new church life: jan uary/february 2015
Organ Dedication Anecdotes
Chara Aurora Cooper Haas
By Marvin Clymer
Chara Aurora Cooper was born on March 21, 1927, in a modest home
at 2553 Woodland Road in Bryn Athyn. The sixth child of Frederick J.
and Aurora (Synnestvedt) Cooper, she was baptized a month later by her
grandfather, the Rev. Homer Synnestvedt.
Despite difficult times, Chara had many fond
memories of growing up in Bryn Athyn. She loved to
play in the local woods and fields, and attended the
Church schools there from kindergarten through two
years of college. The New Church played an important
part in her childhood. In addition to her religion
classes, her family had worship at their home every
night during the week, Sunday dinner always included
a toast to the Church, and they always sat in the same
pew (#20) in the Cathedral.
While helping Henry and Joan Dunlap with their
children in Houston, Texas, Chara met John C. Haas,
a son of Otto Haas, co-founder of the Rohm and Haas
chemical company. They were married in a beautiful candle-lit service in the
Bryn Athyn Cathedral on June 21, 1952. They raised their five children in
Wyncote and at Stoneleigh, the beautiful estate of John’s parents in Villanova.
For many years they invited Bryn Athyn community members and friends to
explore their lovely spring gardens on the annual Stoneleigh Stroll-About.
Chara has said, “The purpose of having money is to make things better.”
She never forgot her humble beginnings in life and has done much to help
less fortunate people. John and Chara always considered helping people
“a privilege.” As lovers of classical and religious music, they were especially
supportive of the Philadelphia Orchestra and often enjoyed the Christmas
Sing at Glencairn.
There is no doubt that Chara would be very happy to know that her family
has played a prominent role in encouraging inspirational sacred music in the
Bryn Athyn Cathedral.
Symbolism in the Woodwork
By Stephen Hendricks
The classical design principle of decorum, or appropriateness, has as its
goal that everything in a space be arranged in an order suitable to a building’s
purpose. The Chara Aurora Cooper Haas Pipe Organ would fulfill, even
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