CHRISTCHURCH, Alabama: A home of their own
Christchurch XP members ready to dedicate new facility
By Allison Griffin
http://cmsimg.montgomeryadvertiser.com/
September 11, 2010
That Christchurch XP has flourished in its five years of existence — without having a church facility to call its own — is both a blessing and a testament to the faith of its members.
Now, the Anglican parish is ready to officially dedicate its new church home, a classic structure reminiscent of English parish churches with its steep rooflines and Gothic touches.
One church member described the journey from church creation to dedication in biblical terms.
“In some ways, we’ve been in a wandering-in-the- desert kind of situation,” said church member Mose Stuart. “We’ve kind of crossed the River Jordan, and now we’re in the promised land.”
That journey to a church home began early on. First came a capital campaign to fund the construction. Then came discussions on where to build and looking at sites in different parts of the city. Finding the current 15-acre property, which is on Vaughn Road in east Montgomery next to Southern Homes and Gardens, was a true blessing, Stuart said.
Then came the architectural plans, the site preparation and the actual construction. The architect, church member Les Cole, and the builders, Foshee Construction, worked to get the church ready for its first services July 11.
The church had an overflow crowd that Sunday, and it has experienced growth even since that first service. The membership has grown close to 700, said the Rev. John-Michael van Dyke, rector of Christchurch.
“The congregation is delighted to have its own home,” van Dyke said. And they’re especially excited about this weekend’s dedication, which will feature several dignitaries from the Anglican church.
Among those scheduled to be in Montgomery for the festivities are the Rev. Robert William Duncan, archbishop of the newly formed Anglican Church in North America; the Rev. Henry Luke Orombi, archbishop of the Church of Uganda; and the Rev. John Guernsey, bishop of the diocese to which the church belongs, the Diocese of the Holy Spirit.
Orombi visited Montgomery in 2008 for the dedication of the church’s land. His presence this weekend is very special, said Vic Biebighauser, a member of the church’s vestry, or governing body.
“It’s not an easy trip for him, so when we can get him here, we are very grateful,” Biebighauser said. Christchurch has had a years long missionary relationship with his country.
“I would describe (Orombi) as a lion of the faith,” Stuart said. “At least within Anglicanism, he is very influential and has been a great friend and a defender of the faith.”
Coordinating the schedules of so many dignitaries was the primary reason the church waited until now to have the consecration, van Dyke said.
The public is welcome to the services on Sunday, Biebighauser said, but expect a large crowd. The dedication is at 9:30 a.m., and the service begins at 10:30. There is a reception and a parish picnic directly after the services and the dedication.
Those who attend will have a chance to tour the new facilities, which reflect a harmonious blend of old world structure and contemporary comforts. For example, the sanctuary is in a cruciform shape, which dates to the Middle Ages.
Almost in the center of the sanctuary is the altar, which allows the congregation to fully participate in all aspects of communion. An 8-foot cross is suspended above the altar.
While the cruciform design is reminiscent of great European cathedrals, the church was specifically constructed to incorporate modern conveniences. A large screen is recessed into one of the ceiling beams and can be lowered remotely for visual presentations. Despite the 40-foot vaulted ceilings, the acoustics are excellent, van Dyke said; a modern sound system allows everyone to clearly hear what’s being said.
Van Dyke points out the kneelers — thickly padded blocks the worshippers use as they kneel in prayer. “These are hand-stitched, and they take an awfully long time to create,” he said.
Each is embroidered with one of seven gold crosses and the XP symbol, which is the ancient monogram of Christ, the Chi-Rho, on each side of the cross. They are stitched by volunteer members of the St. Clare Guild and take an average of one year to complete.
“In our liturgy, we do a lot of kneeling,” Biebighauser said. “Before we got here, we were in facilities that didn’t have them built in,” so they’re especially appreciated now.
Just outside the sanctuary, facing a peaceful courtyard with a fountain, the church has built in space for a columbarium, or a resting place for cremations.
A central hallway connects the sanctuary to Canterbury Hall, a parish hall that will fulfill a multitude of functions. This weekend, the bright, open space will be set up for the dedication, but it can be used for receptions, Christian education, parish meetings and other gatherings. Its vaulted ceiling supports three large Gothic chandeliers; the focal point is the 18-foot window, above which hangs a recessed screen that can be lowered for audio-visual needs.
Along the central hallway are a nursery and children’s facilities. “It’s important for young families to have a good, clean, proper, up-to-date nursery,” van Dyke said.
A kitchen, serving area, elevators and restrooms complete the public areas on the first floor. The second floor includes a space for youth, with a raised stage and audio-visual setup as well as the youth minister’s office. Also on this floor are a multipurpose room, a small kitchen and dining room, the choir’s practice room and music direc tor’s office, plus additional classrooms and restrooms.
On the opposite side of the sanctuary is the former home of Dr. Frank Jackson, one of the founders of Jackson Hospital. The church decided to incorpo rate the home into the complex; it’s now used for parish offices. But it’s been remodeled, and its appearance conforms nicely to the rest of the buildings.
All this is a remarkable accomplishment for a church that’s just a few years old.
The church formed a little more than five years ago after a majority of the members and many of the leaders of the Episcopal Church of the Ascension split with the church to form a branch of the Anglican Church in America. An informative booklet on Christchurch explains it broadly: They felt “the Episcopal Church had left its traditional scriptural values and beliefs and was moving rapidly away from orthodox interpretations of holy scripture.”
The new church moved about for the next few months — a brief stay at Trinity Presbyterian Church was followed by a few months at St. James School. At the end of 2005, the church found a semi-permanent home at Dexter Avenue United Methodist Church and worshiped there until June of this year.
Now, they are finally home.
“It’s wonderful,” Stuart said. “It’s everything that I think everybody envisioned when we started.”
And the facility is a true reflection of the membership.
“This feels like us,” van Dyke said.