St. Thaddaeus' Episcopal Church

Friday, January 1, 1904

CELEBRATION

St. Thaddaeus' Episcopal Church will celebrate its 50th anniversary on Sept. 11 with a Holy Eucharist service at 10:30 a.m. and a luncheon following the service. The Jericho Brass will perform at 3 p.m. to commemorate the 50th anniversary and mark the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy. Guests will include the Rt. Rev. George Young III, bishop of the Diocese of East Tennessee; the Rev. Dr. Hugh Jones III, the church's recent interim rector; and other previous rectors of the church. Reservations are requested for the luncheon. Call 892-2377.

FAST FACTS

  • Location: 4300 Locksley Lane.

  • Membership: 100-plus.

OUTREACH

Serves as support church for Interfaith Homeless Ministries (with host St. John United Methodist Church), supports Hosanna House by providing picnics at the home and conducting quarterly paper drives, supports Chattanooga Community Kitchen and serves on its board, supports Metropolitan Ministries and has a member on its board, and serves as a home base for Meals on Wheels. Church has taken recent mission trips to Mississippi (following Hurricane Katrina) and to South Dakota (assisting the diocese's sister parish on the Lakota Indian Reservation). Church serves as a meeting place for organizations such as the Murray Hills Neighborhood Association and Alcoholics Anonymous, as a voting precinct for Murray Hills, and as a venue for musical groups.

TIMELINE

  • Early 1960s -- Church of the Good Shepherd and several other area Episcopal churches give their Easter offerings to provide funds for church to purchase land and a prefabricated building to serve as the nave.

  • 1961 -- With support from the Church of the Good Shepherd (Lookout Mountain) and the Hamilton County Episcopal Planning Commission, 40 people form St. Thaddaeus' Episcopal Church and hold its first service Sept. 10 at Jersey Kingspoint School.

  • Prior to mid-1970s -- Offices, kitchen and Sunday school wing added.

  • Mid-1970s -- Nave is expanded, incorporating remnants such as the altar rails of the first building; altar from original nave and several pews placed in the chapel.

  • Recent years -- Up-grades include remodeling of interior hallways, parish hall, bathrooms and nursery.

  • 2011 -- New HVAC unit installed; congregation members revitalize grounds.

QUOTABLE

"As we go forward, we are committed to reaching new people, including families with children and youth, developing ministries that work to heal those broken by life circumstances, and providing high quality religious and spiritual education for every stage of life. Our hope is to continue in [a] positive path, doing what our mission clearly states: 'Faithfully serving and loving God, community and you.' "

-- Tisa Houck,

church's senior warden

-- Compiled by staff writer Clint Cooper