From the Diocese of Rhode Island:
An old friend is coming home to the Cathedral of St. John. It’s a painting by renowned African American artist Allan Crite.
The painting formerly hung in the cathedral dean’s office and has been kept [safe] by a former staff member since the cathedral closed. Now that the buildings are being actively renovated and used, the painting has been returned to the diocese.
Crite (1990-2007) was an Episcopalian who lived in Boston. He received his formal training at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and Harvard University. His art depicted vibrant street scenes as well as showing black persons in interpretations of biblical stories. His work is exhibited in major art galleries in around the United States.
- The cathedral is now home to the diocese’s Center for Reconciliation.
- Dennis Raverty wrote about other aspects of Allan Crite’s art in this essay for TLC.
Matthew Townsend is a Halifax-based freelance journalist and volunteer advocate for survivors of sexual misconduct in Anglican settings. He served as editor of the Anglican Journal from 2019 to 2021 and communications missioner for the Anglican Diocese of Quebec from 2019 to 2022. He and his wife recently entered catechism class in the Orthodox Church in America.
