LAKE JAMES

NORTH CAROLINA

Church History

Grace Episcopal Church, Morganton, established St. Paul's as one of its mission churches in Burke County.  In 1906 an Episcopal mission school was opened in the Linville area of the county on land given by Phifer Scott.  The Reverend Walter Hughson and Miss Eva Frances Dixon founded the mission school and held its first service on September 2, 1906.  Five months later, twenty-one people from the community were baptized.

The Reverend Malcolm S. Taylor took charge of the mission in 1907 and oversaw the laying of the cornerstone of St. Paul's Church, April 23, 1907.  That same year, Taylor left to become the first Headmaster of the Patterson School for Boys in Lenoir.  The Reverend James Joyner came to St. Paul's as a Deacon and served as minister-in-charge until his death in 1915.

While at St. Paul's, the Rev. Joyner met and married Miss Dixon, who had served at various mission churches of Grace Church prior to coming to St. Paul's.  She had lived in a mission house on the premises, taught school, gave religious instruction, and began an orphanage for the community.  Some of the current members of St. Paul's can still recall her vigor and dedication.

Following the Rev. Joyner's death, clergymen from St. John's, Marion, and Grace Church, Morganton, served St. Paul's.  Mission work was continued by the steadfast commitment of lay people, especially the White and LaFevers families.  St. Paul's, along with St. Mary's & St. Stephens of Morganton, were officially designated Diocesan Missions in 1951.  The beloved Bishop Henry served these churches faithfully; members could depend on him for monthly communion services.  In the early 1950's, St. Paul's and St. Mary's became yoked parishes and shared priests for a number of years.  Sunday services were conducted regularly in both churches.

On December 31, 1979, fire destroyed the stone structure of St. Paul's Church.  The Reverend Michael Mohn was Rector at that time, and Sunday services continued in the White family cabin on the Catawba River.  After much prayer and two years of hard work, the church was rebuilt.  Mrs. Martha Greyer, a long-time resident of Lake James, donated the land on which the church stands today.  The Reverend Scott Oxford served the parishes of St. Mary's and St. Paul's during 1988-1993.

In 1993, St. Paul's became an independent parish and called the Reverend John W. Fitzgerald as Priest-in-Charge.  The Parish House located next to the church was completed in 1996.  Since that time, Sunday school rooms and the Rector's office have been added in the undercroft of the church.  These additions have allowed St. Paul's to have greater outreach ministries in the Lake James Community.

After a decade of service, the much beloved Rev. Fitzgerald retired in October, 2003.  The Rev. Dr. Thomas Rightmyer was called to serve as St. Paul’s Priest-in-Charge on February 1, 2004.

In January, 2004 St. Paul's reached an agreement with Bishop Robert H. Johnson of Western N.C. regarding the Parish's majority opposition to the actions of the 74th General Convention of the Episcopal Church U.S.A.  Bishop Johnson graciously allowed Bishop Dorsey F. Henderson, Jr. of the Diocese of Upper South Carolina to minister to the parish in his stead.  Bishop Henderson visited St. Paul's on June 25, 2004 and performed several confirmations and numerous reaffirmations of faith.  During his visit, Bishop Henderson also dedicated the Parish Hall as "Fitzgerald Hall" in honor of the parish's former pastor, who was in attendance.  The agreement between Bishop Johnson and St. Paul's expired at his retirement on September 18, 2004.

The Rev. Dr. Thomas Rightmyer served as St. Paul's Priest-in-Charge through September 11, 2005.

On November 27, 2005 the Rev. Dr. Alfred T.K. Zadig, Sr. of Hendersonville, NC was called as Interim Priest, and the Rev. John W. Fitzgerald was called to serve St. Paul's again as Associate Parish Priest.

In the year 2006, Saint Paul's celebrated its Centennial.  The parish uncovered the original 1906 time capsule from the cornerstone of the old St. Paul's.  It contained a Book of Common Prayer, a New York Times and an Indian Head Penny.  The church celebrated its past at homecoming, its present with a float in the Glen Alpine 4th of July Parade (showing the parish's banners), and its future with Bishop Taylor confirming five new members and receiving one.  The Bishop and Parish also buried a new time capsule to be opened in September 2106.  In January 2008 Father Fitzgerald was given the title Rector Emeritus by the Diocese of Western North Carolina.

In February 2008, the parish was again granted Alternate Episcopal Oversight to be provided by Bishop Dorsey F. Henderson, Jr. of the Diocese of Upper South Carolina.  This arrangement ended in July 2008.  On May 25, 2008, The Rev. Dr. Alfred T.K. Zadig, Sr. retired as St. Paul's Rector.  In his honor, parish members built the Father Alfred T.K. Zadig, Sr. Parish Library in an area below Fitzgerald Hall.  Also, the Parish built the Doug LaFevers Memorial Parking Area behind the parish, greatly increasing the amount of parking available for church attendees.  Father John Fitzgerald continues his service as St. Paul's Rector Emeritus by leading services on the first and fourth Sundays of each month as the parish looks for a permanent Rector.

This page last modified on Saturday, August 02, 2008 12:00 PM