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St. Bede’s History 1963-2013

An Abbreviated History

Of

Saint Bede’s Episcopal Church

Manchester, Tennessee

On Its Fiftieth Anniversary

1963-2013

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FOREWORD

This abbreviated history is divided into four sections. The first is a narrative written by Justine Dietz in 1978 based upon the records which she could discover at the time. The second is a look at the future from 1978 written by then Senior Warden Bob Dietz (Justine’s husband). It is truly interesting to see the vision that Bob Dietz and other church members had at that time. In some instances his prescience is accurate; it many others, however, it is not. The third section is one which I only very recently received from Deidre Duncan; a former member of St. Bede’s who as a child with her family helped found St. Bede’s in 1960. Her recollections are vivid and contain much information about the building of the church that would have otherwise been lost if she had not taken the time to write her remembrances. (Some of her recounting does not necessarily agree with other accounts.) In her account you will find the essence of the spirit and hard work so many people put into the founding of St. Bede’s. The fourth section is a cataloging of events from the 1980’s until October 13, 2013. You will find this section considerably “drier” than the other three. This writer has acted as an editor and complier rather than a creator of a true narrative. My hope is that I have preserved as much as possible of St. Bede’s history. If I have erred, I hope that it is the sin of commission and not omission. However, I do know that in recounting the tenure of the many priests that have served St. Bede’s, that I did not find nor was I able to contact many supply priests. I do grieve for the many priests that I found have died. (Amanda Stephenson, Bishop Bauerschmidt’s Administrative Assistant was very helpful with this information even during the hectic move of the Diocesan office from Metro Center to Woodmont Boulevard.)

As you peruse, please note the names of the people who have played such a vital role over the years. You will find names repeated again and again of those who have so selflessly given of their time, talents, and tithes to further God’s work. Many are no longer with us, but their blessings on this church still live. Let us all remember those gifts and pray that God will be with us in all our future endeavors to strengthen and serve Him in our community.

Ora et Labora (Pray and Work),

Linda C. Rollins, Senior Warden

October 2013

Acknowledgements

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Many sources and people helped with furnishing needed information, but I particularly would like to acknowledge the work of amateur historian Betty Bridgewater who wrote the original history of St. Barnabas. Mrs. Bridgewater was known for her tireless work for the Coffee County Historical Society and its publications. She is sorely missed.

We only this year, 2013, lost Justine Dietz. Before her death, she and I had discussed what she had written in 1978. I had promised her a copy of the updated history when I finished with the manuscript. I regret that she did not stay with us long enough for me to deliver on that promise.

Bob Dietz died some time before Justine and had left St. Bede’s, but his work and leadership during the 1970’s was essential to the vitality of the church

Only in this last month have I become reacquainted with Deidre Duncan. I am indebted to her for taking the time to share her recollections. She has added a great deal of heart to this document.

In May of this year, we also lost our oldest member, Bertha Schulze Ashley, who at the age of 104, died. You will see her name time and again throughout the years. As Visiting Eucharistic Minister, I was privileged on occasion to take her communion at the nursing home. We talked a great deal about the church. She was always alert, smiling, and gracious. In January 2013, with assistance from Frank Araneo, she visited St. Bede’s for Holy Eucharist. We wanted her to inaugurate our new lift from the Parish Hall to the Narthex. She was pleased with our effort.

How do I say thank you to Annie Ruth Hensley, Senior Warden, Emeritus? Without her record keeping and her work to find and organize the Mission Council and Vestry minutes from the 1960’s until 2013, I would have been unable to come close to completing this project. God has blessed us with you, Ann.

Lastly, let me thank Rev. Mary Hassell, our Priest-in-Charge, and the members of the 2013 Vestry:

Rick Charter, Junior WardenDebbie Bomar, ClerkFrank Araneo, TreasurerBecky CombsJane MartinJohnathan Graf

With their help as well as many members of the congregation, plus God’s gentle prodding, I have finished. Amen

HistorySt. Bede’s Episcopal Church

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Manchester, Tennessee

(A compilation of documents from April 1, 1976, October 31, 1978, and Betty Bridgewater’s St. Barnabas’ Parish, The First Hundred Years, Its People, Its Churches, Its Clergy. Only the April 1, 1978 narrative has a declared author, Justine Dietz. We are indebted to those who have made great efforts to record our history.)

In her history, St. Barnabas’ Parish, The First Hundred Years, Its People, Its Churches, Its Clergy, Betty Bridgewater notes that in a 1868 report to the Tennessee Diocesan Convention (where he was listed as Deacon and Rector’s Assistant at Memorial Church of the Redeemer, Shelbyville, under rector the Rev. H.P. Hay) Harvey Orvin Judd, was licensed by Bishop Otey to hold Divine Services as Reader. The report states that Judd was in charge of the Mission of the Incarnation at Tullahoma, a town of some 300 inhabitants. As a resident in Tullahoma, he complied with requests from residents to hold services in the area on several occasions. Further, she writes that Rev. C.H. Coley, who became Rector at Shelbyville on October 15, 1868, reported to the 37th Convention in May 1868 that fifteen communicants resided in Tullahoma and McMinnville where he and two lay readers held services. At both Missions, Coley said that efforts were being made to erect church buildings. A cornerstone bearing only the date 1871 was laid by Bishop Quintard who wrote that “in the presence of a goodly number of people I laid the cornerstone of St. Barnabas’ Church, Tullahoma.” Mrs. Bridgewater was unable to establish the exact time and reason for changing the name from Incarnation to St. Barnabas, but there it was, fronting Lincoln Street, a frame structure, the beginning of the Mother Church of St. Bede’s Episcopal Church of Manchester, Tennessee.

St. Barnabas grew over the years, and a number of Episcopalians from Manchester made St. Barnabas their church home. Several of the Manchester men served on the Vestry of St. Barnabas, while several Manchester women served in the Altar Guild. In early 1960, the then rector, the Rev. R. J. L. Matthews, Jr., and the Vestry discussed establishing a parochial mission in Manchester. On June 21, 1960, a group of St. Barnabas communicants who lived in Manchester met at the home of Millard and Iva Frame on High Street to discuss the possibility of starting a mission. The following communicants of St. Barnabas who resided in Manchester attended this first feasibility meeting:

Temporary Chairman Millard FrameMarshall Kingsley RobbinsMichael FitzgeraldErnest TeasleyDavid WilhelmRobert Patterson BoyerWilliam Pitt. Hickerson, Sr.

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Henry C. Fasig

Millard Frame and M. Fitzgerald conducted preliminary surveys as to the desires of Manchester communicants and studies of cost and income. Mr. Frame presented the results of their findings to the Manchester communicants meeting at a potluck supper at the home of Mrs. E. E. (Louise) Henley. Mrs. Henley always blushed that there was not enough food for that hungry crowd.

The consensus must have been to move forward because on September 17, 1960, the first official meeting of the Manchester communicants was at the home of Marshall K. Robbins for the purpose of electing a council. These men were elected to serve for thirteen months:

Warden Marshall K. Robbins (automatically a member of St. Barnabas Vestry)Henry C. FasigMillard FrameErnest J. Duncan

Councilman David W WilhelmTreasurer William Pitt Hickerson, Sr.Clerk Richard Lowndes III

Confirmation classes began on October 5, 1960. The women of the church immediately organized and got to work. The Masonic Lodge at Manchester was accepted as a meeting place (a charge of $10.00 per meeting day). Louise Henley began a building fund with a $500.00 donation; St. Barnabas contributed $6,500.00; approximately $2,000.00 was donated locally, and another $2,085.00 was given in memorials. The following committees steamed into action:

Every Member Canvas Ernest Duncan, Henry Fasig, Millard FrameEvangelistic & Parish Education Millard Frame, Robert Boyer, Laura LowndesProperty Wilhelm L. HenleyChurch School Peggy Boyer, Charlsie Fitzgerald, Acolyte Guild Marshall K. Boyer, Michael Fitzgerald, and

Harry DierkesEYC Mr. and Mrs. Millard FrameAltar Guild Louise HenleyChurch Name Bob Boyer, Laura Lowndes, Grace Harvey

Of the several names presented to the Council for consideration by the Name Committee, three were selected to send to the bishop---St. Bede, St. Alban, and St. Dunstan. The name St. Bede was chosen from the Anglican Kalendar of Worship. The “Venerable Bede” (673-735) wrote the first comprehensive Ecclesiastical History of England (which is still used as a major reference) and was the first to translate the Bible from Latin to English. Many individuals and churches responded

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to the needs of this infant mission. The wooden altar was built by Hank Fasig, and from old hangings given by Christ’s Church, Nashville, the Altar Guild ripped the trim and applied it to new linens which were purchased on sale. It is noteworthy that at this time of scurrying for funds and properties, two pump organs, which had been made available at prices of $25.00 and $50.00, were rejected because “…the Council and Rev. Matthews [felt] that this [was] an extravagance at this time.”

The dream became a reality when the first service of St. Bede’s Mission was held in the Masonic Lodge hall, January 8, 1961 with the Rector of St. Barnabas, the Rev. R.J.L. Matthews, Jr., officiating. Acolytes on this historic occasion were: Torch Bearers, Jeff Dierkes and Hank Fasig; Crucifer Dick Frame; Senior Acolyte Kip Robbins; Junior Acolyte Larry Frame; and Flag Bearers Trice Fasig and Ray Harvey. At a January meeting of the Women of St. Monica’s, St. Bede’s Mission News for February reports that the women were still so excited over their first mission worship service that all business for the evening was suspended so that the ten members present might share their joyous feelings.

By October 1961 an option had been obtained on some land and permission to build a church had been obtained from sixty-two owners of neighboring tracts in the subdivision. Working on details of getting the option and securing releases were Henry Fasig, Ernest Duncan, Michael Fitzgerald, David Wilhelm, and Bob Dietz. St. Bede’s purchased 2.4 acres of land in the Mayland Subdivision, City of Manchester, Coffee County, for church and parochial buildings at a price of $2, 960.00. Lots 33 through 64 of Block L were 414.2’ wide fronting on Shady Lane, 250’ deep and 350’ from State Highway 55. The Building Committee which gave so much skill, time, dedication and talent was composed of

Henry Fasig, Jr.Ernest DuncanWilliam Pitt Hickerson, Sr.David WilhelmMarshall Kingsley Robbins

Mr. James Patrick, an experienced non-licensed architect and seminarian at St. Luke’s Seminary, Sewanee, and later head of the Architectural Department at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, was selected as the architect. The fee was $175.00. The plan was for the church to have the appearance of a ship, possibly Noah’s Ark, and to be constructed as beautifully and economically as possible with much of the work being done by members when possible. The A-frame design is unique, and St. Bede’s is a beautiful small church of frame and Sewanee stone construction which has served God and many people in the past, in the present, and will be here many years for others.

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Upon St. Bede’s organization, the following forty-three communicants were transferred on December 10, 1962 from St. Barnabas to St. Bede’s Parish Register:

Beckert, George Fredrick Beckert, Carolyn Sue Martin (Mrs. G.M.)Broughton, Colin Robert Broughton, Sylvia MayBoyer, Robert Patterson Dierkes, Eileen B. (Mrs. H.B.)Dierkes, Harry B. Duncan, Ernest JackDuncan, Gladys Yokely (Mrs. E.J.) Fasig, Henry C.Fasig, John Trice Fasig, Mildred C. (Mrs. H.C.)Fitzgerald, Charlsie Ann (Mrs. M.) Fitzgerald, MichaelFord, Nancy Mann Frame, Iva Moon (Mrs. J.L.)Frame, John Richard Frame, Larry DouglasFrame, Millard L. Frame, Patricia AnnFrame, Priscilla Ellen Harvey, Grace CharlotteHarvey, Ray Wilson , Jr. Henley, Mary Louise (Mrs. E.E.)Hickerson, William P. Lowndes, Laura Gray ParkerLowndes, Richard III Moore, Minnie Elizabeth PiburnOverall, Juanita Green (Mrs. J. H.) Powers, Carolyn Elizabeth Bramblett Powers, John Elbert Robbins, Marshall KingsleyRobbins, Marshall Kingsley, Jr. Robbins, Trudo Maurice KinardTeasley, Barbie Eve Teasley, Ben VeazieTeasley, Beve Lea Teasley, Billie Veazie (Mrs. E.L.)Teasley, Ernest L. Wilhelm, David W.Wilhelm, Linda Helen Wilhelm, Ommozela G. (Mrs. D.W.)

From Christ Church in Tracy City, TN Ashley, Bertha Schulze

On June 4, 1963 two more names were added to the list transferring from St. Barnabas’ to St. Bede’s:

Dietz, Robert Otto Herman, Jr. Dietz, Juno Justine C. (Mrs. R.O.H.)

On ? 1961/1962?[Original does not have specific dates.] The Rt. Rev. John Van der Horst, Suffragon Bishop of the Diocese of Tennessee, visited St. Bede’s at its Masonic Hall meeting place, marking the first time a bishop had officially visited Manchester in the 136 years the Episcopal Church had been organized in Tennessee. The Rev. Robert Matthews, Rector of St. Barnabas and St. Bede’s presented the following to the Bishop for administration of the sacrament of confirmation:

Mr. and Mrs. Billy Joe LeeRichard Lee WilsonMrs. Raymond L. Prescott III,Mr. and Mrs. John E. Powers, Jr.

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Mr. Philbrook F. SargentMrs. John M. Ransom, Jr.Mrs. A. Lincoln Coapman.

The service was followed by a covered dish supper.

Construction on the church building had begun in September 1962 and by February1963 was expected to have been completed in ninety days. Pete Sain was prime contractor; Charles Glass Company was in charge of glasswork, windows and doors, and Elk River Public Utility District installed heating and air conditioning. The Rt. Rev. William E. Sanders, Bishop Coadjutor of Episcopal Diocese of Tennessee visited Manchester at that time and advised the building Committee (Fasig, Duncan, Wilhelm, and Robbins) that he would next return for the dedication of the new church and its furnishings.

Although the first service was held in the new building in October, it was not until November 3, 1963, that the service of dedication took place with Bishop Sanders officiating as he had promised. An Open House for the community followed the next Sunday, November 10, 1963. At this time, the Rev. J. Walter R. Thomas, rector at St. Barnabas’, was being assisted by Seminarian Lee Carter at the St. Bede’s Mission. St. Bede’s had continued as a mission of St. Barnabas under care of first Fr. Matthews, then Fr. Thomas, and later Fr. Casey. St. Bede’s was formally seated at the Convention in Memphis in January 1963 and March 1, 1963, the Bishop removed St. Bede’s from the fostering care of St. Barnabas and placed the new mission in the Diocesan structure. Much gratitude and esteem is held for the Clergy and the Vestry of St. Barnabas’ for their cooperation and service during these early days.

In 1965 a very fierce storm blew the stained glass window into the choir loft, doing considerable damage and taking almost a year to complete reparations. This incident is still recalled by older members of the congregation with a keen sense of the “weird.” The altar remained completely untouched, although considerable disturbance and disorder obviously had abounded throughout the building.

In an annual letter to communicants, Fr. Thomas wrote that St. Barnabas had been assigned a Deacon-in-Training for a year; therefore, it became possible for the Rev. Craigue W. Casey to live in Manchester to strengthen the work there. Fr. Casey became St. Bede’s resident-in-charge. Over the years St. Bede’s has been able to have regular services every Sunday, but the priests have often also served other nearby Missions. Through Diocesan reorganization, St. Bede’s became one of seven pilot Diocesan Missions with a joint ministry in which St. Bede’s Manchester and Church of Redeemer, Shelbyville were both served by Fr. Casey; the Rev. Thomas S. Roberts also served Christ’s Church Mission at Alto; and the Rev. John Livingston Janeway also served Mission of St. Matthew’s at McMinnville.

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` Priests who were assigned to St. Bede’s from September 1960 through 1976 were:

The Rev. Robert J.L. Matthews, Jr., Rector St Barnabas’, September 1960 to June 1962

The Rev. John Walter Thomas, Rector St .Barnabas’, December 1962 to July 1964

The Rev. Craig W. Casey, Priest-in-Charge St. Bede’s July 1964 to May 1966

The Rev. Thomas S. Roberts, Priest-in-Charge St. Bede’s May 1966 to September 1969

The Rev. John Livingston Janeway Priest-in-Charge St. Bede’sSeptember 1969 to Oct. 1970

The Rev. J. Leon Malone Priest-in-Charge St. Bede’sOctober 1970 to April 1976

The Rev. K. Logan Jackson Vicar St. Bede’s July 1976 to 1979

(A sign of the “growing pains” within the whole Episcopal community was that Fr. Jackson also served as National President of the SPECP.)

Seminarians who have worked with priests at St. Bede’s, in addition to Mr. Lee Carter and Mr. Craigue Casey were Mr. Dick Ellwood, Mr. George Sally, Mr. T. Buchanan Looney, and Mr. Alex F. Comfort. It is impossible to name all the priests and seminarians who have come to conduct services for this mission, but a deep gratitude is felt for all of those who helped in the continuity of worship.

Continuity of worship services could not be referred to without a word about the Lay Readers show faithful service has been essential. There was, one Sunday, however, which brought about several firsts. No priest was present, and no lay reader was present to conduct Morning Prayer; but our Senior Warden stepped in and with the help of the Holy Spirit and met the challenge. Our Senior Warden happened to have been St. Bede’s first female warden (1972), Mrs. Bertha Ashley.

Lay readers, including Harry Dirkes, Richard Lowndes, Ernest Teasley, and John Powers, made possible St. Bede’s first organ in February 1961---a Heath-Thomas transistor organ which they purchased in kit form for $329.95 and assembled themselves and presented to the church. Mrs. Grace Harvey was the church’s first organist and was followed by a long list of skilled and not-so-skilled organists who frequently undertook responsibilities for junior and senior choirs as well. .This first little organ served the church until it was replaced in 1976 with a Baldwin electric organ which had belonged to Arthur Butler Dugan, former head of the political science department at the University of the South. It was given in his memory and in grateful appreciation of Ellen Logan Brooks by Dr. Dugan’s widow,

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Martha Deaton Dugan. The first kit organ built by the lay readers was then passed to St. James’ Mission, Sewanee.

The total cost of the church, as reported December 15, 1963, was $43,179.36. The original furniture and other supplies, some gifts, some memorials, amounted to $2.085.00. These very early gifts and their donors were:

Pall In memory of Charles Sydney Courtenay by Mrs. Charles C. Courtenay

Acolyte Pew In thanksgiving, John William Greeter, on the occasion of his wedding to Lois Ellen Bradley, December 28, 1963

Altar In memory of Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Schulze by Mr. and Mrs. Joe Ashley, Jr.

Lectern In memory of George and Lillian Hibbs, Beryl HlundenWilliam and Winifred Broughton by Colin and Sylvia Broughton

Steeple Cross In memory of the Rt. Rev. Theodore Noll Barthand in thanksgiving to the Rt. Rev. John Vander Horst, and

the Rt. Rev. William E. Sanders by Mr. and Mrs. Ernest J. Duncan, Jr. and Deidra

Bishop’s Chair In memory of Martha Joe and Dorothy Lou Fasigby Mr. and Mrs. J.C. Fasig, Jr., Trice and Henry III

Font In memory of Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Riplinger,Mr. Maurice Harvey,by Mr. and Mrs. Ray Harvey and Family

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Chalice and Paten In memory of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Hunziker by Mr. and Mrs. Ernest E. Henley

Pulpit In memory of William Pitt Hickerson IVby his Family and Friends

Piano In memory of Fred Phillips by Howard Phillips

Cruet Set By the Veazie and Teasley Families Altar Cross In memory of Charles Lynwood Man, Sr.

by Nancy Mann

Clergy Pew In thanksgiving for the Rev. Robert J.L. Matthews, Jr., Father Founder of this Mission by the St. Bede’s

Family

Missal Stand To the Glory of God and in loving memory of Clara Hottinger Veazie and William Townsend Veazie

by the Veazie and Teasley Families

At a later date, the following memorials were added:

Statue Added to the church yard in 1975, a memorial given by Mrs. Louise Henley in memory of her mother,

Cecelia Elizabeth Hunziker

Brass Candelabra 1976 in memory of Billie Veazie Teasleyby Veazie and Teasley Families and Friends

Baldwin Organ 1976 to the Glory of God in memory of Arthur Butler Dugan and in grateful appreciation of Ellen

Logan Brooks by Martha Deaton Dugan

St. Bede’s continued to grow, although slowly, through many dedicated and sustained efforts of its members and priests, and at long last the church loans were paid in June 1977. On Sunday, September 11, 1977, St. Bede’s celebrated the consecration of its church building with Bishop William E. Sanders officiating, as he at the building’s dedication. The occasion was celebrated with a reception and luncheon to which many friends of St. Bede’s were invited.

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A significant event occurred in March 1965. A very fierce storm blew the stained glass window into the choir loft doing conservable damage and taking almost a year to complete repairs. This incident is still recalled by older members of the congregation with a keen sense of the “weird.” The altar remained completely untouched, although considerable disturbance and disorder obviously having abounded throughout the building.

Financed by Louise Henley, a concrete walkway was added from the parish hall doorway to the priest’s parking area. In June 1977, the walkway was extended around the front of the church to the main parking lot. That work session brought about the addition of swings, volleyball and tether ball poles as well. In 1974, a beautiful church sign was erected on the front lawn, and in 1975, tile was laid on the Parish Hall floor. A concrete ramp entrance was built to accommodate wheelchairs when two of the church founders, Harry Dierkes and Millard Frame, became incapacitated. No structural changes were made to the building until October 1975 when a church school addition was begun. Added were four classrooms, two baths, and a basement amounting to about 800 square feet. Contractor Joel Parker promised completion before the end of the year. Warden Robert O. Dietz directed the building of the addition along with Vestry members Mrs. Ann Hensley, Clerk; Mrs. Louise Henley; Marvin Lawley, Shaw Jared; and Frank Araneo, Treasurer. Mrs. Maureen Pierce was church Sunday School Superintendent.

Treasurers have always been called upon to perform feats of magic in handling church funds, particularly during the lean years. Beloved William P. Hickerson, St. Bede’s first treasurer, died in 1963, and his was St. Bede’s first funeral service was held at the mortuary downtown. (Parenthetically, William Courtney brought about the realization that the front stairs must be widened to accommodate both the coffin and the pallbearers.) Treasurer Ernest Teasley’s many years of service were followed by Clyde Kunz, who served for ten years of dedicated service.

The Altar Guild and the Women of the Church have been actively involved in church affairs even before the church was named. Two of the most faithful and most prominent in carrying on dedicated service to the Altar Guild are Mrs. Bertha Ashley and Mrs. Louise Henley. St. Monica’s WIC continues to serve under Mrs. Virginia Jared this year, as last.

The Acolyte Program actually began before the first service in January 1961 under Acolyte Master Marty Robbins, aided by Harry Dierkes and Michael Fitzgerald. It has continued through the years as a traditionally male service to the church until 1972 when girls were added to the class being instructed by Harry Dierkes, who had worked with that first class back in 1960. Ann and Beth Jared and Susan and Becky Dietz were those “firsts,” and the Dietz girls served throughout their high school years. In 1975 Acolytes were being trained by Jim and Chris

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Bowen. The highlight of their activity of 1975 was a fully costumed Christmas play. In 1976 Jim Bowen and Frank Araneo initiated monthly Acolyte breakfasts.

Begun in April 1961 with $20.00 from the Council “to purchase suitable educational books, St. Bede’s church library began. The growing church library consists of excellent books about the Church, religion, and other topics of interest. One notable book is by the Venerable Bede, himself, for whom the church is named---the title is The Cradle of the North. The women of the Church regularly add books to the collection as a thanksgiving for births or memorials to members of our congregation.

St. Bede’s presence within the community has been felt by those of varying ages. We have sponsored both Boy, Girl, and Explorer Scout Troops, we have had representation on the Fine Arts Commission, and our building has been used by many groups for regular meetings---Corneilia Ilgner’s art classes, Weight Watcher, Scouts, and now a local square dance club. We have shared our building with St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church for its regular Sunday worship service and joined with that group for Bible School and youth activities. A summer kindergarten program for itinerant Mexican workers has been held, and the OEO Day care has had a program in our parish hall for several years. In 1976 our Lay Readers joined other churches in providing a campground ministry which was sponsored by the Ministerial Association. We regularly open our parish hall to the community to join us for Shrove Tuesday Pancake Suppers, and since 1965, we have had a food booth on the square during the Chamber of Commerce-sponsored festival honoring community Old Timers. Through the efforts of layman Ernest Teasley and seminarian Alex Comfort, in October 1977, Chautauqua became a reality as an outreach activity for retired persons. This activity has grown to an activity for all persons interested in sharing learning experience of short duration but high interest level.

St. Bede’s has always attempted to have a church school program. Its greatest difficulty has been the smallness of the Mission with so few children of such varying ages. Parents, dedicated communicants, seminarians, and priests have all assumed teaching responsibility,.

Just as in May 1975, when we began formulating plans to obtain full-time resident priest, we were able in July 1976 to welcome the Rev. K. Logan Jackson. We continue to grow and to set what at first seemed to be unattainable goals. We have faith that with God’s continuing help, our latest goal of becoming a self-sustaining parish is not too far distant.

Complied by Justine Chrisco Dietz, October 1978

Revised and retyped by Linda C. Rollins, August 2013

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Part II

A 1978 LOOK AT THE FUTURE FOR ST. BEDE’S by the Warden

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What follows is an observation written in 1978 by Senior Warden, Robert O. Dietz:

A 1978 LOOK AT THE FUTURE FOR ST. BEDE’S by the Warden

HISTORY

St. Bede's was formed by St. Barnabas in 1960 with about twenty families shifting to St. Bede' s. Church membership growth was modest and a church building was completed by 1966. Church membership fell precipitously to a level of a few faithful families by 1970. Growth since 1970 has been steady but slow. 1978 membership shows the presence of about 25 faithful families. Stewardship growth has been excellent and the financial contribution per member is now one of the highest in Tennessee.

FUTURE SCENARIO

Purpose of St. Bede's, as with all Episcopal Churches, is to increase Christian life quality of members and to introduce others to Christ and the Christian philosophy. Decisions made today by the council should be aimed at those objectives and must be made with an understanding of future constraints and alternatives. This understanding requires a logical framework that encompasses variations in the known and is general enough to encompass appearance of the unknown. Thus extrapolation of the known may indicate low growth and a decreasing requirement for church school. However present member commitment and God's intervention may double the faithful membership in five years and require doubling church school needs and adding a new parish house, etc. The understanding of the future scenario must be specific enough to allow the council to evaluate the consequences of current actions and decisions.

An Estimate of the National and State Environment:

The national body of the Episcopal Church seems intent upon forcing ordination of women and liturgy revision upon all elements of the church. This is going to split the church. A second Anglican Church is already forming, thus facilitating the split and assuring that it will be a major split. Episcopal publications point out that those departing to the new church are doing so in a manner contrary to doctrine--the

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stated basis for departure. Episcopal publications stress the adherence of the new liturgy to doctrine and urge tolerance. These efforts should tend to minimize the split. For purposes of this scenario, it is estimated that twenty percent of the congregations and a like amount of money will leave the church. These percentages will be higher in Tennessee, especially in the rural areas. The basic structure of the Episcopal Church, with its new liturgy and priesthood, will continue to exist.

There is a national trend--particularly among young people--to seek out Christ in an effort to put meaning into their lives. The revised liturgy and priesthood will probably make it easier for the young people to move into the Episcopal Church. Thus, the possibility exists for the present turmoil in the church to result in a stronger younger church in the eighties.

It is expected that the Tennessee Diocese of the Episcopal Church will continue to exist and will remain in a position to provide financial support to its missions at a twenty-five percent lower level than at present.

An Estimate of the Local Environment:

A significant percentage of the local population is well educated and is sophisticated in its background and thinking. Those people have difficulty with fundamentalist churches when they are caused to think about their church affiliation. Competition to the local Episcopal Church for those people is sparse indeed. Numbers of such people will continue to increase locally through retiree settlement, AEDC changes, and outgrowths of AEDC, such as Microcraft, UTSI, and S&P/ARO, Tullahoma.

Manchester’s population will increase by 300 to 500 families within the next two years. Ten percent of the heads of these families will be engineers and supervising personnel.

A number of young people have come into St. Bede's recently. St. Bede's has a young priest. Both of these factors favor the position of St. Bede's with regard to the increased interest of young people in Christ.

A large majority of St. Bede's members are established in the community and own homes here. A large turnover of membership is not to be expected due to moves of members.

The present priest at St. Bede’s is committed to the 1928 liturgy and opposes a change in the composition of the priesthood. His tenacity in this regard is encouraging members of St. Bede's who tend to share that thinking to change their attitudes toward the church. It can be expected that several families will leave St. Bede's between now and 1980 because of actions expected at the 1979 Convention of the church and the absence of any transition to the new ways of the church.

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The congregation at St. Bede's is highly committed, highly energetic and willing to work for Christ. Presented with goals to which they can relate, they are quite capable of achieving miracles under His banner.

CONSEQUENCES AND OPPORTUNITIES

In view of the world of the future for St. Bede's, the membership of the church can be expected to increase through 1978, decrease in 1979 and then can be made to increase to a level fifty percent greater than at present around 1982. The church split and the possible departure of Fr. Jackson will cause the decrease in 1979. The favorable local environment, the groundwork Fr. Jackson has laid, and the trend toward greater youth commitment to Christ, will lead to high growth in the early eighties if we move with an aggressive evangelism program.

We must prepare for a 25% decrease in financial support from the diocese in 1979. Financial plans should take into account this loss along with a decrease in membership that will tend to hold local 1979 income at present or only slightly higher levels. Local income growth will be re-established in 1980, if our evangelism program succeeds. The diocese income should begin to recover in 1981 or 1982 and at that time we could expect to receive greater support from the, diocese if such help is still needed.

A critical part of the evangelism program that is dictated in a comprehensive and high quality church school and church youth activities program. Any church building plan must take this into consideration along with the financial boundaries outlined above.

It seems clear that, barring a miracle, the main church building that we now have will house the congregation through the eighties. We do need a paved drive and a parking area.

Opportunities for growth of the church in Manchester during the next three years are so good that we must retain a full time priest at St. Bede's. We should try to keep Father Jackson if he can accommodate to the revisions in the church. If this is not possible we need information on his plans and we need to act so that there is no period at his departure during which we lack a full time priest. Retention of Father Jackson or recruitment of his replacement requires the immediate acquisition of a vicarage. Church building plans must take this into consideration along with the financial boundaries outlined above.

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1990 and Beyond

This plan should be revised annually as the national, state, and local environments change. If St. Bede's becomes a congregation of 200 in the late eighties any mortgage we commit to in 1978 will be quickly paid. Such a membership would cause the church school wing to be extended and a parish house wing to be added. Plans would be initiated at that time to construct a large church on the two acres that we now use as a playground. Actions that the present council takes should avoid serious interference with such long term future possibilities.

Robert O. Dietz, Warden

St. Bede's Episcopal Church

April 30, 1978

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Part III

A Personal Recollection by

Deidre Duncan

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My Memories of St. Bede’s from the Beginning

by Deidra Duncan, daughter of St. Bede’s trustee and builder of the building, Ernest J. (Jack) Duncan, Jr.

Dear Mrs. Rollins,

Here are my memories of St. Bede’s Episcopal Church from its beginnings. I am going to just “brainstorm” below what I do remember hoping to get down in this file everything that I can recall.

My name is Deidra Renee Duncan, and my parents were Gladys and Jack Duncan. Mom was born in 1917 and raised in Sewanee, Tennessee. Daddy was born in 1915 and raised in Knoxville, TN. They met when Daddy was stationed in the Army at Camp Forrest during World War II.

Mom was confirmed at Otey Memorial Parish in Sewanee in 1942. Mom and Daddy were married during the war and after the war and in 1946, then moved to Mom’s hometown of Sewanee and then soon settled in Manchester, TN. Mom was confirmed at Otey Memorial Parish in Sewanee in 1942. Daddy was baptized and confirmed at Otey Memorial Parish in 1946.

Mom and Daddy continued to go to Otey for a while. Then, they started going to St. Barnabas in Tullahoma, TN. Mom told me the story that sometime in the late forties, Bishop Barth unexpectedly walked into St. Barnabas one Sunday morning and said, “If you folks do not build up this church with new members, I am going to close it!” There were only about three families going at the time. So, Mom said they starting going around talking with people trying to get them to come to church at St. Barnabas. And she said once the Arnold Engineering Development Center came in, they were able to attract new members from people (particularly engineers and their families) who were newly working at AEDC.

The New Mission Called St. Bede’s

I do not remember the early “talking” at St. Barnabas about trying to start a mission in Manchester because I must have been only 5 or 6 years old. But, I do remember very well when the St. Bede’s Mission actually started meeting for services every Sunday in the now old Masonic Lodge Hall in Manchester, TN.

I remember that some of the men would have to come early (often bringing their children like me) and set up the folding chairs in the lodge hall—which would take a

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little while to do because there were so many rows of chairs—I guess maybe ten rows on each side of the main aisle. I want to think that instead of using the lodge altar, they used a wooden altar that they moved into the lodge hall and set up in front of the Lodge’s altar and that also looked like a church altar. But, we were still always seeing the lodge’s big “G” sign on the wall in back of our altar during the service. We had all the usual Fair Linen and altar linens. I remember we did not have a chalice paten, so Mom gave Father Matthews a paten to use that had been an ashtray at our house. Father Matthews blessed it and used it for quite some time—I think even after we got in our new building. And, I think I still have it around the house here—I will try to find it and bring it on October 13th.

Father Robert C. H. Matthews was the rector at St. Barnabas—he had been my rector there until we moved to the new St. Bede’s. Father Matthews passed away about 20 years ago from pancreatic cancer at a fairly young age. His wife was Bea. He was a wonderful man in many ways including the fact that he was very kind and wonderful in working with us children.

Father Matthews' brother was/is the Reverend Dr. Daniel Matthews, Rector Emeritus of Trinity Wall Street Episcopal Church in New York City.

St. Bede’s Mission was not a “small, struggling attempt” at all like many continuing Episcopal Churches are still today—and we were not “rinky-dink” at all (for lack of better words). We were traditional, High-Church Episcopalians, and we were proud of it! St. Bede’s Mission was a very good size church and acted as such in that it always did everything just as St. Barnabas had always done, probably because we all came from St. Barnabas.

We had a several boys of the members who were the acolytes; they all were dressed in their acolyte robes, which were the traditional style of the day. We had a small children’s choir, which I was in. We did not have an adult choir as I recall—just us children who mainly learned to sing the hymns. I must have been around six years old. I wore the vestments we all wore in the children’s choir—my black cassock, white surplice, and black beanie. I think our families had to either buy or sew all our vestments. We children all had come from St. Barnabas, so we were very well-trained there by Father Matthews. We must have had 12-16 children in the children’s choir that processed in every Sunday.

We all processed in at the beginning of the services and out at the end just like we had done at St. Barnabas with the crucifer and acolytes leading and the children’s choir coming in two-by-two, then Father Matthews at the end of the procession. Father Matthews taught all of us children how to perform our various duties and roles. He was a very kind and patient man.

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For our first service of the mission (which was our first service in the Masonic Lodge Hall in Manchester, my mother and others were very surprised when heads were counted and we had about 70 or so people at the service!!! Now, a lot of us were families starting the mission from St. Barnabas. But, there were a lot of people from around the town of Manchester who just came to see and to support our new efforts.

Also, the Sunday of our first service, the Holiday Inn in Manchester in what is now its old and original building on Highway 41 up town posted on its sign “Welcome new St. Bede’s Episcopal Mission” or something like that. I had a photograph of this, and I will see if I can find it for October 13th.

I do not remember much more about those services in the Masonic Lodge Hall except they were just like the services we had at St. Barnabas, “old church” using the 1928 BCP and the 1940 hymnal lead by a very traditional Episcopal priest.

The Name “St. Bede’s”

I cannot remember exactly when the name St. Bede’s was actually chosen. I can remember a group of the adults sitting around “brainstorming” probably one Sunday. And several names were introduced by several people. Mrs. Grace Harvey introduced the name “St. Bede’s”. And, as I recall, the name was liked and selected by the group virtually immediately with no contention.

Finding the Site for the Building

I cannot remember how long we were in the Masonic Lodge Hall since I was a little girl (6 or 7 years old). But, I do remember very vividly how the site for the building was chosen. Hank Fasig (Henry C. Fasig, Jr.) was driving down Highway 55 one day, and he saw this hill. And he said to himself, “That’s it! That’s the perfect site to build our building.” He drove to our house, which was only a couple of miles or so away, got Daddy, and the two drove back to the site. Hank said, “Jack, that’s it. That hill. That’s the perfect site for our church!”

Daddy immediately agreed. But, Hank was not from here originally (he was from up East), so he needed Daddy’s advice and input because Daddy (being in the construction business) knew everyone here. There was one hitch. Mr. May owned that land, which was his entire farm land planted mostly in corn—Mr. May had owned that acreage for years. And, Daddy told Hank that there was just one glitch. Daddy was not sure that Mr. May (a famer) wanted to part with his valuable farm land. But, Daddy told Mr. Fasig that if he and Hank went and talked personally with Mr. May that they might be able to persuade Mr. May to sell the church the land.

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So, that is what happened. The road from Highway 55 up to the St. Bede’s building was unpaved and remained for many, many years just a gravel road that had to be replenished at times with new, white gravel brought in by Mr. Riddle’s gravel trucks.

Also, for many years, Mr. May still owned the land on either side of the gravel road leading up to St. Bede’s. And, Mr. May faithfully planted those two large fields with corn and harvested it every year…. Until he finally broke down again and sold J&G Pizza their current land.

The Diocese That Would Not Help Us

We had the site selected. So, it was time to buy the land. The Diocese of Tennessee (which then encompassed all of the State of Tennessee under Bishop Vander Horst) told us they would not/could not/whatever be able to help us one cent. And, St. Barnabas did not have the money! St. Barnabas would continue to supply us a priest on Sundays. But, that was it!

This is what most people do not understand! They think a diocese must have just jumped in with a large check and bank-rolled the entire operation. No! A great disappointment since we had worked so hard along with Father Matthews to get the mission going.

So, Daddy went to the First National Bank (I think Hank Fasig went along with him). (Daddy being a licensed general contractor had built many houses in the area, so he knew how to go about getting related loans.) And, Daddy talked with Mr. Wright Hickerson (whose family owned the bank) at the First National Bank about our trying to get a loan for the land to build the church on. After the typical discussion, “Mr. Wright” looked my father straight in the eye and said, “Jack, these other three men (later to be the trustees) may be fine men. But, we don’t know them! They have come in here with A.E.D.C. from God knows where. And, we don’t know who they are. And, this bank cannot lend money to people it does not know. But! I know you. And, if you will sign the note with your personal guarantee under your signature, I will lend you the money to buy that land. But, you understand that if this church defaults in any way on this note, I will come back on you personally for the remaining money.

So, Daddy signed the note, and we got our land.

I am letting Mrs. Rollins borrow a note and related items that I believe is the note that got St. Bede’s land. But, I have found in Daddy’s things a Deed of Trust that I think was the deed made out that is related to the original loan at the First National Bank to buy the land; I It is a Deed of Trust from H.C. Fasig, et. al. (in other words, the four trustees for St. Bede's) to E.W. Smartt, Jr. Trustee, First National Bank

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Beneficiary, recorded by Mildred Sullivan, Registrar, on 23rd (I cannot read that date for sure) day of September, 1963. Recorded in Trust Deed Book 108, page 501, Sept. 23, 1963. It says this is Block L of the May Land Subdivision, a plat of which subdivision is recorded in Trust Deed Book 86, page 529, Register's Office, Coffee County, Tennessee.... and gives the survey coordinates.

This deed reads in part as follows: "For and consideration of one dollar to us paid, the receipt of which is herein acknowledged and other considerations hereinafter mentioned, we H.C. Fasig, Ernest J. Duncan, M. K. Robbins, D. Wilhelm, Trustees for St. Bede's Episcopal Church, Manchester, Coffee County, Tennessee. Lying and being in the City of Manchester, 6th Civil District, Coffee County, State of Tennessee..." $18,000 was paid.

Also, I have what appears to be a related and an original plot survey map of the St. Bede’s land and surrounding land (all owned by Mr. May, I think) surveyed and signed by Alton (Al) Morris, who was the main land surveyor people around here used for many, many years.

I have a faded document entitled "Release for Church Purposes of Restricted Covenants."

I have a faded copy of the original loan of $15,000 from the First National Bank at 6% interest dated December, 1962, "on or before nine months." Signed by Daddy (Ernest J. Duncan, Jr.) and M.K. Robbins (Marty Robbins, one of the trustees) and Mr. Wright Hickerson (who was the head of the First National Bank at the time).

Finding an Architect

Finding an architect was easy—Bishop John Vander Horst had him ready-to-go. He was Father James (Jim) Patrick who was an Episcopal priest in the Diocese of Tennessee. But, Father Patrick was also a licensed architect who drew the plans for several churches in the diocese during this time frame (the 1960s).

Father Patrick came up with a design that was striking, innovative, and very, very nouveau for the time. In fact, people were always taken aback a bit (almost to the man!) the very first time they saw St. Bede’s building after it was built. And, I don’t know that Father Patrick ever did another design of a building that was so striking and different—I think the other churches he designed at that time (the 1960s) were more traditional in design.

But, the concept Father Patrick had was that you were driving up to this building that was Noah’s Ark. You walk up the steel stairway going into the church just like

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Noah and his people and the animals walked up to get into the original ark…. All representing a place where people can find shelter and salvation, and be saved. By the way, this is also why the church never had a front door painted red as most Episcopal churches still have today—you were walking up into the Ark! And, even the stained glass windows were totally different, not having the traditional Biblical “pictures” or designs like all of the other churches had at the time and still have.

To the best of my recollection, Father Patrick also had the idea to use Sewanee sandstone both outside and inside the church building. I think this was to give the connection between St. Bede’s and the Episcopal bastion of Sewanee and the University of the South.

To the best of my recollection, Father Patrick also came up with the design of the cross that is over the altar with the design of the Holy Spirit coming down in the form of a dove from the Chi-Rho cross into five, small branches (if I am remembering correctly), the five Holy Wounds of Christ. The interesting thing (which was definitely no accident on Father Patrick’s part) is that when the lights shine just right in the sanctuary, you will see the two shadows on the wall on either side of the cross over the altar, which represent the two crosses upon which the two thieves hung at the same time Our Lord was crucified.

Bold! Modern! Nouveau! A striking design (even for the early 1960s when “modern” design was being invented in architecture, furniture, art, clothing, etc.) that took people aback and made them gasp with surprise when they first saw it. And yet, St. Bede’s building is full of symbolism for the weary-worn sinner seeking salvation.

As far as I know, Father Patrick is still alive. But, he is now Dr. Jim Patrick, founder and Chancellor Emeritus of the College of Saint Thomas More in Fort Worth, Texas:

http://www.instituteofcatholicculture.org/author/james-patrick-thd/

And, I think he may also have founded more recently Fisher-More College there:

http://fishermore.edu/welcome/

Father Patrick converted to the Roman Catholic Church as a layman in the early 1970s, and I knew the nun who taught him his catechesis and helped him to convert, Sister Dominica at Aquinas College in Nashville. I had always been told that Father Patrick was more Anglo-Catholic anyway. He seems to be very happy now as a layman in the Roman Catholic Church.

The Groundbreaking

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The diocese was unable to send us a bishop, canon, or a priest to do the groundbreaking. So, it sent three of the monks from St. Andrew’s Monastery in Sewanee. I remember one of the monks was a priest, the second a brother, and I cannot remember the orders of the third monk. They were wonderful men. And, for several years, Mom kept in correspondence with them at Christmastime. We have a picture of the monks at the groundbreaking with trustees Marty Robbins and Dave Wilheim watching in the background.

Building the Building

There were two licensed general contractors who built St. Bede’s building, my father (Ernest J. Duncan, Jr., contractor license number in Tennessee 3757) and Mr. Pete Sain. I guess Daddy could be called the main contractor bringing in his men. Then, he brought in Mr. Sain and his men to do some of the work he did not have the equipment for, such as a crane to lift the steel arches into place. Mr. Sain would have gotten paid for his work; possibly from that original loan I talked about above from the First National Bank.

But, I do not think you will ever find an invoice for payment to my father for any work done at St. Bede’s. Anything I ever knew about with building or anything to do with the building, Daddy supplied the materials and labor himself. Please remember again, the diocese was adamant in not helping us monetarily in any way. It was up to the communicants, and especially the four trustees, to come up with the materials, labor, and costs of building and furnishing a church building and the land upon which it would sit!

I think I am correct in remembering that Mr. Sain put in the steel arches that you see in the sanctuary. And, Daddy would have done the rest with his men.

And, I remember Daddy coming home and relaying to Mom and me about what his men and other subcontractors he had brought in had accomplished that day. After all, everybody in the church was very excited that construction on our church building had finally started.

And, there were a lot of things in the construction that were “intricate” or not as easy to accomplish as most laymen would expected them to be easy and normal:

1. As I mentioned, Father Patrick had in the plans for the sandstone to be built both on the front facing outside and behind the altar in the sanctuary. This took quite a while for Daddy and his men to accomplish and was often a bit of a ‘pain’ to accomplish. We have to remember that this was a time when the interstate highway system and what is now Interstate 24 had not even been built. So, the sandstone had to be quarried up on the Mountain

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(Sewanee/Monteagle) area and brought down in the old Studebaker-type pick-up trucks with the running wood boards on the side of the truck bed and going down the very winding, old 42 highway from Monteagle, on into Pelham, and then into Hillsboro and Manchester. Now, I remember Daddy saying the sandstone was very heavy, so you could only put a certain amount of sandstone into each Studebaker truck or you risked one or more tired blowing out and/or the old-type truck motors with the clutches burning out. So, it took many delivery trips down that old mountain to get the sandstone to St. Bede’s.

2. The marble on top of the sandstone on the front of the building was made of the best Georgia marble of the time.

3. The altar was cut of the same marble and trucked in here in pieces. Steel reinforcements are under the altar to keep its weight from making the floor sag. I think the words on the altar were cut at the quarry in Georgia.

4. The septic tank field lines run from the bathrooms straight out the front and down to the ditch on the left-hand side of Mr. May’s field as you face the altar’s front. Daddy suspected years later that the septic tank had finally become unusable after time.

5. The cornerstone has no mementos in it. It is just a plain marble cornerstone.

6. Daddy always told me that the most difficult aspect of building the building was setting the stain glass panels in the front of the building. It was a great pain to set each stained glass panel—otherwise the stained glass panels might leak to the inside of the choir loft when it rained! The stained glass came from Charles Glass Company in Manchester, TN. Daddy’s men set each of the stained glass panels in place. And, I remember Daddy told me that he only had two panels give him problems at the beginning and even over time. One panel was not set right and leaked into the choir loft. Daddy caught it, and his men reset that stained glass panel correctly on the second attempt. Another stained glass pane cracked right at an edge, which would cause it to leak. So, Daddy replaced that glass, and it worked that second time. After that time, he did not have any problem with the stained glass _except_ you have to watch and have the thermostat stay at the right temperature because if you had a very quick change between hot and cold in the choir loft, the stained glass windows might possibly “sweat” from the inside…. But I don’t think that has ever happened.

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The Deed to the Property and the Four Trustees

When the building was finished, Bishop Vander Horst talked with Mr. Robertson, an attorney in Tullahoma, TN who was also an Episcopalian, and told Mr. Robertson how he wanted the deed to St. Bede’s property written. Daddy heard later that Mr. Robertson called Bishop Vander Horst soon thereafter and said, “Bishop. Do you understand, Sir, that you are deeding this property free-and-clear to these four men. These men will own this property!” And Bishop Vander Horst told Mr. Robertson, “Mr. Robertson. I am fully aware of what I am doing. You will write the deed of trust exactly as I have instructed you to do so, and I will sign it!”

That is how St. Bede’s came to have four trustees named on the deed. And we always believed that Bishop Vander Horst wrote the deed in this way because these four men were the ones who had put up the money and taken the personal risk to building the building. I personally believe Bishop Vander Horst knew that there could be problems with bishop(s) that would follow after he died and that St. Bede’s would have a much better chance of surviving if it had these four men to look after the property.

How We Came to Know St. Bede’s is a Holy Place Standing on Hallowed Ground

I wanted to end my recollections by telling you a story that still makes me cry when I think about it all these many years later. It was about 1964, and there was a talent show at the high school in Manchester one Friday night. I was in the talent show along with a lot of my friends from grade school—I was about ten years old. The high school was packed for the show.

One of the promoters of the show came back stage well into the show and told us performers, “Listen, the police have just told us that they want us to keep everyone in this building because there are some tornadoes coming through here. And, they don’t want anyone to try to leave the building and go to the parking lot. So, you guys are going to have to keep this show running for a while longer until we hear back from the police, but you have to do it in such as way so as to make the audience think nothing is out of the ordinary.

So, we did our thing.

When we all finally got outside to go home, there was devastation everywhere, tree limbs all over the place, trees down in the roads. Everyone realized something bad had really happened—several tornadoes had come through Manchester all at once.

The next morning at daylight, somehow several of the parishioners learned that something looked desperately wrong at the church. So, they all (including Daddy) rushed up to St. Bede’s each about the same time. They found the otherwise locked

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front door to the church wide open, so they called the police, who came quickly. The police thoroughly searched the building and found nothing at all was missing—not even the silver locked in the sacristy cabinet.

The police told us, “Folks, this was not a break-in. This appears as if a huge gust of wind like a mini-tornado came off one of those twisters last night and tore right through the sanctuary of your church.”

The mini-“twister” broke open the locked front door of the church; its pressure blew out and cracked some of the stained glass windows; it went right down the center aisle taking out every single prayer book and hymnal from the pews and throwing them down to the floor. The twister then went right around and behind the altar, broke open the other door to the sacristy, and went right out the side door for the handicapped.

But at the blessed altar, the Fair Linen was perfectly untouched. The tall candlesticks at the sides of the altar with the candles in them were perfectly in-place. The crystal cruets and everything on the credence table were perfectly in-place ready for the Holy Eucharist.

The people and the police just marveled at what they saw—the untouched holy ground. And, that is when we realized we were witnessing a miracle and that St. Bede’s was, indeed, a holy place blessed and protected by God.

Ending With Some Tidbits

I hope I have helped in some way relaying to you what I know and remember about the early years of St. Bede’s Episcopal Church. To end, here are some tidbits of knowledge that I remember after these many years.

1. When the church got it its current building, the church could not afford to buy altar hangings, vestments, or the altar hangings. So, the church bought the four kits from Almy, one for each seasonal color, and four women each took a color and sewed it. I know the women were Bertha Ashley, my mother (Gladys Duncan), I think Louise Henley, and perhaps Juanita Overall. The kits were composed of the chalice burse and veil, the pulpit hanging, I think maybe the lectern hanging and the priest’s stole. If you find any of these items now that look like Almy cloth but have not Almy tag sewn on them, they may be part of those original, hand-sewn sets.

2. Since the church could not afford to buy altar linens, they bought the church-linen cloth made of 100% linen, and various women sewed the traditional purificators, corporals, etc. totally by hand. My mother obligated both of us to

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sew some of these items. I was about 8 to 10 years old. And, I sewed several of the purificators by hand, as required, under my mother’s instruction. So, that is how I learned to hand-sew, and I still know how to sew traditional altar linens, and I am also a liturgical seamstress.

My mother had told me that when she was growing up in Sewanee, as part of their religious instruction, the girls at church (probably Otey in Sewanee) would meet under the instruction of a lady of the church, and they would all hand-sew altar linens until they perfected their craft. And, Mom said this is how the young girls like her learned to sew by-hand. This was important because there were not sewing machines in most homes. So, the girls had to be able to sew their dresses for school and church by hand.

3. The apostles on the pulpit are Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

4. Father John Walter Riddle Thomas, St. Bede’s first rector after we got in the new building, was a professional classical pianist who performed on some of the best-known stages before he received his calling to become a priest.

5. The reason gold was chosen for all of the carpet is that the congregation wanted to stay away from the traditional red they were used to at St. Barnabas and other Episcopal churches of the day, probably because St. Bede’s building was such a nouveau design of the day and they wanted to stay with that modern design throughout the building.

6. The figures for the Christmas crèche were an old set given to us by St. Barnabas. And every Christmas, some of the men would build a wooden crèche by hand and put the figurines in it, often with a light and a timer so the crèche could be seen from the road at night. Of course, the Christ Child was placed in the crèche every Christmas Eve.

7. There may still be the plaque in the vestibule that has engraved metal/gold panels that lists the item each founding family gave the church when the building was built. My parents and I gave the steeple and cross on top of the roof.

8. Mrs. Nellie Courtney and her husband were from England. And one day, everybody was talking about why we called the basement the basement when it really was not a basement and we were tired of calling it a basement. Mrs. Courtney said that in England, it was more properly called an undercroft. So, the name stuck. Thereafter, it was called the undercroft with the priest duly

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announcing at each service, “And, we welcome everyone for coffee in the undercroft after the service.”

9. The first organ, which we had from the time the building was built, was a small Heathkit spinet organ that was built by one of our members who was an engineer at AEDC. That stayed our organ until about 1977 or so when Father Jackson had a dear friend who was an older lady who had known Father Jackson for many years, especially while he was attending school at Sewanee. The lady’s husband had just passed away. So, she gave her late husband’s full-pedal organ to St. Bede’s. Members of St. Barnabas came over to its dedication with St. Barnabas’ organist, Jane Gray, playing the organ during the dedication service.

10. I have my confirmation certificate from St. Bede’s, December 6, 1964, Father Craig Casey presenting, Bishop William Sanders presenting. And, this would be the first confirmation service at St. Bede’s. I remember that Randy Dietz, son of Bob and Justine Dietz, was confirmed at the same time I was.

11. Father John W. R. Thomas, our first priest when we got in our building, was a High-Church Anglo-Catholic priest. It was the first time I ever saw a priest wear a maniple. He wore it every Sunday. He also was a professional classical pianist who played regularly on the concert stage before he received his vocation as a priest.

12. Father Craig Casey did the confirmation class that I was in (which was our first confirmation class) during the fall, 1964 using one of the old, Morehouse-Barlow confirmation sets as the instruction. I still have the set of booklets somewhere in the house that I studied from in that class. You had to go to several meetings on afternoons to go through the entire course, as required.

13. One of parishioners, Harry Dierkes, fell out at the old country club in the mid-1960s and was instantly confined permanently to a wheelchair. Mr. Dierkes was in the hospital in Nashville from the accident, and Daddy said right then “We men will never be able to lift Harry up those back steps at the back entrance, and it will be too hard on Harry in his condition.” So, Daddy immediately took his workmen up to the church, and they modified the entrance in the sacristy to make a wheelchair ramp and make the doors wide enough to where Harry could drive up to the back door of the sacristy, roll himself out of his van, and roll himself up the back entrance ramp and come in. This enabled Mr. Dierkes to continue going to church at St. Bede’s for many years. I believe with great

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certainty that this would qualify St. Bede’s as having the first ramp/entrance for the handicapped in any publically-accessible building in Coffee County.

14. And now for the intrigue. If you research the St. Bede's legal documents in the Coffee County Registrar's Office, there is what I call a "bogus" deed--I have a copy-- recorded by Mildred Sullivan February 26, 1968. Deed Book Number 119, page 376, entered in Note Book O, page 343. This is where some of the communicants at the time (1968) tried to sell St. Bede's to the Roman Catholic congregation that met in the Presbyterian Church in Manchester for many years. We heard that they got as far as the Roman Catholic diocese having their attorneys run the title search on the St. Bede's property. The Roman Catholic attorneys came back immediately, we heard, and said, "This deed is not worth the paper it is written on."

15. We had a small choir when we first got in the building. We were around 15 people who could read music fairly well, and we sat up in the choir loft singing on Sunday mornings. We did not have vestments or anything—just wore our street/church clothes. We did not practice or sing offertories or anything. We just sang the hymns during the service.

16. The design of the round floor upon which the altar sits was designed by the architect, Father Jim Patrick. It was just part of his modern design/ theme for the church building. It was intentionally built to have no altar rails, and at first and for a while, it remained without any. But, we eventually had enough older parishioners who needed an altar rail. A partial one was eventually added at the back of the altar where it could not be seen from the pews.

Deidra Duncan

Part III

1978 to October 2013

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Although St. Bede’s early history is written in narrative form, I have chosen to capsulize the history of the late 1970’s to the present in October 2013 in an abbreviated outline form which can be more quickly read. Each decade will be labeled and dealt with separately. Note that the terms Mission Council and Vestry are not interchangeable. As long as St. Bede’s was a mission, we had a Mission Council. When St. Bede’s became a Parish, the group became a Vestry. Likewise, the priest’s title changed from Vicar to Rector, and the Vicarage became a Rectory. I should note that in several instances we could not find any Mission Council or Vestry minutes. In those instances, I have specified the missing parts.

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Other Milestones in 1978 and 1979

1978Addition built to the church building for Sunday School RoomsA new VicarageA new lawn mowerA new heating and air systemIncrease in Sunday School attendance

1979Father Logan Jackson’s departure from St. Bede’sIncrease in activities including a booth at the Coffee County Fair,

food booth at Old Timers’ Day, Pancake Supper by church women, rummage sales

New flatware for the kitchenSenior Warden Bob DietzNew Council Members and Officers

Senior Warden Marvin LawleyClerk Ann HensleyTreasurer Frank AraneoLouise HenleyEdley RamseyMary Combs

Implementation of landscaping planArrival of Father Bob Utlaut and familyFirst service by Father Utlaut July 1, 1979First Vestry discussion of widening bathroom doorsAuthorization of a $5,000.00 loan to Father Utlaut for building a new homeResolution regarding tithingInstallation of a railing to the choir loftReport by Father Utlaut concerning a priest leaving and a new one comingGeneral Convention’s decision on new prayer book

1980(No minutes have been found for 1980 Vestry meetings.)Indications from notes in 1981 show a drop in attendance in 1980.

1981Council Members and Officers

Senior Warden Mary Combs

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Clerk Edley Ramsey (acting Clerk Richard H. Harrison II)Treasurer Frank AraneoJim Bowen

1981 (Continued)

Jesse Shore (replaced Jim Carney)Ernie Teasley

Greg Hein, Seminarian for 1981-1982Decrease in revenuesInitiation of Winnie Powell Memorial Fund Additional financial aid from the DiocesesPresentation of a workshop on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse on May 10, 1981

by Rev. Dr. Robert D. Hughes of St. Luke’s School of Theology presented by the Outreach and Evangelism Committee

Installation of tamper-resistant thermostatsElection of Pete Peterson to replace Ernie TeasleyAugust kitchen shower to help with expensesElection of Linda Rollins to fill Pete Peterson’s termElection of New Council members in November

Marvin LawleyMary PetersenNorma Myer and John Pelton

1982 Only the Annual Meeting Report of November 17 has been found. (No permanent priest the greater part of the year.) Fundraising for 1982 Outdoor Show in March ($450.00); Old Timers’ Day

Booth ($1,200.92); Fair Booth ($788.69)Recommendation to give up Fair booth spaceReduction of Christian Education classes from six to three, using the “Living

the Good News” seriesOf sixteen projects by the Building and Grounds Committee accomplishment

of four and five in processDiocesan requirement of a Junior WardenIncrease to two delegates to the Annual Convention on the basis of 25 plus

communicantsBeginning in Advent 1983 only the 1979 Prayer Book to be usedElection of Stan Powell and Gary Welty to three-year terms respectively

on the Council

1983Arrival of Father Bob Dedmon, new Vicar, in June 1983Installation of the new Vicar and confirmation of five people by Bishop

Sanders in October

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Restructuring of the Diocese of Tennessee

1983 (Continued)

Increasing attendance at Sunday Eucharist:July 1983 Average Attendance 62July 1982 Average Attendance 38July 1981 Average Attendance 21

Increase in Sunday School participationBecoming a Chamber of Commerce memberIncreased activity of Episcopal Church Women

(Hereafter referred to as the ECW)Council Members

Frank AraneoVirginia JaredMarvin LawleyJohn PeltonMaureen PierceJoanita SkinnerGary Welty

New Officers 1983-1984Senior Warden John PeltonJunior Warden Stan PowellTreasurer Frank AraneoClerk Maureen Pierce

Vote in Annual Meeting to increase Council size from six to nine

1984

Search for home for the Dedmon familyBede’s Beacon, newsletterPurchase of new cross for AcolytesBible School in late JuneAppointment of Tellers to count collection on Sundays, March 19, 1984

includingTom StokesMaureen PierceShaw JaredBetsy HastingsLew CombsEdley RamseySubject to their acceptance: Jesse Shore and Bertha Ashley

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May 27, 1984 St. Bede’s Picnic and Field Day1984 (Continued)

Election of new Bishop for Middle TennesseeSale of the Old Vicarage Repair to porch roofAddition of items to Children’s PlaygroundResignation of Jim Bowen as Acolyte MasterAppointment of Todd White as Bowen’s replacementSeptember 8, 1984, Old Timers’ Day BoothSWEEP (Service, Worship, Evangelism, Education, and Pastoral Care)

Retreat November 9-10, 1984 at Dubose Center conducted by Rev. Thomas C. Barnes, Rector of St. Thaddeus Church

in Chattanooga, October 3Annual Meeting with Janet Finamore of Contact Lifeline

as guest SpeakerOctober 13, 1984 Loyalty Dinner with Canon Tharp as speakerNovember 25, 1984 Last visit of BishopBill Whisenhunt, SeminarianReplace of Gary Welty by Lynda Welty on the CouncilOrganist to be paid on a per service basisOrganization of Children’s ChoirProject to remodel the UndercroftCouncil Members for 1984-1985 elected

Frank Araneo (3 years---1987)Gary Welty (3 Years---1987)Lynda Welty (3 years---1987)Sharon Stiles (1 year---1985)Stan Powell (1985)Maureen Pierce (1986)Virginia Jared (1986)Joanita Skinner (1986)Gary Ledbetter (1987)Marvin Lawley (1985)

New carpeting for the sanctuary donated by Bertha AshleyAuthorization of heating units for upstairs and downstairsPurchase of two new front pews Moving of organ from the choir loft to the Sanctuary November 25, 1984Completion of 1983 audit by Gary WeltyResignation of Joanita Skinner from Council to return to schoolElection of Lew Combs to replace SkinnerWooden disks made by Jesse Shore for use on candle stands to prevent wax

dropping on the carpetAccomplishment of undercroft soundproofing

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1984 (Continued)

Donation of freezer to the church by the PeltonsPlacement of memorial plaque in Narthex honoring Mrs. Ruth Clarke and

Mrs. Bertha Ashley for their generous contributions to St. Bede’sOffering at Christmas Eve Midnight Mass December 24, 1984 designated

for Ethiopia through the Presiding Bishop’s Fund

1985

New Council OfficersSenior Warden Maureen PierceJunior Warden Lewis CombsClerk Gary LedbetterTreasurer Frank Araneo

Good Sam supported for 1985Nelda Lowrance approved as organistLenten series March 1985 held at Missions; St. Bede’s March 3, 1985Adoption Fair by the Department of Human Services held at St. Bede’s

March 22, 1985Ministry of Reconciliation Mini-Lab at St. Bede’s May 3-5, 1985 and May 17-

19, 1985 with teacher Dr. John RiceJoint Bible School with First Presbyterian Church at First Presbyterian

June 9-13, 1985Rite of Confirmation of the Bishop of Tennessee the

Rev. George L. Reynolds on Sunday, June 23, 1985 at Christ Church, Nashville

Diocesan Stewardship Dinner at St. Bede’s August 29, 1985 with Bishop Reynolds

Discussion of the possibility of building a VicarageResignation of Sharon Stiles because of a move to TexasElection of Hannah Kunz to fill out Stiles’ termBeginning of Church School September 25Meeting with clergy and laity to discuss Vision for the Diocese of Tennessee,

November 8-9, 1985 at Opryland Hotel, NashvilleRevenues from Od Timers’ Day Booth approximately $1,157.00Purchase of a Vicarage dependent on Bishop and Council approval, securing

acceptable funding, and accumulating the necessary down payment

Acceptance of loan offer by St. Anne’s of $ 38,000.00 at a fixed rate of twelve percent for Twenty years

Approval of loan by Chancellor Louis Ferrell

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1985 (continued)

Election of Council Members includingTom StokesVirginia JaredMaureen PierceFrank AraneoHannah KunzLew CombsLynda WeltyGary LedbetterEdley Ramsey

1986

Appointment by Bishop Reynolds of Virginia Jared to the Diocesan Consultancy Team on Evangelism

Old Timers’ Day profits to be equally divided between Outreach Projects and roof replacement

Appointment of sponsors for Episcopal Youth Community( Hereafter referred to as the EYC)

Continued need for babysitters for nurseryVacation Bible School June 8 -12, 1986 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.Planning for Retreat for Council members September 12-13, 1986 sponsored

by the Department of MissionsElection of Father Dedmon as president of Diocesan ClericusSponsorship of four children to Camp Billy JohnsonDecreasing numbers of the CouncilDeparture of Father DedmonFormation of the Vacancy Team--- Team members:

Shaw JaredLynda WeltyJesse ShoreLew CombsFrank AraneoEdley RamseyTom StokesGary Ledbetter

Interim priest Father Ed DeBaryApproval to re-carpet the Loft Request by the Bishop of mission history for candidate priests’ perusalRearrangement of pews in the Sanctuary1986 (Continued)

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Deferring election of Mission Council Officers until January 1987Election of Council Members for 1986-1987 including

Lynda WeltyJesse Shore (3 years)Maureen PierceShaw Jared (3 years)Lew CombsFrank AraneoHannah KunzGary LedbetterEdley Ramsey (3 years)Tom StokesVirginia Jared

1987

Recommendation by Bishop Reynolds of Rev. M. Clark Baker for Vicar of St. Bede’s

Beginning of plan to become a self-supporting parishAcceptance January 2, 1987 the Vacancy Team of Father M. Clark Baker as

new Vicar for St. Bede’sFather Baker’s first service, Sunday, February 15, 1987Correcting problems with sewer linesConstruction of a replacement storage buildingInvolvement of St. Bede’s in Diocesan Capital Funds DriveStructuring of the Episcopal Diocese of TennesseeCompletion of 1985 audit of financial recordsTraditional Shrove Tuesday Pancake SupperImplementation by Father Baker of mid-week Bible studyCreation of Goals for 1987:

To increase membership by 5% of 1986 active membershipTo establish active evangelism trainingTo establish advertising efforts

Participation in New Beginnings ProjectFormation of a committee to ascertain how unspecified memorials or

donations are spentCelebration of a New Ministry on June 14, 1987Continued involvement with Good Samaritan using St. Bede’s facilitiesPainting of church propertyVisitation by Bishop Reynolds on November 15, 1987Establishment of a Vicarage repair fund

1987 (Continued)

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Completion of storage building at VicarageCompletion of roof replacement

1988

Council Members and Officers for 1987-1988; Officers:Senior Warden Lewis CombsJunior Warden Jesse ShoreClerk Hannah KunzTreasurer Frank AraneoMembers;Shaw JaredBob LowranceEdley RamseyTom StokesIva FrameMaureen Pierce

Fifth-Year Anniversary of the Good Samaritan project with involvement of ten area churches

Construction of a new church signCompletion of audit of 1986 financial recordsShrove Tuesday Pancake Supper, February 16, 1988Need for organ repairs or new organResignation of Tom Stokes from Mission Council because of movingGift of a copy machine from St. Mark’s AntiochAppointment of Jim Bowen to fulfill Tom Stokes’ termMajor Vicarage repairCommunity Thanksgiving Service at St. Bede’s November 23, 1988Clericus meeting at St. Bede’s November 8, 1989Attendance by seventy at the Christmas Eve service at 10:45 p.m.

1989

Mission Council Officers for 1989-1990:Senior Warden Maureen PierceJunior Warden Jesse ShoreClerk Edley RamseyMembers:

Bob LowranceIva FrameBetty Carney

1989 (Continued)

Becky Combs

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Shaw JaredPreparation for Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper by the EYCAttendance at Stewardship Retreat at St. Mary’s March 10-11, 1989Planning for paving of the parking lotPurchase by the EYC of an animal for HEIFER as a Lenten ProjectAttendance at and Evangelism Workshop in Fairhope, AlabamaLenten discussions on Spiritual DevelopmentContinued contributions to Good Samaritan programHosted “An Affirmation on Aging” with Hank Myers and Lynn HuberDonation of a double oven by the Combs familyDonations to two burned out familiesConstruction of bell storage cabinet fy Jesse ShoreProceeds of $965.65 for Good Samaritan from Lenten LunchesHonoring of Good Samaritan workers with a teaParticipation in Old Timers’ Day with a food boothAmong EYC activities---selling of photographs to raise money to

save Canterbury Cathedral; lawn mowing; placement of the Altar Nativity scene; participation in camping, athletics, and group

discussions Congregational meeting on October 4, 1989Election of three new Council Members:

Joan GuthrieHannah KunzGary Welty

Painting of the Undercroft by ECWElection of Mission Council Officers for 1990-1991:

Senior Warden Bob LowranceJunior Warden Gary WeltyClerk Hannah KunzTreasurer Frank AraneoOther Council Members:

Iva FrameMaureen PierceBecky CombsBetty CarneyJoan Gutherie

Attendance at the Christmas Eve service sixty-two

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1990

Meeting of Foster Parents Group at St. Bede’sPractices for Round Dancing at St. Bede’sGuardian Angels for church families as part of membership outreachContinuation of Good Samaritan being located at St. Bede’sAssistance to 770 persons by Good Samaritan from January 1983 to

December 1989Participation of Seminarian Frank HuberSponsorship of the annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper by the EYC

and ECWCelebration of St. Bede’s Day May 25, 1990 with a church picnicDonation of a typewriter to Contact LifelineAttendance at Easter service ninetyTraining of Total Ministry teams at St. Bede’s May 12, 1990Ordination of Frank Huber in Bowling Green, Kentucky June 10, 1990Resignation of Hannah Kunz from the Council because of movingVisitation of Bishop Reynolds October 7, 1990Catering of lunches by ECW to Spirituality Training Workshops on May 12,

June 23, August 25, and November 10, 1990Vote by Mission Council to limit its number to sixAnnual Congregational Meeting November 18, 1990Election of new members to the Mission Council:

Jesse ShoreMike Irwin

Election of new Council Officers for 1991-1992Senior Warden Gary WeltyJunior Warden Betty CarneyClerk Becky CombsTreasurer Frank Araneo

1991

Election of new Council members:Mary-Frances Ferber (2 years)Luwin Lewis (2 years)Lewis Combs (2 years)Jesse Shore (2 years)Ann Hensley (1 year)Virginia Jared (1 year)

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Estate of Ruth Valerius Clark endowment of $11,507.45 for “Christian Outreach and Special Purposes”

1991 (Continued)

Return to a staggering term schedule for Council members for 1992 withOne person for one yearTwo persons for two yearsTwo perso9n for three years

Expenditure of Mrs. Clark’s endowment fund designated for landscaping the church yard

Purchase of a commercial dishwasher by ECWCongregational Meeting December 8, 1991Election of new Council members:

Ann Hensley 1 yearVirginia Jared 1 yearLewis Combs 2 yearsMary-Frances Ferber 2 yearsJesse Shore 2 years

Adult Fellowship party at Virginia and Shaw Jared’s home, December 13, 1991

Organization of new organ committee after an anonymous donation to the fund

Members of the New Organ Committee:Nelda Lowrance, ChairLuwin LewisLewis CombsVirginia JaredWes Cummings

1992

Council member Officers:Senior Warden Lewis CombsJunior Warden Jesse ShoreClerk Ann HensleyTreasurer Frank Araneo

Participation in “Klothes Kollection” with other area churchesParticipation in Coffee County Beautification Association

“Bag-a-Thon”Donation to Haven of HopeMeeting of Clericus at St. Bede’s, March 24, 1992 with lunch

provided by ECWPurchase of television for church school from the

Ruth Clark Endowment Fund

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Installation of wider doors from the sacristy to accommodate a casket1992 (Continued)

Sale of jewelry from East Africa in the undercroft April 15 and 22, 1993Purchase of a new electronic organDonations to “Wes Cares ’92” and Contact LifelineAdult Fellowship party hosted by Mary and Lew Combs June 26, 1992Congregational meeting at Nelda and Bob Lowrance’s home July 26, 1992Congregational Picnic at AEDC Recreational Area the fourth Sunday in

August 1992Holding of a joint Vacation Bible School at St. Barnabas July 28-30, 1992Decision not to participate in Old Timers’ Day for 1992Purchase of needed items by the Altar Guild from the Mildred Faisg

Memorial Fund designated for the Altar GuildAdult Fellowship party hosted by Ann Hensley October 10, 1992Initiation of aluminum can collection the fourth Sunday of each monthPurchase of candles, liquid wax plus two glass cruets from the Jim Rudy

Memorial FundAnnual Congregational meeting November 22, 1992Children’s choir robes given by Nelda and Bob Lowrance in memory of

Nelda’s motherCompletion of successful audit of financial records for 1991Election of new Council members for 1993:

Wes CummingsLynda WeltyMary Peterson

Selection of four candidates for BishopElection of Council officers for 1993:

Senior Warden Lew CombsJunior Warden Jesse ShoreClerk Mary-Frances FerberTreasurer Frank Araneo

Placement of memorial plaque on organInstallation of hand rails on the downstairs steps

1993

Use of new a Christian education program called “Real Magic”Donation of new carpet for the sacristyShrove Tuesday Pancake Supper for Adult Fellowship with acceptance of

donationsRepair of sagging front entrance roofSuccessful Spring Clean-up Day Participation by some members in Gifts and Talents Workshops

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1993 (Continued)

Serving of lunch by the church women at Holy Week services April 8, 1993Planning for a new St. Bede’s bannerNeed of new signs to direct people to the Good Samaritan location in the

undercroftExpression of disapproval by the Council of the final salary package for the

new BishopApproval of new mission statement:

“To restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ: We pursue this by prayer, worship, proclaiming the Gospel, and by

promoting justice, peace, love, and service to others.”Lacquering of alms basins and placement of memorial plaquesDisplay of new St. Bede’s banner at consecration of Bishop HerlongLuncheon June 27, 1993 at the Lowrance’s lake homePurchase of Pascal candle as a memorial to the late Rev. K. Logan JacksonDonation to “We Care ‘93”Donation to Salvation Army CampContinuation of Helping Hands projectExtension of an invitation to Mrs. Herlong to accompany her husband,

Bishop Herlong on his visit September 19, 1993New ministry to help the Coffee County JailApproval of monies to purchase new front doorsCongregational meeting November 14, 1993Discussion concerning combining (yoking) McMinnville mission with the

Manchester mission with Bishop HerlongParticipation in Manchester area recyclingReorganization of Sunday school classesParticipation in Christmas kettle campaign of the Salvation ArmyElection of new Mission Council members for 1994:

Frank AraneoBob LowranceRobert Bailey

Donation of a vacuum cleaner by the FerbersIssuance of a formal invitation to St. Matthews of McMinnville

to attend St. Bede’s Christmas Eve service at 10:00 p.m.Satisfactory completion of the audit of the 1992 financial records

1994

Mission Council members and officers for 1994:Senior Warden Lynda WeltyJunior Warden Wes Cummings

1994 (Continued)

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Clerk Mary-Frances FerberTreasurer Frank AraneoBob LowranceBob BaileyMary Peterson

Re-instatement of Bede’s BeaconSoup and sandwich Clean-up Day February 19, 1994Extending of invitations to area churches to the Shrove Tuesday Pancake

Supper February 19, 1994Allocation of funds for making a new Lenten bannerContinuation of fourth Sunday covered dish luncheonsCulmination of planning activities for “systemic reinvention” of St. Bede’s

and St. Matthews congregations in a Design Workshop at the AEDC Gossick Leadership Center in mid-May

Presentation of certificates to bell ringers by the Salvation Army at a continental breakfast

Special Congregational meeting with Bishop Herlong concerning the status of St. Bede’s and St. Matthew’s March 15, 1994

Completion of Gifts and Talents Workshop by twelve peopleFollowing Maundy Thursday services an Agape mealAssignment of a new address for the church: 93 St. Bede’s DriveLow church morale as a result of the potential combining of two missionsPlanned combined meeting of St. Bede’s and St Matthews Mission CouncilsOpen meeting of respective churches with Bishop Herlong on June 26, 1994Changing of Sunday Service to 10:00 a.m. for July and August to revert to

10:30 a.m. the first Sunday in SeptemberBeginning of plans to make St. Bede’s more handicapped accessibleInability of Father Clark Baker to serve as priest for the combined

congregationsMajor meeting of St. Bede’s and St. Matthews Councils and congregations

with Bishop Herlong June 26, 1994Presentation to the congregation of a plan for St. Bede’s to become self-

sustaining in five years, August 10, 1994Forwarding of the plan for becoming self-sufficient to Bishop Herlong for

considerationPositive results from the meeting of the Senior Warden and Bishop Herlong

regarding the plan for self-sufficiency August 6, 1994Involvement in the Mountain Housing Program, a part of the Convocation

Housing ProjectPlans to make the downstairs and upstairs bathrooms unisex and

handicapped accessible1994 (Continued)

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October potluck themed German Oktoberfest with German dishesAwarding of a paving contract to Smithway Paving for paving

the parking lotIncreased use of St. Bede’s facilities by AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) and

ALANONCompletion of successful audit of 1993 financial recordsAdult Fellowship at Carney home December 17, 1994Commitment by the Council to keep the congregation informed about the on-

going plan for self-sufficiency and the need for the congregation’s commitment

Election of Mission Council officers and members for 1995:Senior Warden Bob LowranceJunior Warden Jesse ShoreClerk Mary-Frances FerberTreasurer Frank AraneoBob BaileyCarrie Lynch

Purchase of a tape recorder to record Mission Council meetingsPurchase of a new digital answering machine

1995

Planning of Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper February 28, 1995Celebration of St. Bede’s Day on May 21, 1995 with an English themed

potluckDecision by the Council to sell the Vicarage after repairs to make it sellableApproval of additional outside lightingDonation to the Oklahoma Diocese for repairs to St. Paul’s Cathedral

resulting from the Oklahoma City bombingUpdating of St. Bede’s room at the DuBose Center with a donation from the

ECWDonation to Manchester City Schools “We Care” eventDesign of a St. Bede’s license plate by Carrie Hawk Lynch to be made

available to the congregationArrival of a new computer system and office jet printer/fax courtesy of the

Dandridge Trust FundMonthly potluck at the Lowrance homeDonation of old computer equipment to one of Father Baker’s new churchesMeeting of the Southeast Missionary Convocation at St. Bede’s

October 22, 19951995 (Continued)

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Launching of the Center of Ministry and Small Church Conference in Monteagle, November 5-6, 1995

Initiation of a memorial fund for Betty CarneyApproval by Mission Council to accept an offer of $49,500.00 for the

VicarageAnnual Congregational meeting to be held November 19, 1995 with the

election of three new Council membersChristmas Eve services to be conducted by Father Ed DeBaryElection of new Council members for 1996:

Becky CombsAnn HensleyGary Welty

Bishop Herlong to attend St. Bede’s January 21, 1996 with potluck luncheon on that Sunday

Resignation of Carrie Hawk-Lynch from Mission Council with Frank Araneo appointed to fill out her term

Election of Mission Council officers for 1996:Senior Warden Gary WeltyJunior Warden Jesse ShoreClerk Mary-Frances FerberTreasurer Frank Araneo

1996

Sale of the Vicarage with at a reduced price of $46,935.00Beginning of an effort to re-involve inactive membersEstablishment of a memorial fund for Iva FrameRefurbishing of the bellsDiscussion concerning building or purchasing a new VicarageDonation to Contact LifelineUpdating church rosterPurchase by the Altar Guild of a new chasuble and Eucharistic stole to be

dedicated with an attached inscription reading “In loving memory of Betty Carney and Iva Frame”

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper to be February 20, 1996Discussion of plans to pave the area on the Parish Hall side of the churchMeeting with Bishop Herlong with the Mission Council and the Search

Committee April 11, 1996

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1996 (Continued)

Plan for writing job descriptions for Mission Council officers and members as well as committee chairs

Beginning of Father Rob Courtney’s tenure at St. Bede’s June 2, 1996Offer of $110,000.00 on a prospective Vicarage in the Landtree SubdivisionIncreased pay for the organist who also directs the Bell ChoirUse of the Bell Choir for outreachLetter encouraging former and present members to return to St. Bede’s to

meet the new priestOrdination of Rob Courtney at St. George’s Church Nashville, June 16, 1996Cookout and Ice Cream Social to be held July 28, 1996Movement of May luncheon to June 2, 1996 to celebrate Father Courtney’s

arrivalChurch membership in the Manchester Chamber of CommerceMoving of Good Samaritan from St. Bede’sGift of copier and typewriter given by Father CourtneyInstallation of Father Courtney at St. Bede’s on September 29, 1996 with a

reception followingPlanning and publicizing the Ice Cream SocialResignation of Nelda Lowrance as organistDonation of the Parish Hall for use by the YMCAReduction of Diocesan stipend to St. Bede’s beginnng in 1997Application to the Dandridge Trust for funds to build a handicapped ramp

and to modify the existing restroomsMonthly potluck on August 25, 1996 in honor of the ministry of Bob and

Nelda Lowrance as they leave St. Bede’s Formation of Search Committee for a new organistDecision to hold Council election in October to better prepare new members

and officersAnnual Congregational meeting on October 19, 1996Election of new Council member:

Buck RamseyBecky BinghamMary Peterson

EYC outing to OprylandPaul Teschan to meet with the Council in November to assist with committee

descriptions and requirementsAcceptance of the proposed 1997 budgetCaroling by St. Bede’s December 15, 1997

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Donation of kitchen facilities for Americorps workers from the YMCA

1996 (Continued)

Mission Council Retreat to be held January 17 and 18, 1997 with Teschan assisting

Hiring of full-time organist, Luwin Lewis with back-up by Dwight Stooksberry

Advertisement of Christmas Eve service in local newspapersNew Council officers for 1997:

Senior Warden Gary WeltyJunior Warden Becky Combs

Clerk Ann HensleyTreasurer Frank Araneo

1997

Planning of thank you party for Father DeBary on May 18, 1997Donation of new windows in the Sacristy, the office, and Sunday school

rooms by Jesse ShoreOrdination services for Rob Courtney April 6, 1997Attempt to resurrect the ECW groupVote by the Council to support a Diocesan Resolution on allowing individual

parishes and missions to decide how much money to send the National Church

Purchase of 100 tee shirts for Evangelism eventsPurchase of pens with St. Bede’s name, address, and phone numberPurchase of a Bulk Mailing Permit to reduce mailing costsPurchase of new road signs advertising the churchPresentation of an appreciation plaque to the church from the YMCAHiring a full-time sitter for the nursery on SundayEstablishment of a memorial fund for Denise PomykalPurchase of an adulthood Christian education series for the high school classWork with Paul Teschan on St. Bede’s Strategic PlanAnnual Congregational meeting to be held November 23, 1997New Council members for 1998:

Bill RobersonBill PayneRichard Randolph

Meeting of ECW on an as needed basisFormation of a Bible study group by Young Adult GroupFormation of a Bridge Club

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Gift of $10,000.00 from Bob Bailey and family in remembrance of Denise Bailey which was used to begin an endowment with matching

funds from the savings account

1998

Donations to the Diocese of Liortal, Good Samaritan, Contact Lifeline, and the Haven of Hope

Election of new Council officers for 1998:Senior Warden Mary PetersonJunior Warden Bill PayneClerk Ann HensleyTreasurer Frank Araneo

Purchase of two new bells for the bell choir in memory of Dee PompkyAppointment of an Investment Committee including

Gary WeltyFrank Araneo Bill Payne Bob Bailey Father Courtney

Reports on goals established by the Council in October 1997Music by a brass quartet on Easter SundaySurvey of the physical plant to ascertain needed maintenanceDonations to Nashville churches St. Ann’s and St. John’s to help repair

tornado damageArrangement for live music for Evangelism Day, September 13, 1998Purchase of two new bells in memory of Lewis Combs and Francis AraneoDecision to use vinyl siding on the church buildingDecision to invest savings with Edward D. Jones Company and Merrill

Lynch CompanyAcceptance of a bid for additional parking lot pavingResignation of Bill Payne from the CouncilPlan for Council Retreat, Saturday, January 16, 1999, with the Rev. Dr.

Charles at the DuBose CenterClarification of endowment and how investment monies are spentDecision to present new prayer books to new confirmees and transfers to St.

Bede’sDonation to EYC for their assistance with the nurseryDelay of the decision on becoming a parish until the latter part of 1999Election of new Council members for 1999:

Lewie CombsMaureen PierceBob BaileyFrank Araneo

52


Purchase of a new Advent CandleEnding the year on a positive financial note

1999

Council officers for 1999:Senior Warden Mary PetersonJunior Warden Bill RobersonClerk Richard RandolphTreasurer Frank Araneo

Council Retreat January 16, 1999Donations to Trinity Church in Clarksville, Tennessee and companion

diocesePerformance by the Tennessee Tech brass ensemble at Easter serviceIncrease of insurance coverage on the church building and the VicaragePurchase of a new refrigerator with an ice makerSt. Bede’s yard sale April 24, 1999Presentation of Diocesan Planning PrioritiesDecision to present Bibles to graduating high school seniorsCompletion of a video inventory of building and groundsParticipation of Seminarian Pam MorganDonation of an alb to Pam Morgan in appreciation of her work

***** Decision to become a parish at the Congregational meeting, September 19, 1999

Chartering of a bus for parishioners to attend Diocesan Convention at Christ Church, Nashville in January 2000

Promotion of Stewardship campaign the last week of OctoberAppropriation of funds for the purchase of new playground equipmentPlacement of handrails on the church front stepsAnnual Congregational meeting December 5, 1999Election of new Council members for 2000:

Lynda WeltyMary CombsLinda LoveJulie Sisk

Revival of ECW with outings on the third Tuesday of each month***** Submission of St. Bede’s petition to the General Convention co-sponsored by

St. Barnabas

2000

Planned attendance of thirty-five members at the Diocesan ConventionPresentation of St. Bede’s banner by Bertha Ashley and Louise Henley at the

Diocesan Convention January 2000

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2000 (Continued)

Approval of Christian educational, Seedlings for Seminarian Pam Morgan’s multi-age group

Council officers for 2000Senior Warden Mary CombsJunior Warden Bill RobersonClerk Richard Randolph

Decision by Council to call Rob Courtney as St. Bede’s Rector as soon as our Mission is declared a Parish

*****Beginning of St. Bede’s as a Parish and the Mission Council as Parish VestryScheduling of a long-term planning meeting for February 23, 2000 with the

inclusion of congregational membersMonthly delivery of meals to Shepherd’s HouseResignation of Maureen Pierce from the VestryAppointment of Jane Martin to fulfill the term of Maureen PierceDonation of a gift of an Episcopal flag by St. Barnabas in honor of St. Bede’s

becoming a ParishPlanning of a reception in conjunction with St. Barnabas in October 2000 to

celebrate St. Bede’s becoming a ParishDonation to the Sudanese Scholarship ProgramInstallation of new outside lightingPlan to change all church locks and keep records of their distributionVisitation in early October by Sudanese refugees living in Nashville to draw

attention to the plight of Sudanese living in refugee campsPerformance by the Bell Choir for Bishop Herlong’s visit on

October 29, 2000Visit by Jill Zook Jones, Diocesan Youth Coordinator November 26, 2000Selection of delegates to the annual Diocesan Convention in January 2001Annual Parish Meeting to be December 10, 2000 with Potluck followingDonation to St. Andrews Scholarship Fund for Seminarians’ ChildrenGift of a stole to Seminarian Pam Morgan for her ordination as a deaconAnnual Parish Meeting December 10, 2000Election of new Vestry members for 2001:

Mary Frances FerberTroy RoseDavid Young

Formation of an Organ Search Committee including:Luwin Lewis (organist)Nonie ShaneBill RobersonLynda Welty

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2001

Vestry Officers for 2001:Senior Warden Mary CombsJunior Wardens David Young and Troy RoseClerk Mary-Frances FerberTreasurer Frank Araneo

Acceptance off an amended 2001 budgetApproval of a new computer for the RectorTotal donations of $100,000 for the purchase of a new pipe organ from

Milnar Organ CompanyUpdate of St. Bede’s web pageEucharist to be held every weekday evening except for Easter Week with

Community Service at noon on Good Friday and 10:00 a.m. Eucharist on Saturday

Donation to the Manchester Fire Department for educating Manchester children about fire safety

Report of the deficiencies in handicapped accessibility to the upper and lower floors of the church building

Among festivities for Easter, an Easter Egg Hunt and a receptionProposal of a “three-Year Plan” by Rector CourtneyUse of St. Bede’s for noon Easter Week servicesPresentation of a gift honoring St. Bede’s new Parish status to be done June

3, 2001 with Bishop Herlong performing Evening Song with potluck to followExterior of stone on the church vandalizedAppointment of an Architecture-Long-Term Planning Committee including

Chair Gary WeltyEx-officio Senior Warden Mary CombsAnn HensleyVirginia JaredJackson SiskMary HiersGeorge Campbell

Meeting with architects from Gilbert/McLauglin Architect, PLC to discuss the church’s primary needs including:---Handicapped accessibility---Best use of the building and facilities presently in place---Kitchen remodeling---Addition of a new Parish House turning downstairs into the

Christian Education and Nursery areasNeed for reconfiguration of the loft area for accommodating the cabinet

containing the new pipes for the organ

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2001 (Continued)

Completion of Rectory repairsDonation of a thank you gift of a new ciborium to St. Bede’s of Syossett,

New York for their helping Jean Araneo during her convalescence

Donation to Alliance Community Outreach of ManchesterIncrease in number of children utilizing the Nursery necessitating the hiring

of an additional sitterDonation of a stole to Seminarian Maggie Zeller as a gift of ThanksScheduled Annual Parish Meeting on November 11, 2001

Ice Cream Social to be September 23, 2001 at which A Capital Fund for the architect’s fee to be initiated

Decision to purchase a new Parish Hall furnace after the malfunction of the current one

Annual Parish Meeting November 11, 2001Election of new Vestry members for 2002 including:

Maureen PierceJane MartinRon Cribbs

2002

Vestry Officers for 2002:Senior Warden Mary CombsJunior Wardens David Young and Troy RoseClerk Mary-Frances Ferber

Vestry’s granting of Sabbatical for Father CourtneyFather Courtney’s SabbaticalFather Ed DeBary to serve as supply priest during Father Courtney’s

Sabbatical conducting services on Sunday, Thanksgiving, and Christmas

Purchase of tents for St. Bede’s Extravaganza and future eventsBlessing of the Animals by Father DeBary November 24, 2001Annual Parish Meeting November 10, 2002New Vestry Members for 2003:

Nonie ShaneFrank AraneoGary Welty

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2003

Vestry officers for 2003:Senior Warden Nonie ShaneJunior Wardens David Young and Troy RoseClerk Mary-Frances Ferber

Purchase of new hymnalsAdult Social at Ann Hensley’s March 8, 2003Bishop’s visit March 9, 2003Donation to National Leukemia foundation in memory of

Canon Dedmon’s motherDonation to the Manchester Fire Department for education of school-aged

children in ManchesterReluctant acceptance of the resignation of Father Courtney from St. Bede’sRecommendation by Father Courtney of a Parish AdministratorCompilation of job description for a Parish AdministratorDecision to sell the Rectory and agreement on a listing priceMeeting with the architect April 17, 2002 to discuss short-term and long-

term needsPlanning of a Vacation Bible School themed “Time Travel”Final meeting of Father Courtney and the Vestry April 16, 2003Hiring of Jane Fisher as St. Bede’s Parish AdministratorDonation to the Shepherd’s HousePlanning for a Search CommitteeEstablishment of a “Farewell Purse” for Father CourtneyMeeting with Canon Robert Dedmon May 5, 2003 for an explanation of the

search and hiring process for a new RectorNeed for preparation of a Parish ProfileCompletion of the sale of the RectoryRealization of the need for a Policies and Procedures Manual for St. Bede’s

as well as a Strategic PlanMeeting June 4, 2003 with Denis Milnar on the progress of

the pipe organ constructionResignation of Ron Cribbs from the Vestry to care for ailing parentsSearch Committee to be composed of five persons with one member of the

Vestry to be a non-voting recorder and a liaison between the Search Committee and the Vestry

Resignation of Senior Warden Nonie SandersElection of Ann Hensley to replace Ron Cribbs and Cathy Walker

to replace Nonie Sanders

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Special Vestry meeting Bishop Herlong and Canon Brodie June 11, 2003 concerning a divisive incident at the Sunday June 8, 2003

service 2003 (Continued)

Suggestion by Bishop Herlong that St. Bede’s have a full-time interim priestDiscussion of yoking with St. Matthews of McMinnvilleMeeting with Rev. Canon William S. Squire to discuss his serving St. Bede’sHiring of Father Squire for a six-month period commencing July 1, 2003

with an option for a six-month extensionElection of a new Senior Warden: Ann HensleyRe-instatement of the Organ CommitteeSpecial Vestry meeting with Canon Robert Dedmon August 13, 2003

concerning actions taken by the 74th General Convention of the Episcopal Church

Suspension of the Search CommitteeResignation of Father SquireBishop Herlong’s suspension of all lay licenses until a new priest can be

chosenDecision not to replace the Parish AdministratorDonation to St. AndrewsMeeting of the Diocese September 14, 2003 at Trinity in Winchester to

discuss the actions of the 74th General ConventionElection of new Vestry members for 2004:

Mary CombsMary PetersonShaw Jared

Annual Parish meeting rescheduled for November 2, 2003 with Canon Dedmon presiding

Increase in the organist’s salary with the arrival of a new pipe organAcceptance of a tentative budget subject to Canon Dedmon’s approvalApproval of painting the rails to the loft

2004

Hiring Father Hermon Pomy as a part-time priestMeeting of the Vestry with Steve Gilbert, architect with Gilbert/McLauglin

of Nashville about the vision for St. Bede’s facilitiesFinal payment on the new pipe organAssignment of committee responsibilitiesFormation of an organ recital committee including:

Chrys HenniganLynda WeltyVirginia Jared

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Luwin Lewis (Organist)

2004 (Continued)

Approval of a $1,500.00 budget for the organ recital program contingent upon the schedule and actual projected costs

Approval of a bid to repair of the front windowApproval of the purchase of a reconditioned copierAnnual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper on February 24, 2004 with the EYC

assistingApproval of a purchase of a new AboriumApproval of the purchase of a laptop computer with Quick Books software

for the Treasurer’s useApproval of payment of Father Pomy’s health and disability incurance2004 (Continued)Approval of EYC group leaders’ request for funds to purchase resource

books on youth group programsApproval of purchase of new tables and chairs and the selling of the old table

and chairsCompletion of a church profile by Ann HensleyCancellation of Day-by-Day subscriptionDonation to the Anglican DigestApproval of the mass-mailing of post cards advertising the church to

Manchester, Hillsboro, and Morrison residentsApproval of a three-month advertisement in the Yellow PagesSetting a date and time for the first Organ Recital, May 22, 2004 at 7:00 p.m.Donation to the Manchester Fire Department for fire-education programDisposal of excess equipmentDonation to the Ministerial Association for the purchase of water to be

handed out at BonnarooCancellation of the May organ recitalCommitment to pay in full St. Bede’s Fair Share contribution to the DioceseAgreement to replace leading porch roofPresentation by the Search Committee of Prentice Dean as its choice

to call as St. Bede’s new RectorApproval of the calling of Prentice Dean to St. Bede’sApproval of a small petty cash account of $250.00 to be used with the Senior

Warden’s approvalSuggestion by Father Pomy that St. Bede’s join the Anglican

Network of DiocesesSetting of new recital program dates and performers:

September 17, 2004 Luwin Lewis, St. Bede’sOctober 15, 2004 Margorie Proctor, Christ Church, Nashville

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November 12, 2004 Andrew Risinger, First United Methodist, Nashville

2004 (Continued)

Agreement to host a small reception after each recitalAgreement to change the locks and to restrict keys to select individuals or

group as approved by the VestryBeginning of Father Prentice Dean’s ministry at St. Bede’s, August 1, 2004

Thank you letter to Evans Baird for his contribution to the Youth MinistryVoting by Vestry to join the network of the Anglican CommunionAgreement by the Vestry to hold a special potluck the last Sunday in July to

honor Father Pomy for his serviceInaugural meeting of Father Dean with the Vestry August 4, 2004Setting of November 7, 2004 for the Bishop to install Father Dean as rector of

St. Bede’sMeeting Troy Cunningham and Steve Gilbert of Gilbert/McLauglin Architects of Nashville to present accessibility plans for St. Bede’sDonation of old chairs to Father Richardson at Holy Cross Church in

MurfreesboroAcceptance of a bid from Sherrill’s Pest ControlMeeting of the Southeast Convocation of the Anglican Network in Late

October 2004Approval of Father Dean’s activities with the Anglican Fellowship in the

Chattanooga areaAnnual Parish meeting December 5, 2004Vote by the Vestry to send the National Church portion of the Fair Share

donation to the Anglican NetworkAnnual Diocesan Convention to be held at St. George’s Church, Nashville,

January 28-29, 2005

2005

Decrease in pledges and the need to pay monthly bills from savingsNew Vestry members for 2005:

Herman MartinBecky Combs

Vestry officers for 2005:Senior Warden Ann HensleyJunior Warden Shaw JaredClerk Gary WeltyTreasurer Frank Araneo

Approval of loose offerings every fifth Sunday to be designated for the Rector’s Discretionary Fund

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Father Dean’s proposal for committee restructuring and renewal of commitment

2005 (Continued)

Repair to the front stepsDelay of the postcard mailing for Easter and Good Friday by the Post OfficePreparation for a Vestry Retreat on June 4, 2005 at which time development

of a Mission Statement and future planning to be accomplishedMeeting of the Vestry with Bishop Herlong on Sunday, April 10, 2005Donation of items to Marines stationed in IraqSetting the tentative election of the new Diocesan Bishop on March 18, 2006Continuing need to draw from savings to meet expensesDonation to the Manchester Fire Department for fire education for childrenDrafting of a letter to the University of the South opposing the awarding of

an Honorary Degree to Bishop Gene Robinson, Bishop of New Hampshire

Resignation of Mary Combs from the VestryIncreased need for completed By-LawsAcceptance with sadness of Father Prentice Dean’s resignation August 17,

2005Extension of the terms of current Vestry members by one yearTotal of $200.00 from St. Bede’s yard sale to be used for OutreachAgreement to stay with an interim priestPurchase of food for Shepherd’s House as well as another needy coupleAnnual Parish meeting to be held December 11, 2005Assistance to two families whose homes burnedContribution of $7,000.00 to the DioceseAcceptance by Canon Brody of Deanship of the Cathedral of Springfield,

Springfield, IllinoisReplacement of Canon Brody by Father Randy Donovan

2006

Acceptance of the adjusted 2006 budgetDonations to several needy individualsInstallation of new thermostats to reduce utility costsContinuation of 2005 Vestry officers in 2006Arrival of Father Jim Tubs as interim part-time priestParticipation in the Coffee County Beautification Association’s Great

American Cleanup on April 1, 2006Request to Good Samaritan to reduce their use of spaceDevelopment of a new web site for St. Bede’sInstallation of new kitchen cabinetsAcceptance of a new sign from St. Mathias

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Passing of a resolution allowing Good Samaritan at St. Bede’s2006 (Continued)

Agreement to make St. Bede’s a non-smoking facilityPlanning for a “Mother’s Relief Day”Setting of September as the time for a yard salePlanning for a new church bannerElection of The Right Reverend Katherine Jefferts Schori, Bishop of Nevada,

to a nine-year term as Presiding Bishop of the National Episcopal Church

Letter from Bishop Herlong, July 2006, to all congregations, explaining his position and that of the Diocese of Tennessee on the 74th

Annual National Convention’s actionsApproval of purchasing a new St. Bede’s bannerDonation to the Child Advocacy Center of Coffee CountyProceeds of $559.00 from the yard sale to go to the Outreach ProgramPurchase of needed items for the city-county Animal Shelter from yard sale

proceedsMoving of Good Samaritan from St. Bede’s to a new LocationApproval of $4,000.00 to the Diocese and $400.00 to the Anglican NetworkResolution to be presented at the Annual Diocesan Convention January 25,

2007 prohibiting any retired priest from voting who is from another state or not directly associated with the Diocese of Tennessee

Acceptance of the 2007 BudgetHanging of the Greens on Wednesday before Christmas Eve at 2:00 p.m.Christmas Eve service to begin with music at 9:00 p.m.

2007

Election of Vestry Officers for 2007:Senior Warden Ann HensleyJunior Warden Herman MartinClerk Becky Combs

Donation to the Manchester Fire Department for fire education for childrenRequest to lower the volume of the organPotluck on the fourth Sunday, March 22, 2007(The 2007 Vestry held no meetings in April, May, June, July, August, or

September.)Inclusion of a Memo of Record reprimanding the behavior of the organist

during Christmas Eve services 2007

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2008

Plan for a new Church Directory with photos of familiesShrove Tuesday Pancake Supper, February 26, 2008Approval of Fair Share Commitment for 2009

(Only January and December 2008 Vestry minutes were found.)

2009

General approval of the church’s appearance and activitiesSearch for a new organistShrove Tuesday Pancake Supper February 24, 2009Approval of the installation of additional heating to the “Ghetto” areaRepair of damaged heating unitsCongregation meeting on October 19, 2009Approval of the 2010 budgetComing of the new bishop on January 17, 2010

(No Vestry minutes were discovered for March, April, May, June, July, or August 2009.)

2010

Congregation Meeting on February 7, 2010Election of new Vestry members including

Edley RamseyRick CharterLinda Rollins

Returning Vestry members includingAnn HensleyFrank AraneoHerman MartinJohn DotsonBecky Combs

Election of Vestry officers includingSenior Warden Ann HensleyJunior Warden Herman MartinClerk Edley RamseyTreasurer Frank Arane

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2010 (Continued)

Decision to meet at 9:30 a.m. before Sunday services on the first Sunday of every month

Decision to accept bids on replacement of an air conditioning unit for the Office and Sunday School rooms

Approval of acquiring professional equipment to clean gutters clogged by spring rains

Discussion about the changes to the frontal structure of the church and the installation of an elevator

Approval of refurbishing undercroft bathrooms to meet ADA requirements

(No Vestry notes for the latter part of 2010 were found.)

2011

Completion of the downstairs bathrooms making them handicapped accessible

Annual Parish Meeting to be February 27, 2011 with potluck to followPresentation of three alternative plans to improve the front and upstairs

entrances into the church buildingVote by the Vestry for the installation of an elevatorConsideration of alternatives to an expensive elevator such as a liftNew Vestry Officers elected including

Senior Warden Ann HensleyJunior Warden John DotsonClerk Linda RollinsTreasurer Frank Araneo

Approval of a new lift not to exceed $85,000.00Approval of the purchase of the Savarin model liftDiscussion of the front steps projectAcceptance of the Blue Oak Project bid of $51,969.59 for the lift projectCompiling of needed building enhancementsReview of the plans for the lift projectApproval of a trial contemporary service at 9:00 a.m. on Sundays to attract

younger peopleDesign of a new sign by Amber Dotson approvedResignation of Edley Ramsey from the VestryBurglary at the church with computer equipment takenApproval of the purchase of a wide-screen television to replace the suspended

screen in the sanctuary

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Replacement of Edley Ramsey to be done at the Parish Meeting January 2012

2011 (Continued)

Bestowing Senior Warden Emeritus status to Ann Hensley, December 2011Donation to Citizens for Homeless Relief, formerly the Shepherd’s House

2012

Attendance at the 180th Annual Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Tennessee

Annual Parish Meeting January 22, 2012Bishop Bauerschmidt to visit March 4, 2012Called meeting of the Vestry by Father Tubs to discuss the election of Vestry

Officers and his mandatory leaving at age 72Elected officers for 2012

Senior Warden Linda RollinsJunior Warden Rick CharterClerk Cathy Walker

Investigation into St. Bede’s use as a storm shelter as part of community outreach

Placement of Father Tubs on administrative leave in March 2012 by the Bishop thereby leaving St. Bede’s without a priest

Conducting of St. Bede’s Easter Service by Canon Pamela SnareVestry meeting with Bishop Bauerschmidt April 2, 2012 concerning locating

a new priestDecisions to be made by the Vestry:

Deciding on continuing pay for Father Tubs for April and MayObtaining a part-time clergyYoking a priest with other congregationsHaving a Priest-in-Charge on a short-term commitment

Vestry meeting with Canon Pamela Snare regarding interviewing prospective priests

Vestry interview with Rev. Mary Hassell May 20, 2012Hiring of Rev. Mary Hassell as part-time Priest-in-ChargeAssessment of recurring and non-recurring costsPurchase of a new lectionary and Bible for support of the EucharistRepair of rotten wood in the narthexAdult Social with St. James Anglican Church of Tullahoma at the home of

Virginia and Shaw JaredVote to maintain $25,000.00 in savings as a “rainy day fund”Attendance at “Vestries, Wardens, and treasurers’ Day with the Bishop”

August 25, 2012 at Christ Church Cathedral in Nashville

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Purchasing of an ad in the new Chamber of Commerce 2012-2013 Resource Guide and Business Directory2012 (Continued)

Attendance by Vestry members at the “Small Church ConferenceSeptember 22, 2012 at the Church of the Good Shepherd in

BrentwoodPre-Planning for St. Bede’s 50th Anniversary Celebration in 2013Participation in Manchester’s Old Timers’ Day In October with

Rev. Mary‘s Blessing of the Animals and free water and balloons for children

2013 to the Present October 13, 2013

Letter to the Anglican Church of North America informing them that St. Bede’s would no longer donate to them

Report of the Diocesan Safety ManagerVetoing the opportunity to purchase adjacent landVestry Officers for 2013:

Senior Warden Linda RollinsJunior Warden Rick CharterClerk Debbie BomarTreasurer Randy Foster

Decision to use monies which had formerly been sent to the Anglican Church of North America for community Outreach

Emphasis to the Vestry of the need to complete the training workshop “Safeguarding God’s People”

Making a new video inventory of the church propertyReplacing fire extinguishersPurchase of several First Aid KitsPurchase of a defibrillatorDecision to have all church checks co-signedInstallation of new smoke detectors and Exit signs to all doors leading out of

the buildingGood Friday services for the community Holy Week at St. Bede’sCompleting of a crisis management planPlans to refurbish the church playgroundPurchase of needed items by the Altar GuildDeveloping committees for the 50th Anniversary CelebrationPurchase of new amplifiers for the SanctuaryDonation of a new microwave and Keurig coffee maker by

Christy and Rick Charter

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Purchase of new microphones2013 (Continued)

Establishment of a timeline for accomplishment of 50th Anniversary Celebration

Resignation of Randy Foster as Treasurer because of a move back to FloridaAppointment of Frank Araneo as TreasurerAttendance of two Vestry members at the Episcopal Church Women’s

Conference at the Church of the Redeemer in Pulaski, September 14, 2013

Planning for the addition of new steps leading into the front of the church rather than the side making it possible to carry a casket

straight into the sanctuary and giving a more open and inviting appearance

Approval of DeVille Construction Company to complete the stair projectParticipation in Manchester’s Old Timers’ Day, October 5, 2013 with “The

Blessing of the Animals” and a booth with free water and balloons for children

Participation along with nine other churches in the Coffee County Convoy of Hope October 13, 2013 with donations of money, clothing,

toiletries, and volunteer timeBequest by Bertha Ashley of $25,000.00 to St. Bede’s to be used for the new

front stairs project

We pray that God will bless our future endeavors and lead us back to having a full-time priest and an ever increasing younger congregation.

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