Looking Good at 80!
St. James Episcopal Church in Alexander City turns 80 this year. Doesn’t she look fabulous?
This Sunday, April 12, after the 10am service, in our lovely parish hall, we will celebrate this wonderful milestone in our church’s history. Please come and join in the celebration. As many may have noticed, hospitality is one of the outstanding gifts of our parish.
One Wednesday at our Lunches during Lent, we pondered the question “What is the founding narrative of St. James 80 years ago? How were the founders living into the call to follow Jesus in Alex City?”
We learned that the founding member families were relatively new to Alex City in 1946. The founding members had come from Episcopal Churches elsewhere and wanted their families to worship in the Episcopal tradition. They were like the early church we read about in Acts, small groups faithful to the “Way” and to each other. 18 members, 7 families founded the church.
The founding members met in the Climax Café and outlined their dreams for an Episcopal Church. They held bazaars at Rosen’s Store to raise money for the church. Apparently, in those early days, sock monkeys at the bazaar became a tradition.
The original chapel, an Episcopal mission, opened May 5, 1952, “crowned by a Celtic cross” (according to a newspaper article). The dimensions of the church were 29 feet by 40 feet. There are photos and paintings of the original chapel in the parish hall. Decades later, renovations created the nave, narthex, parish hall, and other rooms we enjoy today.
Over the years, the church grew, welcoming families and children for Sunday School, worship, and community activities during the week. A number of priests have served the parish, but the strength of St. James has always been its faithful, spirit-filled congregation which cared about the community and each other.
Early traditions have endured.
• The Bazaar has welcomed the community for most of St. James history. Exquisite pottery now has replaced the sock monkeys, but beautiful arts and crafts still abound.
• Early on, the parish invited local churches for Holy Week, a tradition which evolved into the Lenten Lunches with preachers from different denominations in the community.
• How might we describe the culture of St. James?
• St. James holds to tradition, is ever faithful and spirit-filled, devoted to Jesus, to each other, and to the larger community.
• St. James values clergy leadership and guidance which inspires and empowers the congregation.
• St. James has amazing lay leadership which responds to community concerns and is eager to lead the way.
• St. James exhibits hospitality and welcome and invites all to experience the joy of Jesus at St. James.
Easter blessings, Judy Q+
