A “Brief” Narrative of our “Not so Brief” History
In 1842, a small group of faithful Episcopalians gathered and worshiped at the Greene County Courthouse. They organized as the “Greeneville Parish, Greene County,” and gained admission to the 1848 Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Tennessee. With several visiting clergy support, we became a formal parish at the diocesan convention in July 1849.
The original church structure, built in the “Carpenter Gothic” architectural style, was consecrated on August 11, 1850, by the Rt. Rev. James H. Otey, first bishop of Tennessee. Modified in 1894 and enlarged in 1951, the same building is still in use today. The primary structure is one of Tennessee’s oldest unaltered churches in continuous use.
From 1852 to 1901, St. James parish experienced significant turmoil, having to close its doors for 18 months between 1873 to 1875. St. James lapsed into mission status (diocesan supported – not self-sustaining), not regaining its standing as a parish until *1957. While world wars, financial panic, and the Great Depression consumed our nation, those leading Saint James made great efforts to reclaim our full status as a self-sustaining parish in the diocese of Tennessee. The facility added St. Luke Chapel 1950 and the rectory 1938 (now McMillan Hall, containing the parish hall, the office, and classrooms). Another object of great significance is the altarpiece painted in 1950, entitled “Mater Purissima.”
These walls absorb many prayers! We cherish our historic building and feel it embodies the steadfast spirit of generations of parishioners. Nevertheless, we also recognize that any church is far greater than mere bricks and mortar. We build the real future of St. James upon the people who truly make this parish thrive.
Get a copy of the 1950 St. James Parish Centennial Celebration Booklet Here!
The Clergy of St. James Episcopal Church
We have been blessed at St. James to have had several dedicated clergy persons over the years serve our parish. We call a priest in charge of the parish the rector. A rector is a priest in charge of a self-supporting parish. A rector is different from a vicar. A vicar is a priest appointed by the bishop, responsible for a diocesan-supported mission.
St. James ca. 1950
The rector, in communion with the diocesan bishop, is the ecclesiastical authority in the parish. (note: The word “rector” comes from the Latin word for “rule.”) The rector is the ecclesiastical authority (spiritual jurisdiction) in the parish. It has responsibility for worship, subject to the rubrics of The Book of Common Prayer, the constitution and canons of the church, and the bishop’s pastoral direction. The rector is responsible for selecting all assistant clergy and staff, and they all serve at the discretion of the rector. The church and parish buildings and furnishings also are under the rector’s control. The rector, or a member of the vestry designated by the rector, presides at all vestry meetings. The rector is not an employee of the parish in the traditional sense but is a ministry partner and spiritual guide tasked with being a pastor, priest, and teacher to the parish. Rectors serve with tenure, which means that they have a permanent appointment until they retire if they so choose.
Over the years, St. James has been under the leadership of both rectors and vicars.
1849-51 The Rev. William H. Good, Rector I
1852-53 The Rev. W.P. Gahagan, Rector II
1854-58 The Rev. William M. Steel, Rector III
1858-60 No resident minister
1860-64 The Rev. William Mowbray, Rector IV
1865-66 No resident minister (The Ven. Lucius N. Voight, Archdeacon in charge)
1867-68 The Rev. John Foster, Rector V
1869-72 The Rev. William Mowbray, (Rector of St. Paul’s Charlotte, supplied 1x/month)
1873-75 parish closed for 18 months
1874-75 The Rev. Clement Richardson (Priest of the Church of Ireland) Priest in Charge
1876-92 No resident minister
1876-78 The Rev. Thomas Duncan (Rector of St. John’s Knoxville, supplied 1x/month)
1878-79 The Rev. A. A. McDonough (Epiphany Knoxville, supplied 1x/month)
1879-80 The Rev. Thomas Duncan (St. John’s Knoxville, supplied 1x/month)
1892–95 The Rev. Alexander C. Killeffer, Vicar (mission status)
1895-1901 The Rev. Russel K. Smith, Vicar
1901-37 No resident minister
1937–38 The Rev. Joseph L. Kellerman, Vicar
1939–45 The Rev. Charles Boyd Romain, Vicar
1945–48 The Rev. Eric Sutcliffe Greenwood, Vicar
1948–54 The Rev. Armand T. Eyler, Vicar
1954–56 The Rev. Thomas Hill Carson, Vicar
1957–61 The Rev. Warren Hugh Steele, Rector VI
1961–64 The Rev. Joseph T. Boulet, Rector VII
1964–81 The Rev. Robert Alan McMillan, Rector VIII
1983–86 The Rev. Patrick C. Larkin, Rector IX
1986–98 The Rev. Rowland A. Clarkson, Rector X
1999 The Rev. Willis W. H. Poyser, Rector XI
2002–04 The Rev. Jack Franklyn Wilcox, Jr., Rector XII
2005–16 The Rev. Carolyn W. Isley, Rector XIII
2018-Present The Rev. Dr. Kenneth H. Saunders III; Rector XIV
Get a copy of the latest St. James Parish Profile (2016) Here!
The Anglican Communion
During the English Reformation in the sixteenth century, the Church of England became independent of the Roman Catholic Church. It resulted from many factors, some political and some theological, but it has given rise to a distinct form of Christianity, known as the Church of England (or Anglican Church).
The Episcopal Church and the Church of England are members of the worldwide Anglican Communion (Official Website). These are churches around the world that trace their roots back to the Church of England and maintain a “communal” relationship. Anglo = English, hence the name “Anglican.” The world-wide “Anglican Communion” is the third largest body of Christians in the WORLD.
The Anglican Communion members are joined together by choice in communion and have no direct authority over one another. The Archbishop of Canterbury (the head of the Church of England) is one of the points of unity for the Anglican Communion. He is considered a “first among equals.” The Archbishop has respect throughout the world, but he does not have direct authority over any other Church outside of his see in England. He is NOT the English equivalent to the Pope.
The Anglican Church is Catholic (not Roman Catholic) in that it holds Apostolic Succession of its bishops, the Apostolic teaching, and the historic sacraments of the universal Christian Church. Note: the word catholic = universal.
While other churches may call themselves “Anglican,” there is only one Church in any country that can be considered “in full communion” with the Church of England. The Episcopal Church in the United States is the American member of the Anglican Communion.
More on the Anglican Communion here
