ward Hamlin understood beauty. He appreciated it. He sought it.
Today, in paradise, Ward is experiencing a beauty unlike any other, a beauty beyond all understanding. Yes Ward, a beauty and a peace you can’t even describe with your exquisite wordsmithing skills.
Today, Ward is perfect. Today he is fully who it is God created him to be. Today, Ward understands it all.
This is the wonder of eternal life, it’s the culmination of our Christian journey to find ourselves, at the last, in the full presence of beauty, in the full presence of the Holy, in the full presence of Love.
I have no doubt that on this day, Ward is exhaling with sighs too deep for words, basking in the glory and beauty of all that was and is and is to come. Today, Ward’s existence alongside his Lord and God is sublime.
Any of us who heard Ward sing had a glimpse of this glory he now fully inhabits.
Now I know I’m surrounded by musicians of great skill and amazing talent here, which made me question whether or not I should delve into his choral career in this homily. But then I remembered why we sing, and why we listen to others sing-- to glorify God. To praise God. To pray.
I’ll never forget what it felt like to be seated in this glorious building on Good Friday while Ward chanted the Passion Gospel.
Ward understood.
He understood that singing is praying and that singing beautifully is to pray exquisitely.
Ward Hamlin sang beautifully, prayed exquisitely and loved his God with all his heart, all his mind and all his strength.
Ward was no passive follower of Jesus…he was passionate. And God loves nothing more than a passionate believer.
When Ward become weaker and weaker he needed to sit during rehearsals of Vocalis- but to stop singing? That was a pain too great for him to bear. Which is why it gives us all such joy to know that today Ward has set up residence in the choir room of God’s house, singing with the angels, forever.
As word of Ward’s death spread across the choral music community, tributes to Ward were posted on his Facebook page.
Jaimie Burritt shared a recording of the Vocalis performance of Jake Runestad’s “Let My Love Be Heard,” based on this text:
"Angels, where you soar
Up to God's own light,
Take my own lost bird
On your hearts tonight;
And as grief once more
Mounts to heaven and sings,
Let my love be heard
Whispering in your wings."
(From "A Prayer" by Alfred Noyes)
On the afternoon of June 30, 2018, the angels sang Ward Hamlin home.
To his family and friends: may we be comforted in knowing that from this day forward, whenever we experience the beauty of a well performed choral anthem, a perfectly executed double play or a stellar legal case marvelously argued, take a close listen and hear Ward’s love, now one with God’s, whispering within the angels’ wings.
Rest in peace, good and faithful servant, job well done. Amen.
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