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History of ECR

1890: Lay services were begun by Professor W. H. Magruder of Mississippi A&M. Services were held in his “section room” on campus.

1907 – 1910: Mission of the Resurrection approved by Bishop Theodore DuBose Bratton. Groundbreaking for the current sanctuary began.

1913: The present sanctuary was completed and formally opened.

1916 – 1920: Final debts for the building were paid off. Bishop Bratton consecrated the building on May 7, 1916, and irregular services began. Due to an additional 500 soldiers being stationed at Mississippi A&M, a special effort to secure a full-time priest was made in hope of serving the increased number of Episcopalians in the area.

1920: Regular lay services and Sunday School began.

1929: A vicarage was needed to house a new priest and his three sons. A vicarage facing University Drive was built (this is house east of the current church office building). During this same time, ownership of properties acquired by the Mission were turned over to the Bishop and Trustees of the Mississippi Diocese due to financial hardship.

1946 – 1950: Due to a renewed interest in recruiting students from campus, fundraising for the student center was begun.

1951: The student center was added to the church building as a result of funds raised locally and throughout the Diocese and a $5,000 United Thank Offering grant.

ole bell tower1951 – 1954: As a tribute to our priest, the bell tower adjoining the sanctuary was built in honor of the birth of his son. The congregation financed the building of church offices and a nursery in 1953 at a cost of $9,000. The Young People’s Service League (currently the EYC) was organized. The Guild of the Christ Child also was formed.

1960: The house on University Drive was remodeled and converted to serve as Sunday School Rooms and a Parish House. A new vicarage on Nash Street was purchased in 1960.

1969 – 1970: The Nash Street vicarage was sold. Property in Green Oaks was acquired. The Katz property on Main Street was also purchased and remodeled into a vicarage for a second priest. This property came with the pool which is still in operation and is rumored to be the first in-ground pool built within the Starkville city limits.

1971 – 1972: The parish hall was constructed. Church offices and Sunday school rooms were built above the parish hall.

1974 – 1975: Parish status was granted by the 148th Council of the Diocese of Mississippi. The church interior was reversed, carpeted, and a new organ was purchased.

2000: Major renovation of the interior and exterior of the church was started. The Scales property and house was purchased. The house was turned into the Canterbury lodge.

2003: The Canterbury lodge was renovated. The columbarium was completed.

2009: The first addition to the columbarium was completed.

2010: The Katz house on University Drive was purchased once again and turned into the church offices. The space above the Parish Hall was remodeled for use devoted solely to educational rooms. The second addition to the columbarium was completed.

2011: The narthex outside the sanctuary was renovated. A handicap-accessible bathroom was added to the educational building.

front of church2016: The front entrance on North Montgomery Street was renovated. The renovation included the city’s installation of an ADA compliant street level sidewalk. The church then added new steps from the sidewalk, new drought-tolerant plants on the sloped landscape, a new plaza and seating wall, a sculpture plaza displaying a 6-foot Episcopal shield with marble base, and new church signage which more clearly identifies the church.