Celebrating the Church; Past, Present & Future

September has been a month of celebration for the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of East Tennessee. From the celebration of 150 years of the Episcopal Church in Greeneville to the dedication of new facilities in Hixson and Signal Mountain and groundbreakings in Johnson City and Knoxville, the church has celebrated its roots, its traditions, its successes and its growth.

St. James’ Church in Greeneville celebrated 150 years of worship with a special service on Friday, September 15 which included the Bishop’s visitation and confirmation. The church, built on property belonging to the Dickson family, maintained an Episcopal presence even through the Civil War with Southern and Northern sympathizers worshipping together in the white frame building.

The church is presently seeking a new rector. The Rev. Peggy Blanchard is serving as interim rector.

On the Sunday before Labor Day, Bishop vonRosenberg visited St. Alban’s in Hixson to celebrate the Eucharist, baptize and confirm and bless the new building. The construction is complete at St. Alban’s with the exception of the Youth Hut. The bishop initiated construction of that work with a well-placed blow with a purple sledgehammer!

An important part of the day’s events (which included an old-fashioned Labor Day picnic with games) was asking God’s blessing on the Vision of St. Alban’s. That vision, to be pursued over the next three years, calls for the church to look inward to increase the opportunities for Christian formation and stewardship education, and to look outward to help families in stress and to increase the educational level of the community in which the church exists.

According to the rector, the Rev. Dr. Hugh Jones, the Vestry is taking the lead in accomplishing this vision of living, learning and enabling.

In Johnson City, St. John’s broke ground on a major expansion project using the river rock from the same quarry that supplied the cornerstone for the building in 1905. The Rt. Rev. Charles vonRosenberg, third Bishop of East Tennessee, presided over the ground breaking for the new sanctuary.

Construction on the project is expected to be finished by early fall 2001 with the church’s existing sanctuary to be restored to its original interior design and used as a chapel.

St. John’s seeks to continue its ministry and mission from its present location while encouraging its congregation to take what they learn inside the church and practice it throughout the community and beyond.

The Rev. Frank Cooper, IV, rector of St. John’s, said "While the church is a place to come to worship God, it should also serve as a place we go out of tho seek and serve others in God’s name."

St. Timothy’s, Signal Mountain, and Church of the Good Samaritan, Knoxville, have also celebrated milestones.