Christ Episcopal Church, St. Simons Island, GA

While on our Anniversary vacation in June of 2008, George and I visited several historical areas on St. Simons Island, GA. After I posted pictures from Epworth-by-the-Sea, blogger friend CAROL reminded me how beautiful this church was. SO, today I am sharing pictures from Christ Episcopal Church on St. Simons Island.
The first English settlers arrived on St. Simons Island on Feb. 22, 1736, and after breakfast joined in reading the Litany with the Rev. Benjamin Ingham. During the years 1736-1766, services were conducted by both Charles and John Wesley and George Whitfield. These ministers were ordained clergymen of the Church of England by whom the Episcopal Church in the United States was planted and nurtured.
The first church on the present location was erected in 1820 and the congregation worshipped in it until the outbreak of the Civil War. This church was destroyed during the Civil War. The Rev. Anson Green Phelps Dodge, Jr. rebuilt Christ Church, Frederica, following the war as a memorial to his first wife, Ellen. The church was consecrated in 1886.
The present church building is cruciform in design, with trussed gothic roof. Stained-glass windows, given as memorials, commemorate incidents in the life of Christ and the early history of the church on St. Simons Island.
The graveyard beside the church is very interesting since many of the early settlers of the area are buried there. The picture above is of Christ Episcopal Church. Below are more pictures.



George stands beside the sign telling about Christ Episcopal Church.




Note the steeple, with Live Oak trees all around. Some of the oldest and largest Live Oaks are in this area of the island.



The beautiful graveyard beside the church contains many of the famous names of St. Simons and Georgia history. Included here is the grave of famous writer, Eugenia Price. If you haven't read her books, do so!



It was so much fun reading the tombstones. There's so much history in this graveyard. The oldest gravestone dates begin in 1803.



I even found a Bruce marker... Hmmmmm---wonder if we are kin??????



I even found an Elizabeth B. Bruce tombstone. Since my name is Elizabeth B., seeing that tombstone was 'spooky'... (NOTE: My name is Elizabeth Bruce Banks though instead of Elizabeth B. Bruce.)



We took a tour of the inside of the church. Part of the present altar is from the altar of the 1820 church. We sat and listened to a fabulous guide (member of the church and resident of the island) speak about the history of the church. VERY interesting!



The church is small; however, there is a very large congregation--attending worship services at various times throughout the week.



The beautiful stained-glass windows were given as memorials, and one of them was attributed to Louise Tiffany. Some of the windows commemorate incidents in the life of Christ.



This beautiful window shows the original Christ Church AND the present Christ Church. Amazing!



Here's one final picture of the outside of Christ Episcopal Church. This church is the 2nd oldest Episcopal Church in Georgia --and the 4th oldest church in the state.
I'll show more history from St. Simon's in future blogs. This is an incredible island --and if you love history, read Eugenia Price's books. AND--visit the island. (Maybe Carol will give us a review of Eugenia's St. Simons books.)
Hugs,

Saint Simons Island on Dwellable

Our Yard on September 28

Now that it's October 1st, I want to share with you a few more pictures taken in our yard on September 28. We've had a warm and WET (lots of rain) September --and because of that, we still don't have much Fall color here on the Cumberland Plateau. However, the weather has changed the past couple of days and we have had nights in the 40's. Yeah!!! That should help us get some colored leaves soon!!!!!

Anyhow, here are some photos taken this past Monday. The first picture was taken outside of the garage--looking across our front yard, toward the street. You can see that our Dogwood is still a pretty color --and has not lost many of its leaves yet. More pictures are below.




Another picture of our colorful dogwood; You can see the Impatiens still blooming in the bed below the Dogwood.





A view looking at the Roses --along one side of our driveway




A view of the 'new' flowerbed in front, near the road; That is Periwinkle growing along the bottom/side. We have two Rose bushes planted in this bed so far (more to come). The far one in this photo is named Veterans Honor and is one of my fav's. It has one rose blooming already --with more to come. See that red rose on the side closest to the wall????? It is the first flower to bloom in this new bed. Other beauties are planted (Irises, Lilies and Daylilies) --and should bloom next Spring/Summer.





Here's a close-up picture of our gorgeous Confederate Jasmine bush. It blooms from spring through fall... So pretty---and this is the bush that the Brown Thrashers used for nesting in the late spring.





I've shown pictures before of our Autumn Joy Sedum --as they change colors (from a whitish color, to a light pink, to a dark pink -now, and eventually to a dark rust color). If you don't have these in your yard, you need to get some. They take VERY little care--and are just so pretty--especially now. Don't you think?





Here's one more picture of the Autumn Joy Sedum. I included this one since the sun was peaking through. Aren't they just gorgeous??? AND--the bees love them too!





Finally, here's a picture of our home taken from the road. There's a tiny bit of yellow color in the back yard which you can see, but so far, we really haven't had much color change. I'll keep updating you as we do get more color here. In the meantime, enjoy Fall where you are!!!!

Hugs,