TUSCUMBIA – On Thursday, March 16, at 7:00 p.m. a Pre-St. Patrick’s Day concert will be performed by the Wildwood Trio at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 300 N. Dickson St. in Tuscumbia. This will be the third appearance of the group in the historic setting, which lends itself to intimate acoustic performances. There is no charge to attend the concert, which is sponsored by Grace Episcopal Church, Sheffield.
In 2016, aided by a grant from the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area, representatives of “Partners for Sacred Places” from Philadelphia led local groups to study use and asset mapping for St. John’s Church, which has been closed for regular worship since 1955. One of the suggestions to come out of a series of meetings was for periodic use as a small music venue. Shortly after recommendations were publicized, Eddie Martin, lead vocalist and songwriter of the Wildwood Trio, approached the church trustee with a request to hold a concert in the building. This and a second concert, held a year later, drew full-house attendances each time.
The Rev. Danielle Thompson, Rector of Grace Episcopal Church in Sheffield and curate of St. John’s, believes that (post-
pandemic) the time is right for concerts and other gatherings at the church to be resumed. “What better time is there than St. Patrick’s Day at St. John’s to gather and enjoy music in a space that lends itself to reflection and celebration! St. Patrick is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland. Everyone wishes to be Irish on St. Patrick’s Day! So don’t get pinched, wear your green and come out to St. John’s for the free St. Patrick’s Day concert by the Wildwood Trio!”
Singer-songwriter Eddie Martin, who heartily claims his Irish heritage, and celebrates his own birthday on March 17th, credits the influence of Irish music and the attitude of the Irish people on the development of the Wildwood Trio’s distinctive sound. He will be accompanied by Malcom Singleton on guitar. Tony Lee will employ the Irish Bouzouki on many of the group’s original numbers. The group recently released new music which will be part of the concert.
“Even when our melodies are not directly Celtic in origin, the themes of their lyrics and the attitudes of the songs can be traced to Ireland and likened to its people,” explained Martin, who often visits the country.
Alabama’s earliest Carpenter’s Gothic church, St. John’s, was built in 1852. It contains its original pews, pump organ and memorial stained-glass. In one window, may be seen shamrocks, the Irish symbol that legend has it was used by St. Patrick to illustrate the Holy Trinity. And as legend would unbelievably have it, Ireland’s lack of snakes is attributed to St. Patrick!
For more information call church trustee Ninon Parker at 256-710-9081 or contact the Grace Episcopal Church office at 256-383-2014.
Media Release/Ninon Parker, Trustee
St. John’s Church
