Timeline

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TIMELINE - ST. LUKE'S IN THE COTTON PATCH      

HIGH LIGHTS

      1915  -  August 1 - First Service held in Gadsden School after baptism of Stevens children.

      1915  -  October 18 - Next service held on St. Luke's Day, hence the name of the mission.

      1916 -  February - Land given by Edith Murphy adjoining Gadsden School Buildings.

      1916    Sept. 29 - Laying of the cornerstone by Bishop Howden and Hunter "Preacher" Lewis.

      1918 -  April 20 - Consecration of St. Luke's Mission in presence of large congregation.

       1918- 1929: Bi-monthly Communion Services held; Morning Prayer and Sunday School classes  held  each week.

       1930-1934: Rev. B.M.G. Williams serving St. Luke's; YPSL & Women's Guild active 

       1935 --1938 Revs. W.D. Pollock & R.D. Taylor serving St. Luke's.

       1938 - 1946  Rev. Malcolm Twiss  serving St. Alban's and St. Luke's.  

1944  -First stained glass windows installed (Soldier, Mother & Child & Rose Window).

1945  - First Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper held by YPSL at Richards' Farm.

       1946 -  First Resident priest - Rev. W. Shelby Walthall, wife Anna organist.

       1947 -  Parish Hall, Classrooms & Kitchen built; Bishop Stoney consecrated the building addition..

       1950 -  Rectory built; Rev. Paul Saunders family first residents.

       1951 - Church enlarged, transept added; Jacob Sweet , Lewis Thompson , Oliver Burt planners.

       1951 - Church achieved Parish status; "Pete" Pettit first  Senior Warden.

       1953 - Missionary District achieved Diocese status, Bishop Stoney's longtime goal.

       1956 - 1961: Rev. Charles de Vries & family serving at St. Luke's.

       1959:   Historic Gadsden School property deeded to St. Luke's; Ethel Brandt donor.

       1962 - 1972 Additional Stained Glass windows, Rev. Kenneth Eade & family serving St. Luke's.

       1971- 1972 Open Patio enclosed to become Narthex & Chapel - Kenneth Eade, Bob Palm and  Bob Cutler planned and implemented this addition..

       1973-1980 Rev. Harry Vere serving St. Luke's, Deacon Michael Stone assisting.        

1978  - Sacristy enlarged, Bell Tower added; Bud Ward builder.

1979  - St. Luke's Parish School established; Marie Martin Headmistress.

1979 - Brandt Hall burned, new school building (Marie Martin Bldg.) replaced it.

1987  - Resurrection Windows placed in sanctuary (behind altar ); in memory of Davis & Fern Greenwood,  Jimmy Greenwood and David Bryan Morris.

1989- Bishop Terence Kelshaw elected; Rev. Charles Boldine & family serving St. Luke's.

1991 - Rev. Frank Williams, retired UTEP professor, assigned Assistant Rector.

1994 - Rev. John Zachritz serving St. Luke's, Logos Program 1997 - 1999.

1997 - Rev. Judy Sessions Assistant Priest, Christian Education Director.

2000 - Rev. Kathleene McNellis - Interim Priest.

2001 - Rev. Katherine Ryan assigned as Rector for St. Luke's.

2002 - Large Storage Building added to church campus.

2002 - After 25 years, St. Luke's Parish School closed.  Buildings presently in use by Covenant  Christian Academy.

2003 - Rev. Kenneth Clark interim priest; Rev. Jeffrey Lambert ordained to Diaconate.              

2003 - Rectory transformed into "La Casa de La Paz", retreat  & conference center.

2004 -Rev. Jeffrey Lambert ordained Priest, accepted assignment to serve at St. Luke's Church.

2004 - Monthly Morning Prayer Service for Horseback Riders initiated.

2005 - Rev. Jeffrey Steenson ordained Bishop Coadjutor of the Diocese of the Rio Grande.

2005 - St. Luke's regains Parish status, Rev. Jeffrey Lambert continues as Rector.

2005 - Bishop Terence Kelshaw retires after 17 years service in Diocese of the Rio Grande.

2005 - The Rev. Canon Dr. Jeffey Steenson, D.Phil. elected new bishop.

2005- New Bishop, The Rt. Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Steenson, D.Phil, installs Father Jeff as Rector and confirms and receives 17 new members!

2006 - 90^th Anniversary Celebration of Laying of Cornerstone by Bishop F.B. Howden and  "Preacher" Hunter Lewis.

2007 - St. Luke's adds a new organ, funds donated by members in a record 4 months!

2007 - Bishop Steenson resigns and is received as a Roman Catholic; Diocese is in a period of reflection as it begins a search for a new bishop.

2009 - Published out third cookbook.

2009 - Father Jeff moved to live on St. Luke's sacred grounds.

2009 - Buck Summerville donated a new stained glass window for our kitchen in memory of his beloved wife, Jean Sommerville.

2009 - A memorial plaque was installed honoring Martha Gardner Rice for her work helping St. Luke's connect to city water at La Union, NM. Yeah! No more well water.

A Short History

St. Luke's Episcopal Church is located in the Mesilla or Upper Valley near La Union, New Mexico and Canutillo , Texas . It began as a mission in the early 1900s to serve the pioneer families for their spiritual guidance. Rev. Henry Easter of St. Clement's Episcopal Church in El Paso , Texas , would make periodic visits to hold services in the Central School building, which is now part of St. Luke's and is occupied by Covenant Christian Academy .

As the population of the valley increased, it became necessary to build a small church. The cornerstone was laid in 1916 by the Rev. Hunter "Preacher" Lewis and "the little church in the cotton patch" (as it was fondly called) was consecrated in 1918.

Several of the original founding families are still represented at St. Luke's by their descendants, who are regular communicants of the church to this day. However, the congregation has grown attracting families from surrounding communities and also from El Paso . Those who worship at St. Luke's find a family oriented, gospel-centered community to help direct their Christian lives and point them to God.

Each October the church holds its annual Country Fair. Home-cooked brisket sandwiches are served along with fun family centered activities and bake sales, horse rides, dachshund races, vendors and many children's games and plenty of music. This is one of the church's main fund raising events. A percentage of the funds are distributed to area charities to help feed and clothe the less fortunate.