Christ Episcopal Church Homecoming

Wednesday, September 12 2007 (11:58AM) | Posted by Kathryn Vicat-Dlabach (DSA) | Walnut Street

Christ Episcopal Church marks its return to the oldest church in Springfield with a Homecoming Celebration Sunday, Sept. 16, 2007.
The church has just completed an 11-month $4.2 million renovation and expansion project, adding 12,000 square feet and nearly doubling the size of the facility. The project included construction of a new parish hall, chapel, nursery, classrooms and youth ministry space.
During construction, the congregation relocated to nearby Grace United Methodist Church, where services and church activities were held for nearly a year. Church office functions were also held offsite.
“One of the blessings of our move to temporary quarters at Grace was that we got to know our Methodist friends better, to worship with them occasionally and to share in ministry downtown,” said The Rev. Kenneth L. Chumbley, Rector of Christ Episcopal Church.
The Homecoming Celebration formally marks the congregation’s return to its home at the corner at Walnut Street and Kimbrough Avenue, and is the first of a series of events celebrating that congregation’s 150th anniversary in 2009.
Christ Episcopal Church’s sanctuary, built in 1871 in the Carpenter Gothic style, is the oldest in continuous use in Springfield. A limestone parish hall and chancel were added to the original nave in the 1920s. In the 1950s, a second parish hall was built, and the original was modified into classroom space. The congregation was pleasantly surprised this spring when, during renovations, the hand-hewn wooden rafters of the original parish hall were revealed, having been obscured by a drop ceiling for nearly half a century. The rafters are now visible in the chapel and choir room. The church is listed on both the Springfield Historical Site Register and the National Register of Historic Places.
The Sept. 16 celebration begins at 11 a.m. with Holy Eucharist officiated by the Rt. Rev. Barry R. Howe, bishop of the Diocese of West Missouri. The service includes the inaugural performance of “Behold Now, Bless the Lord,” a choral work by Carlyle Sharpe commissioned by the church for the occasion. Carlyle Sharpe is an Associate Professor of Music in Theory and Composition at Drury University and a member of the church’s St. Gregory Choir.
The celebration continues at 12:30 p.m. in the cloister with a blessing ceremony with Bishop Howe, a ribbon cutting and remarks from Springfield Mayor Thomas J. Carlson. Tours of the facility will be available after the ceremony. In addition, Christ Episcopal Church is included in the 10th Annual Cider Days Historic Homes tour Sept. 15 and 16.
The renovation and expansion was designed by church member Ed Waters, of Marshall Waters Woody Associates, and constructed by church member Kenny Ross, of Morelock-Ross Builders, Inc.
“Everyone involved in this project did a terrific job,” said Fr. Chumbley, “and the project reflects the contributions of so many. This new building is going to be a huge spiritual asset to the parish and to the community. We want people to use it and to enjoy it to the glory of God.”
Christ Episcopal Church is located at 601 E. Walnut in downtown Springfield. The church was founded in 1859 and is the largest Episcopal congregation in Greene County, with more than 1,100 members and growing.
For more information, contact The Rev. Kenneth L. Chumbley, Rector of Christ Episcopal Church, at 417-866-5133.