From Virginia-
The St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church congregation reopened its sanctuary permanently on Sunday during a rededication ceremony — a year following the 5.8-magnitude earthquake that rocked the Culpeper area last August, causing about $500,000 in damage throughout the nearly 200-year-old historic site.
The Aug. 23, 2011 natural disaster caused cracks in the sanctuary’s interior and exterior walls and produced extensive damage to the sanctuary’s stained glass windows, balcony area, steeple, chimney, front steps, sidewalks, organ and the brick wall bordering the church.
Meanwhile, the congregation continued to worship in the church’s parish hall and in limited areas in the sanctuary until the major repairs started after Easter Sunday.
A nearly at capacity crowd filled the sanctuary on Sunday for the nearly two-hour rededication ceremony of the church and ministries.
“Through the ages, Almighty God has moved his people to build houses of prayer and praise, and to set apart places for the ministry of his holy word and sacraments,” preached the Rev. Michael Gray, rector of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church located on North East Street in downtown Culpeper. “With gratitude for the work of so many hands, we are now gathered to rededicate this sacred place.”
More here-
http://www2.starexponent.com/news/2012/aug/13/st-stephens-sanctuary-reopens-good-after-quake-dam-ar-2127421/
No comments:
Post a Comment