Music & Liturgy

The congregation of St. James the Fisherman is committed to liturgical reform, engaged preaching, and beautiful music. We worship on Sunday mornings at 9:30 am from late June through early September. The service is an Episcopal eucharist with sermon, hymns, and prelude/postlude selections for piano and occasional other instruments. In keeping with its liturgical history, the language of worship is inclusive and expansive, and all are welcome at God’s table.

For a second year, Peter Kosewski, a year-round resident of South Wellfleet and an imaginative and experienced church musician, will lead the chapel’s music program.

With leadership from both Tracey and Peter, we’ll continue the enjoyable work of expanding our musical range. While we rely largely on hymns from The Hymnal 1982 and draw upon three supplemental collections that the Episcopal Church has issued—Lift Every Voice and Sing (an African American hymnal published in 1993); Wonder, Love, and Praise (a supplement to the 1982 Hymnal, published in 1997); and Voices Found (a hymnal “by, for, and about women,” published in 2003— we will also draw on a number of hymnals from other denominations ranging from Congregational to Roman Catholic.

We’ll use four Sanctus settings in 2026: Schubert and Richard Proulx, from The Hymnal 1982, and  the Pulkingham and the so-called “Land of Rest” settings from Wonder, Love, and Praise.

Preludes and postludes are integral to the liturgy at St. James. These short, often reflective pieces embrace a range of musical idioms, both sacred and secular. They will include piano pieces, as well as organ literature that is suitable to the piano. Composers from whom we may expect to hear in 2026 include, J. S. and C. P. E. Bach, Domenico Scarlatti, Georg Frideric Handel, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Edward Elgar, Frederic Delius, Francis Poulenc, and Florence Price.

Sing for an hour—Wednesdays at 4 – Starting June 24

Singing is one of life’s great pleasures, and singing together can be a powerful spiritual expression. If you would enjoy additional opportunities to sing with friends, please join us in the chapel on Wednesdays at 4 pm—from June 24 through September 2.

Come and sing when and as the Spirit moves you. We will explore some of the newer hymns scheduled on Sundays, and we’ll try our collective hand at some additional works. If time and interest warrant, we may form ourselves into an informal Schola and sing, upon occasion, during Communion.

As a famous song would have it, “Since love is lord of heaven and earth, how can I keep from singing?”

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St. James the Fisherman, Our Patron Saint

The Chapel is dedicated to St. James the Greater, one of the twelve apostles. More affectionately known as St. James the Fisherman, this disciple was the brother of John the evangelist – one of the two sons of thunder. He is considered the first martyr of the Christian faith, beheaded in Rome. Because of his missionary efforts in Spain, James is the much loved patron saint of that country, as well as Chile and Nicaragua. James the Fisherman, whose symbol is a scallop shell, is also the patron saint of Wellfleet and is considered the protector and guardian of the fishing industry, anglers, laborers, pilgrims, and those who sufferer with arthritis.

The Feast of St. James

Sunday, July 27, 9:30 service followed by a lively oyster reception on the patio

Join us as the Chapel celebrates our patron saint, James the Fisherman. Like all Sundays, our feast contains elements of remembrance, thanksgiving, celebration, and forward movement.