The Rev. Chuck Culpepper leads St. Alexis Episcopal Church in an old warehouse building at 650 E. South St. in Jackson.
Four years ago, the congregation renovated the warehouse built circa 1920 that once housed a furniture store.
“We have done our best to keep the industrial look,” Ward said. “It gives us what we are looking for, which is something that’s different and easily accessible to some who are put off by normal church.”
Culpepper said the building also gives the 80-member congregation more community visibility.
Interesting concept especially for an Episcopal congregation. I guess some might find it more accessible but I wonder if others find it “off-putting” and have left the congregation. I do agree it does emphasize the concept of church as the people NOT the building – a real problem where the building has been there longer than most of the parishioners. Is the church the people or the building? It is the people but many go to ‘church’ because they like the building!! The people ?
Off-putting.
I’d be curious to see what the average age of the St. Alexis parishoners and where they’re coming from (ie, from downtown Jackson or trucking in from the suburbs). Or whether this is a plant in a depressed neighborhood or an intentional move.
I used to attend St. Alexis’ before I moved up to DC. It was a church plant that started with a focus on young adults, and the location chosen was downtown, certainly more depressed than some other parts of the Jackson area. Prior to that move, we’d often worship during the summer in the park close to the diocesan offices and include any homeless who might want to join us. I’m really glad they’ve grown to about 80 members. That’s at least 4 times the total membership when I started with them.