How Did We Become Who We Are? - Amazon Simple Storage ...
How Did We Become Who We Are? Part 1 This year, St. Simon Episcopal Church celebrates its 40th anniversary. We are very proud of our history and the contribution we have made to our community. Over the coming months as we prepare for a public celebration in November, we will be highlighting our historical journey as well as special accomplishments over these 40 years of service in Christ’s community. The St. Simon Peter Episcopal church of today has an interesting and unique history. A history that solidly demonstrates how God works in strange and wondrous ways to bring about the establishment of one of His Churches. Although St. Simon Peter is perceived to be one of Pell City’s newest churches, it may actually be one of its oldest. Sumter Cogswell, considered by many to be the founder of Pell City, also founded the city’s first Episcopal Church, St. Mary the Virgin. St. Mary’s was organized in 1903 and the small, simple white church with gothic windows was built in 1907. It stood at 2117 First Avenue North in downtown Pell City. St. Mary’s thrived during its early years. Among its early members were Mr. Cogswell, George Pratt, the first president of the cotton mill that became Avondale Mills, McClain Tilton, president of the bank and a Mr. Draper, the first superintendent of the Mill. The Reverend James Blacklock, the first priest, came down from Anniston to hold services. Reportedly an Oxford University (England) graduate, he served from 1903 to 1914. With the arrival of the Great Depression, small St. Mary’s fell on hard times. Many of its members moved away, some died, and by the late 1930’s, only a few members remained. In 1940 the Bishop decommissioned the Parish of St. Mary the Virgin. The property was sold and the building torn down. It will be sometime before an Episcopal presence is seen again in Pell City.
Our Rebirth Part 2- 1975
From the 1940’s to 1975 there was no Episcopal presence in the Pell City area and it was almost by happenstance that the Episcopal Church came back to Pell City. Walter and Sally Childs, Episcopalians and avid sailors, had moved from Birmingham to live in a river cottage on Lake Logan Martin. One day in early 1975 Sally discovered there was an Episcopal priest and his wife living in the Mays Bend area of the lake. Sally lost no time in calling on the Reverend Julian McPhillips and his wife Eleanor to ask him if he would be interested in holding a few summer services. After some hesitation he agreed to a meeting with a few other interested Episcopalians. Following the meeting the Reverend Phillips contacted Bishop Furman Stough in Birmingham to obtain permission to proceed with the summer services. The first Episcopal service was held at 6 PM the first Sunday of May 1975 at the open-air Chapel in the Pines, near Pine Harbor Country Club with 15 people attending. The scent of the pines and wild flowers and the gentle lapping of the water against the shoreline made this small group of communicants feel that God was truly there with them and that out of this humble beginning, He would build a new Episcopal church in Pell City.
Check our website throughout the coming months for more on “How we became who we are” and more information on special events throughout 2015. A lot of good things are happening at St. Simon Peter Church.
Our Rebirth Part 2- 1975
From the 1940’s to 1975 there was no Episcopal presence in the Pell City area and it was almost by happenstance that the Episcopal Church came back to Pell City. Walter and Sally Childs, Episcopalians and avid sailors, had moved from Birmingham to live in a river cottage on Lake Logan Martin. One day in early 1975 Sally discovered there was an Episcopal priest and his wife living in the Mays Bend area of the lake. Sally lost no time in calling on the Reverend Julian McPhillips and his wife Eleanor to ask him if he would be interested in holding a few summer services. After some hesitation he agreed to a meeting with a few other interested Episcopalians. Following the meeting the Reverend Phillips contacted Bishop Furman Stough in Birmingham to obtain permission to proceed with the summer services. The first Episcopal service was held at 6 PM the first Sunday of May 1975 at the open-air Chapel in the Pines, near Pine Harbor Country Club with 15 people attending. The scent of the pines and wild flowers and the gentle lapping of the water against the shoreline made this small group of communicants feel that God was truly there with them and that out of this humble beginning, He would build a new Episcopal church in Pell City.
Check our website throughout the coming months for more on “How we became who we are” and more information on special events throughout 2015. A lot of good things are happening at St. Simon Peter Church.
