This is one of many installments of a biography of mentor and friend Dick Woods. See here for the entire series.
*******************
Wichita
After leaving grad school at Tulane after only one year, it was on to St. James Church, Wichita, estimated arrival 1955 and estimated departure 1961. Dick founded a boychoir at that church. Judging from the choral sound he cultivated from then on, it would appear that English boychoir had become his choral ideal early on. I have the vaguest recollection of him mentioning singing as a boy chorister in Pittsburgh. If I’m not making that up, then it makes sense that his musical tendencies would have had their first bloom at that early age. (It would also suggest that he was a cradle Episcopalian or at least had discovered Episcopal ways early in life.) At any rate, he gave the Wichita youngsters things they had never experienced – fine liturgical music, a wondrous blend with fellow voices, a sense of propriety in church, and a sense of belonging. Such were the hallmarks of his work for the rest of his life.
But being gay in the mid-twentieth century was often met with hostility, to say the least. And with extremely rare exception, being gay in a position of church leadership was best kept secret. Dick was abruptly dismissed from St. James for whatever reason, but anyone with their finger on the pulse of church attitudes in those days would probably be correct in assuming why. I’ll let a former chorister and a couple clergy from those days complete this post:
“Mr. Woods lived on the second floor if [sic] an old house the church had bought at the edge of its parking [lot], just next to the rectory. It was crummy quarters, but I think he was comfortable there, and very close to his office, the church and the wonderful organ he loved so much. I believe he had a hand [in] making that organ functional once more after some long neglect. I loved to sit alone in the darkened nave, feeling the music pulse through me, as he rehearsed.
“The church. It was both a shelter and a betrayer for me. It did gift me with some temporary self-esteem, and left me with a lifetime appreciation of some inspiring classic religious music, as well as helping me find a place of comfort and excitement for music in general. I thank Richard and the church for that. I forgive the church their ignorance for the evil they visited upon so many of us.”
***********************
“Against what I have learned was some considerable opposition, Richard succeeded in organizing a boys choir at St. James … In the relatively short time he was our choirmaster, he did some very remarkable things with the choirs, as well as with many of us as individuals, myself included … I am very much aware that Richard Woods was one of those essential persons [who helped shape my life], and I would like to know more about him and his life.
“Mr. Woods, as we called him [… was …] strong and intelligent, but [he was a] very private man. I don't know how he related to adults, but he quickly connected with us, and he was an excellent and patient teacher. He paid close attention to our concerns and listened carefully to what we had to say…
“… I missed him deeply when he so suddenly disappeared. Mr. Woods was the only adult in my life that I felt cared about me, and I am pretty certain at this point that he knew that I was being abused and neglected in my own family. While there were a few qualifications necessary to being appointed head choirboy, there were others who probably deserved the position more than I. In retrospect, I am certain that he tilted the table in my favor because he knew that my self-esteem badly needed something just like that. Was that an adult who was paying attention, or what? I was totally stunned at his departure, and the instant disbanding of the boys choir. It had become the high point of my young existence, and truthfully, the only place where I felt competent, safe, respected and wanted. While I know there were others of us who felt similarly, nothing was ever said to us, and I don't think that there was any understanding anywhere within the church community that this was a traumatic event - at least for the kids. The church was no longer my safe place, and I dropped out of church entirely a couple of years later. Incidentally, that dysfunctional congregation split right down the middle shortly thereafter, and a new church was set up out in the eastern suburbs, where the controlling wealth resided. St. James had always been the anchor church, but I believe it struggled mightily for many years thereafter.
“It was only several years later that I managed to obtain any explanation for what precipitated Mr. Woods’s dismissal and, because I got it third party, I still do not know if I got the whole story, or the whole truth. However, it came to my attention when there had been a kerfuffle at the church involving Richard's primary accuser, who had apparently been involved in yet another dysfunctional event, was confronted and reportedly admitted that she had not been truthful about Richard. She disappeared from the congregation, and nothing further was said, to the best of my knowledge. Connecting the dots and examining the whole thing with my more mature understanding of politics and group process, it seems to me that Richard was defamed and that his accuser manipulated his opponents among the Vestry to oust him, with the pretense of squelching a scandal.
“… He showed up for us and for me. He gave freely to us way beyond what was required of him professionally, and left us far better than he found us. He came into my life when I was twelve years old and gave me attention that I got nowhere else. He instilled confidence and taught us cooperation and teamwork. Today, 60 years on, I remember the love and caring he unselfishly gave us, and am eternally grateful. And, he taught me to sing, a gift which has given me comfort for a lifetime.
“In exchange, Richard was not treated well at St. James. I have heard that he was ridiculed by some of the Vestry for his ‘sissy boy choir.’ And, in retrospect, I highly suspect that he was unfairly and inappropriately dismissed. We were not allowed to see him, thank him, or even say goodbye. While I can't speak for the adults among us, I know that this was a traumatic parting for the kids he had trained, cared for and nurtured, and I suspect it must have been traumatic for Richard, as well. I sincerely hope that he went on to a life that returned to him the rewards he so richly deserved … I pray for him and wish him Godspeed in Eternity.”
**********************
Without these quotes, I’d have nothing about St. James. No one from the church responded to my queries. Short of visiting in person and pinning someone down to look up the history, I’m left to wonder if no one wants to talk about it or if they’re just really bad about returning messages. In either case, I don’t have time to beg. At any rate, tragic though the Wichita portion of Dick’s story is, it provides a clearer understanding of a certain prickliness he became known for and of his mistrust of church administrations in his later years.
It is from the quotes above that the idea came to produce a biography of some measure. These people and their heartfelt admiration of Dick inspired me to offer them more information, although I couldn't necessarily offer them a happier ending. Although Dick’s situation didn’t change a whole lot after Wichita, he still brought an untold measure of the profound to many scores of people along the way. Those people know who they are and why they admire him and cherish their memories with him. This series is for them now.
Next time: Paris