Dr. Carl MaultsBy Receives 2026 Nelson R. Burr Prize for Afro-Centric Liturgical Music Study
Dr. Carl MaultsBy, the director of music and organist at St. Richard’s Episcopal Church in Winter Park, Florida, has been awarded the 2026 Nelson R. Burr Prize by the Historical Society of the Episcopal Church (HSEC). This accolade was given in recognition of his article titled 'Afro-Centric Liturgical Music and Its Implementation at St. Philip’s Church, Harlem,' which was published in the December 2025 issue of Anglican and Episcopal History. The HSEC Publications Committee selected MaultsBy’s work for its exceptional scholarship, extensive research, and careful documentation. The article explores the evolution of music at St. Philip’s Church in Harlem, highlighting how traditional Anglican musical traditions have been supplemented and transformed by Afro-Centric liturgical music. This transformation is rooted in the faith, culture, and lived experiences of African Americans, providing significant historical and theological context.