History of Christ Episcopal Church

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The Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Virginia

History of Christ Episcopal Church

Christ Episcopal Church was begun in September 1907 by a group of dedicated people. Among them were Mrs. Clay Mason, Mrs. W.B. Snidow, Mr. And Mrs. Clarence L. King, Egbert Merriman, Mr. And Mrs. Frank Bastian, Miss Lizzie Strother, and William Gibboney. Meetings were held in the Methodist and Presbyterian Churches until the church was built in 1908. The round river rocks for the church exterior came from the King Farm in what is now King Heights subdivision.

The Reverend John J. Lloyd and the Reverend Ernest D. Rich were the first clergy to serve Christ Church. The church was consecrated by the Rt. Rev. Beverly Tucker in 1917. On March 16, 1926 the church was destroyed by fire and along with it many of the church records. The building was restored in 1927 and was consecrated Palm Sunday April 9, 1933 by the Rt. Rev. Robert Jett. In this period M.P. Lawrence and Prosper Lugren paid off the church debt.

A parish hall was added in 1986 and subsequently dedicated to the memory of Carl Delagrange who served the Church as Warden, Treasurer and in other ways for over 50 years.