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The Christ Church Columbarium The construction of the administrative wing of the Parish House created a beautiful interior courtyard (shown here in 1999) which was painstakingly nurtured during warm weather into a beautiful flower garden with its Memorial Garden Fountain, a statue of St. Francis of Assisi, and attractive sundial. This garden has now be replaced by the Christ Church Columbarium. This columbarium was completed the second week of May 2001. It is now ready for the interment of ashes of loved ones of Christ Church. This web site has a page devoted to the columbarium. The Memorial Garden Fountain, which continues as a part of the columbarium, was dedicated on March 14, 1984, to the Glory of God and in loving memory of the following: Jack H. Fleshman,
husband of Ruth Fleshman The Statue of St. Francis, also present in the columbarium, was dedicated in 1996 to the Glory of God and in loving memory of the following: Alvin Nelson
Griffin by Mrs. Alvin Nelson Griffin and the Griffin Children Many rooms and particular furnishings were given as memorial gifts by individual members of the congregation, one such room being the Hobson Library (shown below) with its fine portrait of Dr. Hobson. Hobson Library Recent years have changed this room slightly, with the addition of a beautiful parquet floor. The glass doorway to the left leads into the columbarium (successor of the garden shown at the top of this page). The portrait in the background is of "Parson" Hobson, who served from 1916 to 1949 as rector of the parish. Mr. Hobson served longer (by far) than any rector in the history of Christ Church.
The Rector's Study is located near the front entrance to the church, adjacent to the secretary's office (shown through the door, to the right). These photographs were taken in April 2000 after the room had been repainted, but not decorated. The office is furnished with leather furniture, a large desk, a coat/storage closet, and is fully carpeted.
The Secretary's office is the first office inside the church, adjacent to the rector's study (through the door, to the left). These photographs were taken in April 2000 after the room had been repainted and refurnished, but not yet decorated. The office is equipped with a storage closet, air conditioning (in summer), carpeting, a modern office copier, computer, fax machine and other equipment necessary for the operation of an efficient office.
The Children's Chapel, with memorial window and three adjacent classrooms, is another special part of the Parish House wing.
The cornerstone was laid on Sunday, December 26, 1920, and the building was completed before the next Christmas. It was dedicated on October 23, 1921, by Episcopal Bishop W. L. Gravatt, with clergy E. W. Hughes of Graham (now Bluefield, VA) and Rector Jennings Wise Hobson assisting. The church debt was liquidated on schedule at the annual Congregational meeting in January 1944, according to the original 20 year plan, 1924-1944. The Rt. Rev. Robert E. L. Strider was bishop and The Rev. Jennings W. Hobson was still rector. Bishop Strider visited on June 25, 1944 and consecrated the church, leaving an official signed document which is still displayed in Hobson Library. The feature of soaring ribs with pinnacles and spires reaching heavenward was incorporated from European cathedrals into the design of this parish church.
Upon entry into Christ Church's nave, the stones seem no longer to have weight as the pitched beams vault upward and the expansive interior is washed with color from the beautiful stained glass windows. These windows were created by Jacoby Art Glass Company of St. Louis, Missouri. The common theme of each window is a portrayal of Christ during various htmlects of His earthly ministry. The leafy tracery and ornamental openwork of the upper regions of the stained glass depict the biblical symbols of faith. The walls of the nave are the same exterior gray stone brought to a smooth buff finish. The woodwork is of selected black walnut. The beautiful walnut Altar or Communion Table was presented to Christ Episcopal Church by Mrs. George W. Peterkin, wife of the first Bishop of the Diocese of West Virginia. This outstanding gift was in place for the dedication services on Sunday, October 23, 1921, at 11:00 a.m.
"The carillonic bells of Christ Episcopal Church are dedicated to the Glory of God and in Loving Memory of Edwin C. Luther and Anna H. Luther by their son Roland C. Luther and his family, 1953." This inscription is on a dedicatory plaque located on the west wall of the nave. These bells, manufactured by Schulmerich, have now been replaced after forty years of service. The bells were replaced by a modern electronic carillon system also produced by Schulmerich in 2003. They were given to Christ Church by Dr. Brookins and Charlotte Taylor, and dedicated in memory of Virginia and Peter Dick Woods, parents of Charlotte Taylor. As the congregation grew, the need for additional space became evident. Under the leadership of the Rev. Frank Rowley, who followed the beloved Rev. Dr. Hobson as rector, the campaign for the new Parish House addition was launched in the mid-1950's. The addition, as was the 1921 church, was designed by Bluefield architect Alex B. Mahood, and was painstakingly planned to match the older church in architectural style and building materials. A beautiful new administrative wing, library, and educational addition were included in the new Parish Hall addition. The newest addition to Christ Church was completed on March 9, 1958, and was dedicated on March 30, 1958, by the Right Reverend Wilburn Campbell, the fourth Bishop of West Virginia. Exactly twenty-five years later, on March 28, 1983, the old Sunday School room which had become known as the undercroft was renamed and dedicated Rowley Hall in memory of The Rev. Frank Rowley and in recognition of the many contributions he made to the parish. The Right Reverend Robert Poland Atkinson, Bishop of West Virginia, dedicated the hall to a packed house, and Rowley's widow, Mrs. Bonnie Rowley, unveiled an original oil portrait of Mr. Rowley. A plaque was established in the Hall with the following inscription: Rowley Hall
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