Church to celebrate 125th anniversary colonial-style
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, October 10, 2001
Christ Episcopal Church in Albert Lea will honor a distinguished Episcopalian as part of its 125th anniversary celebration Sunday.
Wednesday, October 10, 2001
Christ Episcopal Church in Albert Lea will honor a distinguished Episcopalian as part of its 125th anniversary celebration Sunday.
George Washington is the theme for the 11 a.m. joint English and Spanish service on Oct. 14. This service will take worshipers back to the old days -&160;a service as conducted in colonial times -&160;the kind in which Washington participated and prayed.
Washington served his church in the vestry and served his country and God as an Episcopalian. The spirit and religion came west to Minnesota years later.
At the service, the Rev. Jim Young will wear his traditional robe and a wig and will include in his homily some Episcopalian events from Colonial days. The service will also be a time to pray for deceased members of the congregation.
Young said he will try to call attention to the continuity of history, while the same time, take a look at George Washington’s profound influeunce on and his faithfulness to a growing nation.
&uot;He was very active in vestry,&uot; Young said of the first president. &uot;There are references to him struggling with the same mundane things we do today – like upkeep of buildings.&uot;
It should be a unique service, especially with both English and Spanish included, he said. Young added he’s never worn a wig before – much less a powdered wig – except on a stage. The greeters, servers and lay reader will wear colonial uniforms and dresses.
Following the service, there will be a social period and refreshments beginning at 12:15 p.m. A dinner and entertainment begin at 12:30 p.m.
Reservations are needed for the candlelight dinner, and should be made by calling the church office at 373-3188 no later than Thursday.
After dinner, Gail Thurnau will play the piano for a colonial dance and church members will dance the minuet. Mark Jones will tell stories of Episcopalians in colonial days.
The public is welcome.
Following are some highlights in church history as compiled by Larry Offenbecker.
The first Episcopalian service in Albert Lea, in a school house, was conducted on Jan. 28, 1861, by Bishop Henry P. Whipple. Because of bad weather, he stayed in town and preached on the following day. The next service was in 1866, also by Whipple.
On Tuesday, April 28, 1868, the bishop held a service in the courthouse at 7 p.m.. Since there was no house of worship of any kind in the village, considerable interest was manifested to have a church. Among the promoters were the Honorable J. A. Lovely and W. T. Rambusch. On July 9, 1868, the Rev. S. W. Gibson, Austin, held morning and evening services in the courthouse and was placed in charge of the work in Albert Lea until 1870. The Rev. George C. Tanner of Owatonna, and Rev. R. S. Hurleson held occasional services in the courthouse from 1868 to 1876.
On Jan. 1, 1876, the Rev. R.R. Goudy was placed in charge of Austin and Albert Lea. He arranged to hold services in Albert Lea.
In the year 1876, Whipple organized a mission with services held in the courthouse. It was informal without incorporation. The mission and church were called The Church of the Good Shepherd.
The first confirmation service was held in the Presbyterian Church by
Whipple on April 17, 1877. Thirteen were confirmed at this time.
In November 1878, the vestry was established.
On Nov. 17, 1878, a petition to organize a parish in Albert Lea was signed. The bishop’s consent was given Nov. 21.
In the summer of 1880, about $400 was raised abroad and $800 in Albert Lea to buy the Congregational church. The church and furnishing were purchased for $2,000. The first service was on Nov. 7, 1880.
After Rev. R.R. Goudy moved from Austin to Albert Lea and was placed in charge of Albert Lea on Aug. 1, 1885. The Congregational church was lost as a result of mortgage failure, and he proposed a new church to be built at Park and Grove avenues.
In 1881, Henry G. Arey, a retired man from Philadelphia, moved to Albert Lea. In 1886, he agreed to build a church to cost $2,000 on the condition the parish would raise $1,000. By October 1886, a foundation was laid for the church. It was consecrated on March 3, 1887, as Christ Episcopal Church. It had electric lights and was probably the first church in Minnesota to be so lighted.
After the resignation of Goudy on April 1, 1887, the Rev. A. Bailey Hill of Northfield served as rector. In the summer of 1891, the Rev. Maurice J. Bywater was appointed missionary to Albert Lea.
From 1896 to 1898, the Rev. D. F. Thompson served as rector. He was followed by the Rev. H. D. Chambers (1898-1900). From 1902 to 1915, the Rev. George H. Mueller was in charge. Following Mueller’s rectorship, the church was served by the Revs. Duncan Weeks, Mark G. Paulson, Aitchinson, Victor Pinkham, Adams and F.E. Drake.
As the congregation grew, a new church was needed, and finally a fund drive resulted in the purchase of the home of Pat Hall at 204 Fountain, overlooking the lake. It was demolished and ground broken for a new church on April 6, 1953. The cornerstone was laid on June 28, 1954. The building was consecrated on Oct. 3, 1956, by Bishop Hamilton H. Kellogg. An educational wing was added in 1967 and dedicated in 1968.
At present, all construction finances have been met and the church is debt free. Rectors of the present church were the Rev. Philip F. Lewis 1956-63; Rev. Bradbury N. Robinson, 1964-66; Rev. W. A. Donald Foster, 1966-67; Rev. John Holman, 1972-75; Karl E. Bell, 1975-1978; John D. Crandall, 1979-84; John Edson, 1986-89; Venerable Benjamin Scott, 1989-96; Rev. Gerald Krumenacker, 1996-98.
In 1998, Spanish services were added at the direction of Krumenacker. After this period, the Rev. Bob Miller, Rev. Karl Dalager, and the Rev. James Jenkins have been providing the Spanish services. Gail Thurnau, organist, also has been working to organize and assist the Spanish congregation.
During 1999-2001, Christ Church was without a rector, but Jenkins came from Minneapolis twice a week. In August 2001, the Rev. Jim Young was hired.