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History of our Church
The Episcopal Church of the Ascension was officially established as a parochial mission of St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, Fern creek, Kentucky, on June 22, 1978, St. Alban’s Day.
As late as August 1972, and as early as the late 1700’s, resident Episcopalians made overtures of establishing an Episcopal Church in Bardstown. From the Nelson County Court Records and Collins History: From 1791-1800, Dr. James Chambers, Episcopal clergyman, celebrated over 100 marriages in Bardstown. He was killed in a duel with John Rowan on February 3, 1801. The following quote is taken from The Bardstown Herald, Thursday, June 2, 1831 issue, which was published weekly by D. D. Jones, Market Street:
“We have been requested to state that the Rt. Rev. Bishop Meade, Episcopalian Bishop of Virginia, will preach in Springfield on Thursday, the 6th inst. And in this town on the 7th.”
No mention of a church is made. Efforts at establishing a mission were made in 1955 and again in 1972. Sunday following Ash Wednesday in 1978 Bishop Reed met with six Episcopalians at the home of the Robert Sutherland’s to begin making definite plans.
On Ascension Sunday 1978, the congregations of Bardstown and St. Alban’s Episcopal Church announced their joint intent for Bardstown to become a parochial mission of St. Alban’s. Hence, the name Ascension seemed appropriate to suggest as a name to Bishop Reed for adoption. They first met in a “neutral public place”—the Log School Room on South 4th Street.
A home on 213 East Flaget Street was purchased and converted into a church building. The first service held there was December 17, 1978. The dedication was held on Ascension Eve, May 27, 1981.
St. Joseph Proto Cathedral and Ascension signed a covenant agreement at St. Joseph’s on The Feast of Transfiguration August 6, 1985. Archbishop Thomas C. Kelly and Bishop Reed were present for the signing. This memorable event followed a prayerful two-year dialogue between the two churches.
Ascension remained a parochial mission of St. Alban’s until January 1, 1986 when it was set on its feet as a mission of the Diocese of Kentucky. The Rev. Dr. Lester Gross, Rector of St. Alban’s, divided his time between the two congregations and St. Alban’s lay readers read morning prayer 3 of 4 Sundays. Dedicated lay readers and clergy blessed Ascension with their assistance during these years, also, including the Reverends H. Sheppard Musson, Robert C. Board, Benjamin F. Binkley, G. G. Ramsey, E. Deedom Alston, Dan Yelton, Warren V. Tanghee, Frank B. Cayce, Johnny Johnson, Richard Humke, Charles Tachau, John Tederstrom, and James Wilkinson, the Rev. William B. Gentleman, and Robert L. Burchell of Anderson.
The Rev. Franklin Martin was appointed Priest-in-Charge by Bishop Reed in April 1987. Sunday service responsibility was shared with the Rt. Rev. C. Gresham Marmion and the Rev. Kenneth D. Thompson - a triumvirate in concert to the glory of God – through March 27, 1991, when Ken Thompson was called to serve as Rector of St. Alban’s. That triumviri provided the impetus for the purchase of 211 North Third Street (the First Christian Church) and for Ascension’s subsequent growth.
Prayerful consideration of the purchase of the First Christian Church building began in 1990. On October 11, 1990, the two churches signed a purchase agreement, which included co-occupancy of the building for approximately two years, while the new Christian Church was built. The last service at 211 East Flaget was October 28, 1990. The first service at 211 North Third Street was All Saints Sunday, November 4, 1990.
Fr. Martin served faithfully as extended supply vicar until he died suddenly in May 1994, shortly after our present Diocesan Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Edwin F. (Ted) Gulick was consecrated. The Rev. Ken Thompson returned for three years as part-time vicar, until his retirement in May 1997. During his tenure, the congregation experienced growth and sponsored the first Bosnian refugee family in Bardstown. On August 8, 1995, a serious fire, caused by a lightning strike, gutted the parish house. Making opportunity out of adversity, the renovated physical plant provides excellent accommodations for the congregation.
Upon Fr. Thompson’s retirement, the congregation called the Rev. Alice C. Linsley to a two–year contract as half-time vicar. She began a comprehensive program to establish ministry teams, empowering lay people to plan and implement numerous and varied ministries. Church growth continued during her tenure, along with commencement of E.F.M., Cursillo, and the Catecuminal process. Under her contract, her tenure ended August 1, 1999.
As a formal search process was started for a full-time rector, the Rev. Robert L. Coomes accepted the call to serve as supply priest until a candidate could be found. His commitment for one year was extended on two occasions to double the length of his originally planned stay. On July 15, 2001 we held a fond farewell for Fr. Bob following church services. He was a strong stabilizing force in leading us as the search process progressed.
In 1999 Ascension became a parish. The mortgage was paid off with celebrating and great thanksgiving.
After the Episcopal Church and the Church wide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church adopted the “Call to Common Mission” in 1999, we were able to call Lutheran pastor, George H. Mercer to be our first resident Rector in August 2001.
Ascension celebrated 25 years as an established congregation February 9, 2003 with Bishop-emeritus David Reed officiating. Bishop Reed was bishop of the Diocese of Kentucky in 1978 when Ascension began as a mission. The rest of the year saw several former rectors visiting the church.
Pastor Mercer served Ascension well during the two years of his contract with us and then graciously agreed to stay on while we searched for a full-time priest. Little did he know that the search would take two more years.
In August of 2004 Barbara Kirk-Norris was called to be the first full-time priest at Ascension. She served as a deacon until her ordination May 29, 2004. Barbara and her husband Bill immediately got involved in community affairs and spread the word of Ascension throughout the area. She was instrumental in starting our flower festival which continues today. In the fall of 2008 she answered the call to a church in Big Springs, Texas.
September 6, 2009 Karl Lusk was welcomed to Ascension as our latest interim rector. Bishop Gulick was here October 11, 2009 to celebrate the renewal of ministry for Ascension with Karl at the helm. |
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Corrected chronology for efforts establishing an Episcopal presence in
Dr. James Chambers performed/celebrated well over one hundred marriages as is reported in MINISTER RETURNS 1794-1803, Nelson County Courthouse. Dr. Chambers was felled in a duel by the pistol of John Rowan 3 February 1801. [Documentation -FAMOUS KENTUCKY DUELS by J. Winston Coleman.] 1831 Bishop Meade was brought to Kentucky to preside over the third Annual Conference to be held at Christ Church, Louisville, June 10, 1831. JARH. Prior to that and en route Bishop Meade was to consecrate Trinity Church, Danville. [HISTORY OF KENTUCKY p.390]. After the consecration, he was scheduled to be in Springfield, on June 6; Bardstown, June 7; Louisville June 10, 1831. [JARH and article in local newsprint on film of Meade’s pending visit 1831, NELSON COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY.] Circa 1870-1919: Captain John D. Wickliffe married Alice Trabue, b. 1 840-d. 1875. The Trabues were and descendants are members of Christ Church Cathedral. it is conceivable that Alice would have begun an Episcopal tradition here in Bardstown. They lived in the Dumas House, 216 East Stephen Foster Avenue {aka Market Street}. After Alice’s death following birth of son Nathaniel, Capt. Wickliffe married Mary, b.l 858, d.1919. Portion of the letter written by Mary Theodosia Wickliffe Winchester 1978 to C. R. Barnes states: “When I was growing up there were only five or six Episcopalians in Bardstown. The Rector from Elizabethtown came to Bardstown once or twice a month for a service. Mamma (Mary Wickliffe) kept the communion service.” The communion service was presented to Bardstown Episcopalians 1978 by C. R. Barnes whose father bought 216 East Market from the Wick4ffe estate. He and his brother, George, found the service in the attic. C. R recalled his father saying that the silver pieces were given to the Wicklffes by Robert Sadler for the establishment of an Episcopal Church in the area. Mrs. Winchester closed her letter stating, “I am so glad you [C. R. Barnes] returned it to its rightful owners — the Episcopalians of Bardstown. I am also glad to hear they are at last strong enough to begin thinking of getting a church in Bardstown. Thank you, C. R., Sincerely, Theodosia Wickliffe Winchester.”
The Reverends Shepherd Musson and Lester Gross conducted services with Mr. And Mrs. Henry Muir and Mr. And Mrs. T. William Samuels.
Glenn and Sue Jaworski attend St. Alban’s. St. Alban’s rector, The Rev. Doctor Lester Gross, visited the Jaworskis in Bardstown and celebrated Holy Communion in their home.
Early summer, I asked Bishop Marmion what, when and if anything could be done in Bardstown to establish an Episcopal presence. Appropriately, he advised awaiting his retirement and arrival of the new bishop. The Rt. Rev. David B. Reed moved to Kentucky from Columbia, South America as Bishop Co-Adjutor. He and The Rt. Rev. C. Gresham Marmion met with hopeful Episcopalians August 1971 at the home of Mr. And Mrs. Robert Sutherland. The Jaworskis, the Duvals and Sutherlands were the only shows. Bishop Marmion advised us to wait until he retired and Bishop Co-Adjutor Reed became head of the Diocese of Kentucky, i.e., Bishop Reed. On that August evening Bishop Reed stated, “If the Diocese of KY’s commitment to establishing a mission in Bardstown is to save you (Episcopalians) a sixty mire commute, it is not realistic. If, on the other hand, you can gather the unchurched and other Episcopalians who truly want to worship together, that’s another thing.” 1978 Ash Wednesday 7 February - Bishop Reed stated he was “ready to do something in Bardstown.” Sunday, 11 February following that Ash Wednesday, Bishop Reed met with Sheila Barth, Sue and Glenn Jaworski, and Sam Hussey at the Sutherlands. Thelma Rogers was unable to be with us that evening. He outlined four phases the Episcopalians should follow - following the church calendar [Lent, Eastertide, Trinity]. If we were organized by Advent, it would be an appropriate time to begin. He further advised we needed to meet in a public place — no longer in our homes as we had been doing. He further advised that when we chose a name for the mission, it should be either an Anglican saint’s name or an event in Christ’s life. Sam Hussey secured permission from Sarah Smith to worship in the Log School Room / House, the Episcopalian’s 1st public home, on South Fourth Street, which had been recently reconstructed on that site by the DAR. An altar was set up on the schoolmaster’s desk complete with two candlesticks AND two vases of pussy willow, the only think in bloom. Benches were of split logs; 15 kneelers made from navy twill fabric covering folds of newspaper. The first service in the Log Schoolhouse was the second Sunday of Lent 18 February 1978. In the meantime, St. Alban’s, which had been keeping Bardstown in its prayers, wished to manifest their Lenten commitment of outreach into a Bardstown mission. Mac MacNaughton from St. Alban’s served as our lay reader the following Sunday evenings in Lent. Palm Sunday - our space challenged, services were at The Anatok, home of Franklin and Dixie Hibbs. The Rev. John Eberman, Christ Church Elizabethtown, presented to Bishop Reed two confirmation candidates scheduled to leave for Germany the following Tuesday. Monte Tiller joined John Eberman, Bishop Reed and gathered Episcopalians to map-out Phase Two of establishing an Episcopal presence while Bishop Reed’s two daughters and AES prepared supper. Bishop Reed advised us to find the un-churched and other Episcopalians “if an Episcopal mission is a goal.” Easter - Bardstown Episcopalians worshipped en masse at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, Fern Creek Prior Ascension Day [May]: we moved to the Jacob Rizer House, West Flaget Avenue. Utilized by the Nelson County Historical Society by week, our folding chairs were stored in an outbuilding and brought in by our youth [ages: 1 @ 9; 2 @ 8; 3 @ 7; and 1 @4!] Ascension Day: Bardstown Episcopalians and St. Alban’s Episcopal Church read ajoint resolution to become a parochial mission of St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, Fern Creek. Following that declaration, Bardstown Episcopalians decided upon “Ascension” [an event in Christ’s life] as the appropriate name to submit to Bishop Reed for approval. St. Chrysostom was too hard to pronounce or explain in a predominantly Roman Catholic and protestant culture. It was a warm, clear sunny day and front door [facing south] was open in the Jacob Rizer House. St. Alban’s Day 22 June 1978: Ascension was officially established as a parochial mission of St. Alban’s. Later that week and on a warm summer evening, members met at the Sutherlands to officially organize and determine a plan to grow. Bob Sutherland was elected Senior Warden. Thanks to down payment and a low-interest loan by the Diocese of Kentucky 213 East Flaget Avenue was purchased and converted to a house church.
St. Joseph Proto Cathedral and Ascension signed a covenant agreement at St. Joseph’s on The Feast of Transfiguration 6 August 1985, a very warm, breezy day. Archbishop Thomas C. Kelly and Bishop Reed were present for the signing.
Ascension became a mission of the Diocese of Kentucky January 1, 1986.
On 11 October 1990, The Rev. Franklin Martin as priest-in-charge at Ascension and Rev. Rick Loader as pastor of the First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ signed a purchase agreement, which included co-occupancy of the building while new Christian Church, was built. Last service at 213 East Flaget was 28 October 1990. First service at 211 North 3rd was All Saints Sunday 4 November 1990.
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