The Church of St. John the Divine — Attraction in Houston

A beautiful place. My family and friends were looking for a church to join, and we decided to check this one as a possible place of worship for us, so we went to the Dec. 16 Concert Gala. The temple was beautiful and the people seemed welcoming. However, during the first concert with the Boys Choir, my mother was quietly explaining the event to our friends, who are new to the United States. A woman who was seated with her family in front of us began to grumble very obviously but we paid it no mind as we assumed she was complaining of something that had nothing to do with us. How wrong we were! After twenty minutes of hearing her murmur and seeing her stare at us, she scolded us incredibly rudely! We were so incensed we reacted. We thought everything was over, until i saw her snap a photograph of us! She then said she would tell the artistic Director of the Boy's Choir, Carole Nelson, that we had been speaking during her presentation. I was appalled and told her that she should not be taking a strangers' picture without their permission. But it doesn't end there. She began to film a video of us! At this point i am ashamed to say i was incensed! I had never been so blatantly violated in a place of worship, and so i presented a rather rude finger for her future perusal of her illicitly taken video of me and my family and friends. I have never before encountered such judgment, she did not even give us a chance to explain ourselves before everything happened, she just turned to us and rudely scolded us and then took our picture and taped us to tattle like a boorish and bitter child. It doesn't end there! She began shadowing our group all throughout the jazz hall concert afterward! My friends will not be telling their family to join this church, and i will not recommend it to anyone either. There is no use for a beautiful temple if the people who are members of the congregation there treat newcomers...

Leslie and I have been blessed to attend several services at St. John's. Steve, John and the Parish Choir do a beautiful job of leading the congregation in praise, worship and adoration. The Induction Service for the Rector was a serious tribute to excellence in blended worship. St. John's has one of the great pipe organs and being a part of the congregational singing with the choir and contemporary band was wonderful. The pipe organ provides a cushion to instrumental sound no other instrument can provide. I call that cushion and the luxury of orchestral sounds on the organ being used in congregational singing, the Holy Spirit Cushion! The Induction Service goes down as one the very memorable events in our life. Yet, we are blessed in hearing the choir singing divided at the entrance acapella motets and then anthems at the Offertory as well. God continue to bless all you do...

Attended the world famous Tenebrae Choral Concert of Sacred Music at The Church of St. John Divine. The Choir entered the nave up the center aisle and went directly to the rear of the chancel and sang their first piece. Afterward, they moved towards the open space between the nave and chancel. Tenebrae sings acapella without any microphones, and the acoustics within are excellent! Each baritone, tenor, alto, and soprano could be heard clearly, and the sound of their voices was rich. I would highly recommend this church for any sacred music concert that would be held there. Parking can be an issue if it is sold out like Tenebrae's was. Excess parking must go across the street to the high school parking lot, which is free, and the traffic is directed by Law Enforcement Officers, both before and after the concert. No photos or videos were allowed by the public within...