The story of the LVCoB Sanctuary Choir founded in a “progressive church… with a pipe organ.”
History of the La Verne Church of the Brethren Sanctuary Choir
The history of the La Verne Church of the Brethren Sanctuary Choir begins a few years after 1889 when the first members of the German Baptist Brethren Church arrived in the town of Lordsburg. These pioneers’ primary intent was to establish a church and a college. The congregation was established in 1890. Lordsburg College held its first classes in the fall of 1891.
Traditionally, German Baptist Brethren restricted musical instruments from their worship place. They regarded the human voice as the only proper instrument of worship. Their singing featured a capella, four-part harmony, in slow-tempo congregational singing. But by 1895 a few of the Lordsburg Brethren were ready to add a choir to their worship. Their first choir practices were held in private homes with a piano that yielded more efficient practices.
With the turn of the 20th century came changes. In 1908, the congregation left the German Baptist Brethren Church and joined the Church of the Brethren, a newly reorganized, progressive denomination. It took its name as well. The growing town of Lordsburg engulfed the nearby village, La Verne, named for the French term meaning “spring-like”. Lordsburg not only adopted the village but also its name. As did college becoming La Verne College. By the end of World War I, three religious groups- Quaker Friends, Mennonites and the Church of the Brethren- met to hold various peace conferences. They became known as “Historic Peace Churches”. Through all the changes the choir continued. In 1923 one more change came when the church allowed the use of a piano in worship.
The construction of the current church sanctuary began in 1929, just before Black Tuesday and the unforeseen Wall Street Crash of 1929. Despite the economic challenges of the Great Depression, the completed sanctuary, equipped with a newly installed pipe organ and a choir loft with stadium seating, was dedicated on September 21, 1930. Over the years, this resonant gathering place has not only been used as a house of worship but also as a local performance center for choirs and musical groups of area public schools and universities.
Today, the La Verne Church of the Brethren Sanctuary Choir is a multi-generational organization of 50+ voices sharing hundreds of years of choral performance experience. Formed around a core of professional and semi-professional singers, it includes music educators and exceptionally talented amateurs. Some of our singers represent the second and third generation of families active in this choir.
Our church has a heritage of Christian service in ways that are inclusive, caring and peace minded. Within our choir are members whose forebears were persecuted or imprisoned by federal authorities for being conscientious objectors during World Wars I and II. Others have family connections with the Sea Going Cowboys, a Brethren organization that helped reestablish dairy and other livestock herds after World War II. This grew into the Heifer International organization.
In past years, in communities around the world, several of our choir members served in Brethren Volunteer Service, a precursor to the Peace Corps. Still others were active youth in the Civil Rights Movement of the 60s.
Currently, several members help hurricane and tornado victims rebuild homes through Brethren Disaster Service or serve in Children Disaster Service, counseling children following gun violence and other disasters. Several of our choristers serve in our church program that regularly prepares meals for the Hope for Homeless Service Center in Pomona. Others work in our Peace and Carrots Garden growing tons of fresh produce donated each year to the Inland Valley Council of Churches Food Bank. Finally, several members help area organizations resettle immigrants and refugees fleeing oppression.
Sharing the leadership of our choir these past 18 years are two highly skilled musicians. Composer, pianist, and songwriter Shawn Kirchner serves as accompanist. Professional ensemble singer, soloist and Cal Poly Pomona professor of music, Niké St. Clair, D.M.A., directs our choir. As members of the nationally renowned and Grammy-Award winning Los Angeles Master Chorale, both perform locally at Disney Hall and tour the world with the Master Chorale’s Lagrimé di San Pietro. In musical circles of the wider Los Angeles area, both are well-known and treasured for their musical skill and ability.
Through real life practice as well as in our music, the choir emphasizes ideas expressed in the following church mission statement- The La Verne Church of the Brethren continues the work of Jesus peacefully, simply, together. We create a Christian community, called by Christ to be inclusive, caring and peace minded. We affirm that people of any race, ethnic identity, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, age, economic status, faith tradition, or life situation are welcome in our congregation. We believe in compassionate service, stewardship of creation, respect for diversity and nonviolent reconciliation for differences among all people, nations and faith traditions. We claim no creed but the New Testament, as exemplified by the life of Christ. We strive to follow the way of Jesus. Through these efforts, we seek to grow ever closer to the mind and heart of God.
LVCoB Sanctuary Choir Tours
2010 Hungary
2013 Brethren American Heritage Tour
2016 Denmark & Germany
2019 France
2023 Ireland
2026 Spain