Our History
In 1859, The Reverend John H. Normant, Deacon, was reported to have been holding services in Athens for one member of the Protestant Episcopal Church, William Burns. During the same year, Bishop James Hervey Otey, first Episcopal Bishop of Tennessee and owner of enslaved persons, visited Athens and assisted Normant in a series of services which included the confirmation of five persons and the baptism of one infant. Shortly afterwards, John Normant was admitted to the priesthood and transferred to the Diocese of Georgia.
St. Paul’s was formally admitted into the Diocese of Tennessee as a mission congregation in 1860 and led by The Reverand Lucious N. Voight. Beginning with eight communicants, the church began holding regular services in a small schoolroom and later in the Masonic Hall in the upper room of the courthouse. Father Voight reported that attendance was good and that “the flock increased until the winter of 1863, when the rebellion so affected the county as to break up all the churches.” Troops occupied the building and destroyed all furniture and fixtures.
On June 6, 1866, a deed to a lot on South Jackson Street in Athens was registered to “David Cleage to William Burns, J. J. Helm, Charles M. Keith, Cyril Zimmerman, Otis B. Wattles, Thomas E. Williams, and Theodore Richmond, the vestry of St. Paul’s Church, and their successors.” In 1867, a church building was erected.
Unfortunately, information concerning the church is practically non-existent for a period of about 40 years. Apparently the building was not used between the years 1890 and 1909 and fell into disrepair. The church register was burned in a fire which destroyed the home of Miss Catherine Douglas Keith in 1900.
St. Paul’s comes back on the radar in 1908, when the church building was transformed by replastering and electric lighting. Red hangings and Eucharist candlesticks were presented by friends in St. John’s Church, Knoxville. Eucharist candlesticks were also presented, and by 1917, The Reverend Thomas S. Russell reported 22 communicants of St. Paul’s. Until 1950, pastoral care of the mission of St. Paul’s remained under the direction of visiting clergy, principally those assigned as rector of St. Luke’s, Cleveland.
1950: The Reverend Roland Foster was assigned as Resident Vicar of St. Paul’s. A one-room parish house was added to the church.
1952: Reverend Foster became a missionary to the Philippines and was succeeded by the Reverend John R. Lodge.
1955: Two story parish house was built at the rear of the church.
1957: St. Paul’s became a parish.
1958: Twenty foot addition to front of sanctuary, with open-truss front gable.
1959: Father Lodge accepted a call to Alaska and was succeeded by the Reverend Robert L. Nichols.
1963: Father Nichols resigned to take charge of a mission in Chicago.
1964: The Reverend Duff Green was called to be the rector.
1965: A new rectory was purchased at 1210 Towanda Trail.
1967: The Reverend Green accepted a call to St. Elizabeth’s, Memphis. The parish register listed 175 communicants.
1968: The Reverend Wade Janeway was called to be the rector.
1976: A new parish hall was completed and dedicated.
1977: Upon retirement of Father Janeway, the Reverend Walter Norcross was called to be the rector.
1984: Church records showed 255 communicants.
1986: The Reverend Norcross resigned to assume leadership of a parish in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. Memorial Garden consecrated the 14th day of December 1986 to the Glory of God and to the Memory of those whose Ashes are here interred.
1987: The Reverend Robert Brodie was called to be the rector.
1992: A major renovation to the sanctuary was completed and dedicated.
1993: The church records listed 259 communicants.
1994: The Reverend Robert Brodie resigned to assume position as Canon to the Ordinary for Bishop Tharpe in the Diocese of East Tennessee. The Reverend C. Allen Cooke served as the interim rector. The Reverend Michael Doty was called to be the rector.
1999: Rearrangement of the church interior provided larger space for the growing music program, a special room for the EYC, and small chapel. A playground was constructed at the rear of the church.
2000: In March, the Reverend Michael Doty resigned his position as rector in order to serve as Archdeacon of the Diocese of East Tennessee. The Reverend C. Allen Cooke serves as interim rector.
2001: The Reverend Randall Morgan was called as rector. Church records list 201 communicants.
2001-2005: The church sold the rectory that was located on Towanda Trail. Property next door to the church building was purchased for parking and/or future expansion of the church grounds. The facilities and grounds undergo continual maintenance and improvements. Interior renovations have been started with a focus on programs and services. The rector’s office has been moved to a newly renovated space. In May, the Reverend Morgan left to accept a call in South Carolina. The Reverend C. Allen Cooke returned for a third interim.
2006: The Reverend G. Hendree Harrison, Jr. called as rector. Church records list 240 communicants.
2007: Children’s playground built.
2011: House Across the Street purchased as St. Paul’s Community Outreach Center
2018: In June, the Reverend G. Hendree Harrison, Jr. was called to The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Lexington, Kentucky. The Reverend Drew Bunting serves as interim rector.
2021: The Rev. Claire Brown was called as rector.