Bruce Caviness, a native Washingtonian, began attending services and cultural events at the Cathedral in the 1960s while the nave was still under construction. This marked the beginning of Bruce’s 60+ year history with
the church.
In 1977, Bruce began a 46-year career with National United Methodist Church in Washington, DC as an assisting organist. He also held roles as the director of the children’s choir and music education teacher until eventually becoming the organist-choirmaster in 1984.
A special place
When his work schedule and family obligations kept him busy, he would attend Evensong with his mother on Sunday afternoons, and through the years, Bruce’s bond and admiration for the Cathedral as a special place of peace and beauty continued to grow.
As a musician himself, he enjoyed attending organ recitals and choral concerts at the Cathedral. He remembers Richard Wayne Dirksen conducting the choir and being so moved listening to their soaring descant as they sang Vineyard Haven and being awed by the Aeolian-Skinner pipe organs. He recalls attending exhibits and the homilies of Dr. Alan Geyer and Bishop Desmond Tutu.
Bruce has mourned friends at the Cathedral, two of his musician colleagues—Norman Scribner (2015) and J. Reilly Lewis (2016). He found that the music during their funeral service was glorious and fittingly honored the lives of these titans in church and choral music in the DC area.
After Bruce retired from National United Methodist Church, he had more time to come back to the Cathedral and began regularly attending the 11:15 a.m. service on Sundays. Knowing how many churches struggle with diversity in their music, Bruce sees an outstanding music program at the Cathedral with a traditional Anglican choir, Gospel singing, contemporary Christian music, a traditional pipe organ (digital for now) played masterfully by several staff organists and a praise band with superior pianists.
He feels blessed while watching the morning prayers and appreciates the daily meditation emails, especially during Lent. Bruce clings to the Sunday sermons and the Cathedral’s programming because they offer a glimmer of hope for a brighter and more just future.
A beacon of hope
Bruce’s decision to include the Cathedral in his estate plans comes from his sincere hope that after he is no longer here on earth the Cathedral will continue to be a beacon of truth, hope, mercy and love to the entire world. Perhaps, in the future, its influence will be beyond this earth. Until then, he continues to share his experiences and deep love for the Cathedral with his friends and people he meets.