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Located
on the Capitol Square in the historic district of Milledgeville, St Stephen’s
Episcopal Church is one of the city’s gems.
An extremely beautiful “Carpenter Gothic” edifice, this remarkable
church is steeped in history. When
Union General William Tecumseh Sherman led his 30,000 troops into Milledgeville
in November 1864, some of the soldiers quartered their horses in the
sanctuary after first burning the church pews. Before leaving town, they poured molasses down the organ
pipes. Such misdeeds did not dissuade
the members of the congregation from continuing to hold services and to
participate actively in the life of Milledgeville, Georgia’s capital from
1807-1868. St.
Stephen’s today is still much more than a beautiful and historic
building. It is the home of a vibrant
congregation of committed Christians who are proud to be Episcopalians and
who have earned a reputation for being a caring and nurturing community. Members, numbering around 350, actively
serve the church and the larger community.
Some are on the Vestry, some sing in the choir, some are lay readers
and/or lay Eucharistic ministers.
Others serve on the Altar Guild, the Flower Guild, and/or as members
of the Brotherhood of St. Andrew.
Still others teach Sunday School or help buy, stock, and run the Food
Pantry. Many find inspiration and
solace in the quiet beauty of the worship services. St. Stephen’s is a community that welcomes all comers and
invites their participation. St.
Stephen’s is well-known for functioning as a family in which every member
feels at home, but it also reaches out to the larger communities of the city,
the nation and the world. It provides
space for the Chard Wray Community Food Pantry that ministers to members of
the local community who need temporary assistance with such basics as food;
indeed, this is one of St. Stephen’s best known cooperative activities with
other churches and agencies in the area.
It regularly supports Relay for Life and the projects of the local
affiliate of Habitat for Humanity.
Its international concern has manifested itself in the assistance it
has given to other areas of the world such as Sierra Leone in West Africa. St.
Stephen’s addresses the needs of all members of the congregation. There are Sunday School classes, held
between services on Sunday morning, for young children through adults who
wish to deepen their understanding of the Bible, of the Christian faith, and
of the Episcopal tradition. During
the week Bible study groups and book discussion groups meet for study and
discussion of relevant topics.
Periodically instruction is given to those who wish to find out about
the Episcopal tradition before they join the church. The St. Stephen’s Youth Group, which
consists of a growing number of teenagers, is a vibrant and active part of
the life of the parish. Property
acquired across from the Church has been to accommodate the needs of this very
important group. The youngest members
of St. Stephen’s have the opportunity of going every Sunday to their own
specially decorated Children’s Chapel where they hear the Word of God. St. Stephen’s is also very proud of its
Day School, well-known as the best pre-school in the area. St.
Stephen’s has a variety of church services. Saturday evening at 5:30 the
Celtic Eucharist is based on the worship of the 4th to the 8th
centuries. At 8:00 on Sunday, The Holy
Eucharist, Rite I, is celebrated with no music in the quiet of the early
morning. At the 10:30 Sunday morning
service, on the other hand, there is a fully sung Eucharist enriched with the
sonorous tones of one of the best organs in the country and the music,
particularly the anthems, of a committed and competent choir. The people of
St. Stephen’s, like many
good Episcopalians, do not neglect the
social aspects of life. The entire congregation comes together from time to
time for social activities like the Silent Auction, an enormously popular
fund-raiser open to the entire community, and
the “Low Country Boil,” held in some years on
the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. Members also meet in smaller groups under
the umbrella of a concept (known as “Foyers”) in individual homes for fellowship and meals. The St.
Stephen’s community is everything that a Christian community should be. It
takes care of the needs of its members, spiritual, educational, social and
otherwise, and in
its outreach programs it concerns itself with the needs of others both near
and far.
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