Episcopal Church at New York Fair
Diocesan Press Service. April 7, 1964 [XX-8]
The Episcopal Church will be represented at the New York World's Fair which opens April 22. An exhibit showing the American Church in perspective as one of the autonomous members of the world-wide Anglican Communion will be part of the Protestant-Orthodox Center.
The theme of the Episcopal exhibit will be "A Church that lives to itself will die by itself." This phrase is taken from a statement by the Most Rev. Arthur Michael Ramsey, Archbishop of Canterbury, delivered at the 1963 Anglican Congress. These theme words will be displayed in some of the languages of the Anglican Communion: English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Japanese, Chinese, Swahili, Hindi, Hebrew and Arabic.
Large dramatic photographs and other quotes from the Anglican Congress will reflect the spirit of "Mutual Responsibility," the great creative document to come out of the Congress.
African, Japanese and other members of the Anglican family from overseas will, along with Americans, be on duty at all times throughout the Fair. Literature will direct visitors attention to youth exchange opportunities in other lands as one demonstration of 'mutual responsibility' in action. Other printed pieces will highlight facts about the Episcopal Church. An attractive illustrated souvenir booklet will be available and can be mailed anywhere in the United States directly from the exhibit. This will carry the New York World's Fair postmark.
The Episcopal exhibit has been the concern of a committee of clergy and laity from dioceses in the New York metropolitan area headed by the Rt. Rev. J. Stuart Wetmore, Suffragan Bishop of New York.
The many visitors, Episcopalian and non-Episcopalian, from this country and the world will not only be welcomed to the exhibit but they will be helped to enjoy their stay in the great metropolis. Full information about other attractions and points of interest in and around New York will be given out. Those who attend the Fair will want to see the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, second largest church in the world, other churches, museums and the like... of historic interest, the new Episcopal Church Center and the United Nations.
As another significant attraction at the Fair, the United States Conference for the World Council of Churches is sponsoring the journey of the famed "Charred Cross" of Coventry Cathedral from England to the Protestant-Orthodox Center. It is to stand on a simulated altar set against a white hammered concrete wall inscribed with the words "Father Forgive".