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106th Annual Village Christmas Pageant Re-scheduled for 2021

Submitted by Pageant Committee

Dec. 23, 2020: It is with heavy hearts that the Village Christmas Pageant Committee announces that this year’s annual Village Christmas Pageant will not be held on December 24th due to COVID restrictions on outdoor gatherings. This year would have marked the 106th pageant, an iconic and treasured Bronxville tradition.  

Although the pageant will not be held, we hope you will join us in saluting the wonderful young people of our community who graciously agreed to participate if the pageant could have been held. They are:

Caroline McGrath as Mary

Patrick Bird as Joseph

Paige Insley as the Manger Angel

And, angels:

Senior girls: Olivia Conniff, Anna Kate Kochansky, and Caroline Palermo (a former Manger Angel)

Edelawit Bird (a former manger Angel)

Rachel Conniff

Erin Foley

Ruthie Haims

Lauren Rao

Cate Spitz

Furthermore, we would like to acknowledge the outstanding individuals who, year in and year out, make this iconic Bronxville tradition possible. The clergy of our seven community churches (Christ Church, First Baptist Church, Golden Sword Fellowship, The Reformed Church of Bronxville, St. Joseph’s Church, Village Lutheran Church, West Center Church) each carve out time on Christmas Eve to participate in the pageant. Their dedication-on a very busy evening- is truly a blessing!    

Lifelong Bronxville resident, Dale Walker, has led the singing every year since 1993. Her presence and beautiful voice have become synonymous with the pageant. The Bronxville Pops Concert Band, a brass quartet lead by Ron LoPinto, also adds to the joyous sound of the pageant each year. 

Local resident Maryann Palermo organizes the Invisible Chorus, who gather silently at the top of the hillside and lead those gathered in song. One special Invisible Choir member is David Oelerking. This year would have been his 60th year of participation in the Village Christmas pageant!

The pageant would not be the same without the live animals, which provide an extra special element. For more than 50 years, our local pageant has featured live animals. The cast always includes the donkey and sheep, and often, the star of the show…the camel! One might think that their participation in the Bronxville Christmas pageant is their biggest “role,” but did you know that these animals are big stars? 

The animals work for the Dawn Animal Agency and star annually in Radio City’s Christmas Spectacular! Please click here for a wonderful story about these animals and their celebrity careers-both at Radio City and in Bronxville!

The costumes for the pageant cast are stored in the basement at the Reformed Church. The closet doors are plastered with photos of pageants from years past. Every year the angel wings and trumpets are inspected, and the costumes are checked for any repairs or cleaning that might be necessary. Almost all of the costumes have been handmade over the years. Most notable is Mary’s long blue wool cloak. 

It is a beautiful (and warm) cape with a faded label stitched into the collar. It reads “la mante Mary,” Property of Village of Bronxville, Gift of Mrs. Will H. Low. Mary Fairchild Low was a well known painter who specialized in landscapes, genre paintings and portraits. She and her artist husband, Will Low, lived on the Hilltop in Bronxville for many years in the early part of the 20th century. 

Mary’s “mante” is likely more than 100 years old!

And finally, the Village Christmas pageant would not be possible without the unwavering support of many volunteers who anonymously work behind the scenes to make the pageant possible. 

And last but not least….the wonderful clergy, staff, and members of The Reformed Church of Bronxville, including but not limited to: Louanne, Hazel, Joe and Leo, and most especially, Rev. Dr. Matthew Waterstone.

We look forward to gathering together next year for the 106th Annual Christmas Pageant, and hope the memories and magic of “pageants past” will be in your hearts this Christmas Eve!

Click here for a short clip from CBS local news of the 2018 pageant.  Click here for a link to pageant photos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

Religion Directory

Houses of Worship Directory

Christ Church Bronxville

Christ Church Bronxville, or "CCBNY" as it's known in the community, is the village's Episcopal church, whose beginnings date back to 1898. The current church, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was completed in 1926 and was designed by Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue, who also designed St. Bartholomew's in New York City and the Chapel at West Point.

CCBNY offers a wide array of programs to its parishioners, who live throughout southern Westchester. The acclaimed music program boasts five choirs; international outreach efforts to Cuba; and education and service programs for family members of all ages. CCBNY is also home to the renowned children's music program Young at Arts (http://www.youngatartsny.org), and Eliza Corwin Frost (www.elizafrostschool.org), a nursery school for children ages 1 to 5.

Our services are as follows:
8:00AM Rite I Spoken Eucharist
10:00AM Family Choral Eucharist, with 11:00 AM Coffee Hour
5:00PM Informal Eucharist or Choral Evensong

"No matter where you are on your spiritual journey there is a home for you at Christ Church. Our worship, music, education and outreach challenge us to embrace holiness and fearlessly share Christ's love."

The Rev. Dr. Kurt J. Gerhard, Rector
17 Sagamore Road
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-337-3544 

First Baptist Church

The First Baptist Church was organized in 1854. Its mission is “to reach out as a caring and Christ centered Church to people of all culture and races, helping them to know God and find fellowship with each other through Jesus Christ to the glory of God.”

407 New Rochelle Road
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-793-2560

http://www.firstbaptistchurchbronxville.com/


Reformed Church of Bronxville

The Reformed Church of Bronxville is the community church in the heart of the village. We welcome people of all faiths and persuasions to be a part of our church family. We have exciting programs to meet your interests including music and the arts, service and outreach, children's ministry and a wonderful Nursery School.

Starting Sept. 7th, we have three Sunday services held at 8:30 am, 10:30 am and 5:00 pm. A Fellowship Coffee Hour is offered after the 10:30 am service. Childcare is available during our 10:30 am service along with Church School classes for children from 2 years old through the 8th grade.

The Reformed Church
180 Pondfield Road
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-337-6776
www.reformedchurch.org 


St. Joseph’s Church

St. Joseph Church, which opened its doors in 1925, is the Catholic Church in Bronxville. It offers services on Saturday, Sunday, weekdays and Holy Days. It offers a religious education program for K - 8th grade which takes place on Wednesday during the school year. It also offers a myriad of opportunities for parishioners to meet, share ideas and experiences and help others. The St. Joseph’s School offers classes for K – 8th grade.

15 Cedar Street
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-337-1660

http://www.saintjosephsbronxville.org/


Village Lutheran Church

The Village Lutheran Church “is a ministry of word and sacraments. This ministry gives opportunities for witness, nurture, fellowship, stewardship and service.” The Chapel School, which goes from pre-school three-year olds through 8th grade, is an integral part of the Church’s ministry for children.

172 White Plains Road
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-337-0207

http://www.vlc-ny.org/


West Center Congregational Church

West Center Congregational Church is a member of The United Church of Christ. It welcomes “all who seek to find, know and serve the living God better in all they are and do.”

101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-337-3829

www.Westcenterchurch.org


Sinai Free Synagogue

Sinai Free Synagogue is Westchester`s "newest" Reform congregation but its roots go back almost 100 years. Formed in 1999 by a merger of Mount Vernon`s Sinai Temple (founded in 1906 and the first Reform congregation in Westchester County) and the Free Synagogue of Westchester (founded in 1927), the 250-member congregation has a long, distinguished history.

Please check the Calendar for dates and times.

550 North Columbus Avenue
914-664-1727

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