In memoriam: The Rev. Dr. Ralph Peterson
Ralph edward Peterson, 1932-2022
The Rev. Dr. Ralph Edward Peterson, age 90, died on Tuesday, June 7, 2022, at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, MA after a brief illness.
Ralph was born on April 12, 1932, in Duluth, MN to the Rev. Harold Edward Peterson and Verna Muriel Peterson, née Miller. He received a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota in 1954 and a Master’s degree in Education from Harvard University in 1955. He attended the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago from 1958 to 1960, earned a Master of Divinity degree and was ordained. After graduate studies at Columbia University, he began his clerical career in New York City in 1962 at the National Council of Churches as Executive Director, Department of Ministry. In 1971 he received the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity from Gettysburg College.
In 1966 Rev. Peterson was called as Pastor of Saint Peter’s Church in New York City where he served until 1980. During his tenure he formed a first of its kind partnership with the First National City Bank (later Citibank), orchestrating the sale of the old church property to a condominium formed by church and bank, leading to a new building the New York Times’ David Dunlap later described as “New York’s most architecturally successful postwar sanctuary ... an ambitious and largely successful attempt to create a serene, voluminous, contemplative spiritual space without resorting to traditional liturgical iconography.”
The new church was the work of Hugh Stubbins, with principal architect Easley Hamner, and designers Lella and Massimo Vignelli. Ralph enlisted preeminent sculptor Louise Nevelson to craft a contemplative chapel, which she called a “gift to the universe” and an “oasis of silence.” He brought the Rev. John Garcia Gensel’s jazz ministry to Saint Peter’s which led to it being dubbed “the first church of jazz.” Once completed Saint Peter’s flourished as a spiritual and cultural “intersection” of worship, inclusiveness, ecumenism and learning in the heart of midtown Manhattan. In 2016 the Landmarks Preservation Commission of the City of New York formally designated Saint Peter’s Church, along with the entirety of Citicorp Center, a landmark.
Ralph married Karin Birgitta Esselius on May 31, 1969, at Uppsala Cathedral, Sweden.
Following his time at Saint Peter’s Church, Ralph developed a health focused ministry in conjunction with his wife Dr. Birgitta Peterson and founded the Open Congregation, serving as president. In 1989 Ralph was named to the Henry Sloane Coffin Chair of Religion at the Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, NY, which he held for three years. In 1990 he was received as a priest in the Episcopal Church and in 1992 he served as Warden of the House of the Redeemer in New York City for two years, after which he served as interim pastor at various parishes in the Westchester and Hudson Valley areas until 2004.
Later Ralph and Birgitta retired to the house they built in the Taconic mountains of Canaan, NY which they called their “promised land.” They worshiped at Trinity Church in Lenox, MA and in 2013 they moved to Lenox, residing at Kimball Farms. Ralph loved his Berkshire community and cultivated many significant friendships.
Ralph was predeceased by his brother Dale on January 9, 2012, and by his wife Birgitta on December 23, 2014. Ralph is survived by his son, Kristofer, who lives in London, England with his wife Chloe and their four children, Fredrik, Lucia, Axel and Thor.
A Mass of the Resurrection with internment will be celebrated at Saint Peter’s Church later this year. A public event celebrating Ralph’s contribution to spirituality and the arts will also be held. Please save dates around the third weekend in December.
