Facing dwindling attendance over the past decade, the century-old St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Millis has suspended all services and activities, according to the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts.
The move has left a preschool that has leased space in the lower level of the church for more than 30 years scrambling to find a new home, after being given two weeks notice.
“We were informed early about the suspension of the church,’’ said Stacey Giancioppo, director of Big Bird’s Nest Nursery School. “Immediately upon hearing the news we were faced with finding a new space. It’s not something we thought we’d have to do.’’
The church’s rector and a representative of the vestry did not return requests for comment, but an outgoing voice-mail message on the church’s phone bluntly states the loss. “As of April 25, 2010, all church services and church activities have been suspended,’’ says a woman’s voice, choked with emotion. “You can leave a message here but please understand it may not be answered right away.’’
[url=http://208.91.223.92/reports/PR_ChartsDemo/exports/ParishRPT_513201070112PM.pdf]parish chart[/url]
I find the comment about this being a decade long decline that was not affected by church-wide events unconvincing. The decline began in earnest in 2003.
Please lord may there be many more of these closings until this organization honors Jesus.
Intercessor
Interesting point, Richard Yale at #1.
And in any case, 2003 didn’t just spring out of nowhere. The false doctrine was around well before that (and not just in the American church), it just wasn’t open and obvious like it is now. But it was already having its poisonous effect.
2003? Hmmm. That was about the start time of the great “Inclusion” movement in the Church. If only this parish would have embraced those ideals, because everywhere else the pews are….er……ah….no, wait a minute….
aw, just forget it.
My estimates from the stat pages
ASA of about
160 in 2002
110 in 2003
105 in 2004
80 in 2005
85 in 2006
60 in 2007
48 in 2008
Two weeks notice for the pre-school to find someplace else. Big of them!!
“Sukraw said average Sunday attendance at St. Paul’s dropped from 132 in 2000 to 46 in 2008.
“It’s important to know that attendance in this particular parish has decreased gradually over the past 10 years; there wasn’t a sudden drop-off in a particular year or over a particular issue,’’ said Sukraw, referring to controversies over the acceptance of homosexuality, same-sex marriages and the ordination of women that have rocked the US Episcopal Church in recent years and led some parishes and churchgoers to leave.”
How much for that bridge you got for sale in NYC?
Sorry to point this out, but VGR combined with a female rector did this congregation in.
Bp VGR is a symptom, not a cause, of the disease that afflicts TEO. I was driven away from the organization in 2001 by the oppressive triumph of left-wing politics over scripture. I was at least two or three decades slow on the uptake.
We don’t know the particular circumstances of this church, but it would appear that something dramatic was happening at the turn of this century.
Yes, it will only be when many more such closings occur that some hope of reform in TEC can begin. Most TECers are maintainers. If it can’t be maintained, then there is a problem. Until then, it is the custom to ignore the obvious signs of illness.
From the article:
[blockquote]She noted that some of St. Paul’s parishioners have started attending services at her church, the Church of Christ in Millis. But she said she knows it’s an adjustment for her friends who are used to the Episcopalian services. “It’s not the same,’’ she said.[/blockquote]
Whopping understatement!!! Just wait ’til they get sin, repentance, substitutionary atonement, dying to self, belief in the accuracy and authority of Scripture, the virgin birth and physical bodily resurrection of Jesus and church discipline preached to them for the first time in (most of) their lives! Maybe a few will even come to know the Lord God Jesus Christ as their personal savior in spite of themselves. (As I did!)
My take exactly, Senior Priest.