The magnificent structure and soaring reredos of St. Thomas' Church, Fifth Avenue, New York City, consecrated in 1913, is beautifully presented in a fine new book, Saint Thomas Church Fifth Avenue, by the historiographer of the Episcopal Church and, since 1971, St Mark's Professor of Ecclesiastical History at General Theological Seminary.

You can bet your best biretta that Fr. Wright succeeds brilliantly in placing a dozen distinguished rectors in the context of the history of the Diocese of New York, the national church and the worldwide Anglican Communion.

With a sure hand, Fr. Wright covers the loss of two earlier churches to fire and other landmark events in the reigns of a dozen markedly different rectors — bearded, bald, or mutton-chopped, plain-spoken or silver-tongued, homely or handsome, three bespectacled, one a future bishop, two British born.

St. Thomas', in its early years, sometime seemed "high church," although most "novelties" of the budding Oxford Movement were not allowed. As time passed, churchmanship sank and rose, climbed and receded to "lower than a snake's belly."

Such was the somewhat stilted scene into which the 11th rector, the Rev. John Andrew, who came from Yorkshire in 1972, introduced truly catholic worship, revived color, perfected liturgy, packed in worshipers, began three daily services, and provided speakers of international note. He led a distinctive music program to higher heights, and built a superb new building to house the lads of the last residential choir school in the United States.

If the book seems sanitized, it is only because much remains unspoken or confidential, including the proceedings of an executive committee that doesn't keep minutes on formulating its reports to the vestry. Other facts unavailable concern incidents in which St. Thomas' was only marginally involved. These include vague charges of "acts of immorality" against a mid-19th-century Bishop of New York, the Rt. Rev. Benjamin T. Onderdonk, and the subsequent election of a "provisional bishop"; the more recent role of a grandson of the eighth rector, the Rev. Ernest Milmore Stires, on passing over U.S. priests to call the 11th rector from the Church of England; the brief term of service rendered by the parish's only ordained woman; a bishop's permission to skip the usually mandatory interim rector and self-study; and the election of the present rector, the Rev Andrew Mead from Boston's troubled Church of the Advent, with the understanding that he supports only an all-male priesthood; and an anti-discrimination suit against the choir school.

All in all, it appears that at least a few cogent, fascinating facts were swept under exquisite Oriental rugs. But it isn't the author's fault and the saga of 177 years still offers myriad lessons and resolve to "read, study, and inwardly digest." This Thomas never doubts nor hesitates to lavish more than $100,000 on its parish history, a stellar production much like what God would have done if he'd had the money.

(The Rev.) James B. Simpson

Washington, D.C.