Queer Places:
1222 N Ogden St, Denver, CO 80218
Saint Bartholomew's Episcopal Church
Manhattan, New York County (Manhattan), New York, USA
The Welsh-born American church musician, composer, and teacher, David McKinley Williams
(February 20, 1887 - March 13, 1978), began his career in church music as a chorister in the choir of the Cathedral of St. John, Denver. At the age of 13 he became the organist of St. Peter's Church, Denver.
Not long after his return from Europe in 1920 he became the director of music at St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church, where he would remain for the next twenty-six years and raise the level of music at that church to become one of the best-regarded in that city. Williams was openly gay, and was suddenly dismissed from his position in 1946. This would certainly have been known for some time by leadership at St. Bartholomew's, and it's possible that action was not taken earlier because Williams was a close friend and colleague of composer
Amy Beach, a parishioner and probably a significant donor to the church (who died in 1944). The congregation was told that Williams had developed hearing problems and would be taking a leave of absence and leaving the city to seek treatment.
David McKinley Williams was born in Caernarfon, Gwynedd, Wales, he moved to Denver at an early age and was trained as a chorister by Henry Housley at the Cathedral of St. John in the Wilderness. In 1908 he
moved to New York as organist of Grace Church Chapel and studied with Clement Gale. He spent the years from 1911 to 1914 in Paris where he studied with Vierne, D’Indy, and Widor. Returning to New York, he was at the Church of the Holy Communion from 1914 to 1916, when he joined the Canadian Artillery and saw service overseas. In 1920 he returned to Church of the Holy Communion, leaving six months later to become organist and choirmaster of St. Bartholomew’s Church upon the death of Arthur Hyde. There, for the next twenty-seven years, he developed an already outstanding program into one of tremendous popularity and superlative influence. Inspired by the organ in the dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, it was his vision that led to the placing of the Celestial Organ in the new dome of St. Bartholomew’s Church in 1930 and by all accounts he was very creative in his service playing and accompanying. He was precise and demanding of his choir and was vivid and dramatic in his music and in his speaking. Virgil Fox was a great admirer of David McK. Williams and quotes him at some length in his 1968 masterclasses. In fact, much of Fox’s own theatrics are the result of his infatuation with
David McKinley Williams, including his wearing of a cape!
Following his forced retirement he remained in New York, in spite of the claims by church leadership, headed the organ department at the Juilliard School of Music and was a faculty member at the School of Sacred Music at Union Seminary. He remained active in church music circles and the local chapter of the American Guild of Organists, where younger people in later years couldn't recall any significant hearing issues.
After his retirement he traveled widely and maintained many friendships throughout the country with students, colleagues, and others, including James Michener, with whom he traveled to the South Pacific.
Williams died in 1978 and is buried in the crypt of St. Bartholomew’s Church.
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