Grace-St. Luke's Episcopal Church is an historic church in MidtownMemphis, Tennessee. The church's history dates back to the mid-19th century and the current structure—located in Memphis' Central Gardens Historic Preservation District at 1720 Peabody Avenue—was constructed in 1912.
The history of Grace-St. Lukes dates back to the mid-19th century with the establishment of Grace Church in a rented room in what was then on the eastern outskirts of the city, now Midtown Memphis. After the Civil War, returning Confederate Officers founded St. Lazarus Church on Madison Avenue, in Downtown Memphis in protest to the Unionist views of the rector of Calvary Church. St. Lazarus was the site of the marriage of Jefferson Davis' daughter in 1876,[2] but St. Lazarus' congregation was decimated by the yellow fever epidemic in 1878 and merged with Grace Church.[3] St. Luke's Church was established in present-day Midtown in 1894 in a building designed by English architect John Gainsford.
By the late 1930s, Grace Church had a strong congregation, but found itself without a building. St. Luke's Church, on the other hand, had erected a new church in the heart of residential Memphis in 1912 (its present home), but found itself in a period of declining membership. The two merged, and celebrated its first service as the Parish of Grace-St. Luke's on Thanksgiving Day, 1940.[4] Grace-St Luke's Episcopal School, a K-8 primary school, was founded in 1947.
The parish continued to grow and, by 1974, had doubled in size and was the largest Episcopal parish in the state of Tennessee.[5] Though no longer the largest in the state, the parish continues to have active membership and strong outreach and community programs.[6]
Ordination of womenedit
Grace-St. Luke's emphasis on inclusivity[7] dates at least back to 1981, when the parish ordained the first female Episcopalian in the state of Tennessee.[8]
The Rev. Ann Carriere was ordained deacon at Grace-St. Luke's on July 12, 1981, by Bishop Fred Gates in a nave packed with parishioners, ecumenical Memphis clergy, and community members who had followed the news in the media.[8] Carriere served in the supportive community at Grace-St. Luke's -- and out of the public eye where her role caused considerable controversy—and was ordained priest there in 1982. She served the parish eight more years.[8]
Tiffany windowsedit
Detail from "Christ the Light of the World", a turn-of-the-century window at Grace St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Memphis
Grace-St. Luke's cares for a magnificent Tiffany stained window that dates back to 1900, and six other defining windows from the turn of that century. That year, one of the benefactors of Grace Church, Mrs. W. A. Gage, met a representative of the Tiffany Glass Company at the Paris Exposition. She personally underwrote a signature window depicting Christ's ascension to be hung above the altar. Louis Comfort Tiffany personally supervised its installation. The vestry commissioned six more windows in 1907 long thought to be the work of Tiffany as well, but recent evidence suggests those six were Gorham windows, a significant Tiffany competitor in design and technique. Grace brought all seven to St. Luke's when the churches merged in 1940, spectacular reminders of the two parishes becoming one. Window scholars recognize the Ascension window, now hanging over the main doors of the church, as a prime example of the Tiffany palette.[9]
grace, luke, episcopal, church, historic, church, midtown, memphis, tennessee, church, history, dates, back, 19th, century, current, structure, located, memphis, central, gardens, historic, preservation, district, 1720, peabody, avenue, constructed, 1912, 1322. Grace St Luke s Episcopal Church is an historic church in Midtown Memphis Tennessee The church s history dates back to the mid 19th century and the current structure located in Memphis Central Gardens Historic Preservation District at 1720 Peabody Avenue was constructed in 1912 Grace St Luke s Episcopal Church35 07 56 17 N 90 00 15 85 W 35 1322694 N 90 0044028 W 35 1322694 90 0044028CountryUnited StatesDenominationEpiscopalWebsitewww wbr gracestlukes wbr orgHistoryStatusParish churchArchitectureYears built1912AdministrationProvinceIV Southeast DioceseWest TennesseeClergyRectorOllie RencherToday the parish is active and is known both for its progressive hunger ministries and its formal worship and music 1 The church is part of the Episcopal Diocese of West Tennessee Contents 1 History 2 Ordination of women 3 Tiffany windows 4 References 5 External linksHistory editThe history of Grace St Lukes dates back to the mid 19th century with the establishment of Grace Church in a rented room in what was then on the eastern outskirts of the city now Midtown Memphis After the Civil War returning Confederate Officers founded St Lazarus Church on Madison Avenue in Downtown Memphis in protest to the Unionist views of the rector of Calvary Church St Lazarus was the site of the marriage of Jefferson Davis daughter in 1876 2 but St Lazarus congregation was decimated by the yellow fever epidemic in 1878 and merged with Grace Church 3 St Luke s Church was established in present day Midtown in 1894 in a building designed by English architect John Gainsford By the late 1930s Grace Church had a strong congregation but found itself without a building St Luke s Church on the other hand had erected a new church in the heart of residential Memphis in 1912 its present home but found itself in a period of declining membership The two merged and celebrated its first service as the Parish of Grace St Luke s on Thanksgiving Day 1940 4 Grace St Luke s Episcopal School a K 8 primary school was founded in 1947 The parish continued to grow and by 1974 had doubled in size and was the largest Episcopal parish in the state of Tennessee 5 Though no longer the largest in the state the parish continues to have active membership and strong outreach and community programs 6 Ordination of women editGrace St Luke s emphasis on inclusivity 7 dates at least back to 1981 when the parish ordained the first female Episcopalian in the state of Tennessee 8 The Rev Ann Carriere was ordained deacon at Grace St Luke s on July 12 1981 by Bishop Fred Gates in a nave packed with parishioners ecumenical Memphis clergy and community members who had followed the news in the media 8 Carriere served in the supportive community at Grace St Luke s and out of the public eye where her role caused considerable controversy and was ordained priest there in 1982 She served the parish eight more years 8 Tiffany windows edit nbsp Detail from Christ the Light of the World a turn of the century window at Grace St Luke s Episcopal Church in MemphisGrace St Luke s cares for a magnificent Tiffany stained window that dates back to 1900 and six other defining windows from the turn of that century That year one of the benefactors of Grace Church Mrs W A Gage met a representative of the Tiffany Glass Company at the Paris Exposition She personally underwrote a signature window depicting Christ s ascension to be hung above the altar Louis Comfort Tiffany personally supervised its installation The vestry commissioned six more windows in 1907 long thought to be the work of Tiffany as well but recent evidence suggests those six were Gorham windows a significant Tiffany competitor in design and technique Grace brought all seven to St Luke s when the churches merged in 1940 spectacular reminders of the two parishes becoming one Window scholars recognize the Ascension window now hanging over the main doors of the church as a prime example of the Tiffany palette 9 References edit Reported by The Commercial Appeal September 29 2007 John E Harkins Memphis The Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture Howell Elmo Mississippi Backroads St Lazarus The Confederate Officers Church pub Langford amp Associates Memphis Tenn 1998 pp 172 174 A Closer Look Grace St Lukes Retrieved 20 August 2018 Sacred Stories Grace St Luke s Episcopal Church PDF Archived from the original PDF on 26 July 2011 Retrieved 20 August 2018 Grace St Luke s Parish Report 2010 Inclusion Grace St Lukes Retrieved 20 August 2018 a b c Journeys to Ordination A History of Tennessee Women in the Priesthood and Diaconate in the Episcopal Church PDF Retrieved 20 August 2018 Windows of Grace Grace St Lukes Retrieved 20 August 2018 External links editOfficial websitePortals nbsp Christianity nbsp United States Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Grace St Luke 27s Episcopal Church amp oldid 1156621284, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
