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HISTORY OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN HANCOCK COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI
Shieldsborough, now known as Bay St. Louis, was the site where records show the very first Episcopal services were held as far back as 1838, principally through the efforts of the Domestic Missionary Society. Despite this early beginning, it was not until 1851 before regular services began when Bishop Green confirmed two persons, assisted by the Rev. Thomas S. Savage of Pass Christian.
This was the beginning and in 1858, a small group of communicants were organized as St. Luke’s Church and admitted to the Diocese. Two years later, in 1860, a church fronting the Bay was completed at a cost of $2,000. A rectory also was built with donated materials. The Rev. Thomas Ozanne described this first church as a “neat Gothic structure.” Then came the Civil War and both the Church and the rectory were destroyed, and title to the land was lost. By this time few communicants were left and in 1881 St. Luke’s was dropped from the roll of parishes. The few who remained gradually joined with a small Episcopal Church, called Grace Church, which was located on Nicholson avenue in Waveland. But this did not last long because the building subsequently was destroyed by fire.
It was not a very bright outlook for the church but one woman, Miss Hettie Crowell, would not stand quietly by. Through her efforts, and the help of a few remaining Episcopalians, Christ Church was established in 1889 and the first services were held in her home on North Beach. It was a humble new start but the desire was there and by 1890 the cornerstone for a new church was laid on North Beach, adjacent to Boardman avenue.
No one person can take credit for that new church. All during the preceding year children and adults alike worked zealously to raise money. During the summer months the children and adults staged outdoor bazaars and ice cream socials—some of which were held under the oak trees on the grounds of the Pickwick Hotel on Beach boulevard.
Mrs. Jesse Cowand, who was a child of 10 at the time, still recalls how she and other children rode about town by horse and buggy selling tickets for the outdoor events and the plays—all to swell the building fund. Among the first members of Christ Church were Miss Hettie Crowell, Mrs. Kate Worsley, Miss Jennie Hunter, and the Aiken, Cowand, Von	Gohren, Posey,	and Delamain families.
First known Vestrymen were Judge Aiken, Charles	Cowand,	Dr.	L. H. Von	Gohren, and L. H. Von
Gohren, Jr.
First wedding held in the new church was that of Miss Paula Von Gohren and W. W. Jenks. The date was November, 1891, and the decorations for the day were chrysanthemums.
In 1901 Christ Church was admitted to the diocese as a mission. Then, in 1904 the church was moved on rollers down Dunbar Avenue to a more central location—to the corner of North Beach and Carroll Avenue. By now other families had been added to the membership rolls, including Chapman, Horton, de Montluzin, Wisner, Power, Firshing, Harris, Crawford, Penn, Pepperdene, Penrose, Capde-pon, Briggs, Norman, Thurston and Robert Williams.
Christ Church was consecrated on July 8, 1913. In 1938 a parish house was erected, and in 1947 three Sunday school classrooms were added.
In 1948 The Rev. Charles R. Johnson came	from Jackson,	Mississippi,	as priest-in-charge of the
mission. In 1950, however, with 134 registered communicants, Christ Church was granted parish status. In that same year Christ Episcopal Day School was started by the Rector, beginning as a kindergarten, with Mrs. W. E. Bartram as the first teacher.
The following year a 7% acre property at 912 South Beach was purchased for a school-churdj complex. In 1956 a new brick school building was completed, and in 1962 the McCulloch wing was added, doubling its size. Brick residences were built for the rector and the Curate, in 1966 and 1968 respectively, and in 1969 the Coast Episcopal High School was established at Pass Christian.
This was a tremendous difference from those difficult days when the church barely was held together by dedicated lay readers, such as E. E. Lucas, who served during the flu epidemic of 1918, and Richard Shadoin and Phillip Allison, who officiated three Sundays a month for a three year and a half period between the Rev. Warwick Aiken and the coming of the Rev. Charles Johnson. Yet somehow it survived.
Then came August 17, 1969. Few could realize what the moments ahead would mean, or how incredibly destructive Camille would prove to be. But it happened, and in the wake of the dawn the stark reality could not be denied—Christ Church was demolished, along with Coast Episcopal High School at Pass Christian. A twisted cross remained as a reminder of what once had been.
For twenty months, the congregation met for services in the day school, using a portable altar and organ. So it is that today, April 18, 1971 in this joyous Easter season a new Christ Church has arisen and is dedicated to the glory of God and stands as a symbol of God’s indestructible spirit within His people.
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PRIESTS IN CHARGE
(Although technically attached to Bay St. Louis, some priests lived in Pass Christian. These held services in the Pass in the morning, came by train in the afternoon, and, after services, returned by train late at night)
Thomas S. Savage (1849-55), Charles Whitall (1855-58), Benjamin R. S. Bemond (1859), Thomas D. Ozanne (1859-62); Lycurgus L. Lurton (1871-72), Nelson Ayres (1888-95), William Hart (1895-1899), Irenaeus Trout (1901-02), Nowell Logan (1902-09), Francis P. F. Duffy (1909-15), William M. Cross (1916), Thomas B. Clifford (1916-19), Harry Perry (1919-24), William P. Browne (1925), Robert E. Grubb (1925-34), Girault M. Jones (1935-36), Charles S. Liles (1935-36), Warwick Aiken (1936-46), Hewitt B. Vinnedge (1947-48), Charles R. Johnson (1948-..................).
Curates were: Latimer Garrett, Ray Worthington and M. L. Agnew.
Sunday School Superintendents included: Mrs. Kate Worsley, Randolph Firshing, George Horton, Manning Cluverius, Mrs. L. T. Boyd, Henry Chapman and the present Superintendent, Alben Carlson.
Organists include: Mrs. Worsley, Mrs. C. L. Horton, Mrs. Campbell, Mrs. W. W. Stockstill and Mrs. Philip Allison.	________________	_	_____
Christ Church has had only one Warden Emeritus, Norman Leslie Carter, for many years a devoted vestryman and churchman.
Cover photo by Neville Jacob
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GOD MOVES IN A MYSTERIOUS WAY “God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform. He plants His footsteps in the sea And rides upon the storm. . . . His purposes will ripen fast, Unfolding every hour. The bud may have a hitter taste, But sweet will be the flower. . . .”
(William Cowper) 1774
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