Christ Church Anglican will end its three-year worship arrangement with Independent Presbyterian Church on Sunday before moving to its own church at a new site on Feb. 1.
The congregation, which left historic Christ Church on Johnson Square in 2011, has gathered to worship at the 207 Bull St. facility since. The congregation will leave the Bull Street site at 10:45 a.m. Sunday and proceed to its new location at Bull and 37th streets.
The first services there will be at 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Feb 1, said the Rev. Marc Robertson, senior pastor.
The church’s new home is in the newly renovated 100-year-old church building that was originally home to Hull Presbyterian Church. It most recently was owned by the Christian Revival and Restoration Center.
This is encouraging, for two reasons:
Firstly, that another congregation of a different denomination was prepared to extend hospitality to a homeless Anglican congregation for three years. May the Lord bless them.
Secondly, because the Anglican congregation seems to have done okay – more than 400 members will move into their new building, and hold two services a day. So the Lord has provided for them.
So much for 815’s and Dio Georgia’s belief that by retaining buildings it could stifle the dissenting Anglicans and cause its own parishioners to return.
May the Lord bless this congregation and multiply their work.
What has happened to those who stayed in the Episcopal Church. Historic buildings are expensive. What is the ASA at Christ Church Savannah?
[url=http://pr.dfms.org/study/exports/5569-4459_20150127_12001468.pdf] Christ Church ASA [/url]
Thanks Cranmerian. I assume CC Episcopal would be happy with that – it certainly looks better than some TEC churches that you hear about.
But presumably CC Anglican is no longer concerned with what CC Episcopal may do, and is rejoicing in its own growth and witness.
I am always excited to see congregations flourish from division. From the chart it seems the split was good for both congregations. The Episcopal congregation’s membership is back up to over half of what it was at the time of the split, and attendance is 2/3rds of what it was prior to the split. That means a higher level of participation by members. Also contributions are back up to 3/4ths of what they were prior to the split.
It appears the departing Congregation will be taking on the membership of the Christian Revival Center, which previously occupied the church building they have acquired. The move to a historic black church in a minority neighborhood was gutsy, and will hopefully provide new opportunities for outreach.
I was married in Christ Church 28 years ago and my son was christened their three years later. We moved from Savannah 20 years ago, but we try to attend services there whenever we return to visit old friends. I was distressed by the split, but I am happy to see both sides move on.
This may be a real story of the parts being greater than the whole.
I have immense respect for Christ Church Anglican — may they continue to flourish in their new building!