A new year, a new beginning — particularly for the congregation of Trinity Episcopal Church in Wetumpka.
As with many Episcopal churches, Trinity will welcome 2010 with an Epiphany service Wednesday. Not only does it mark the culmination of the Christmas celebration, but it is the first time in years that the small but growing church has had a service.
Since dedicating its lovely new nave and sanctuary, the church has seen an increase in attendance and the future is promising, said Trinity’s rector, the Rev. Ben AlÂford.
“This is a new beginning, and we are really excited about it,” AlÂford said. “And we decided that this was the year to start back (with the Epiphany service),” said Alford of the church that has quite a rich history since it was estabÂlished in the fall of 1947 by handful of Episcopalians.
ASA about 90, membership aout 220, budget about 190K. ASA slight drop from 2004 high but mostly stable. County seat town of 6K in county of 70K northeast of Montgomery in central Alabama. Rector the Rev. Ben Alford since 06, born 1948, Sewanee 70, Seabury-Western 87, Deacon 87 Bp. Folwell Central FL, Priest Bp Brown LA 88, served St. George’s New Orleans Assistant 87-91, rector 91-06, married since 72 2 children. Website links to Cursillo and Happening.
I hope sourpuss chimes in with some disparaging comment about “bricks and mortar” or “a building is just a building.” This is a really nice story and I envy them their new nave. Just shows new church interiors needn’t look like gymnasiums or high school auditoriums.