Christ Church in Church Hill, Mississippi – founded in 1820, it’s the oldest congregation in the Episcopal Church in Mississippi – has seen a revitalization of its congregation and its 1858 building over the past decade.
And now, with attendance at its twice-a-month services averaging close to 30 people, it is tackling restoration of the cemetery adjacent to the church and has hopes for the congregation’s next steps.
The genesis for new life in the congregation belongs in large measure to Tate Taylor, a film director and producer who moved to Church Hill in 2016, according to people connected to the church with whom Episcopal News Service has spoken.
Mississippi Bishop Dorothy Wells told ENS that she first heard of the restoration work at Christ Church in 2024, before her consecration as bishop, during a visit to Trinity Church in nearby Natchez. But she was worried about who was overseeing the work and whether it reflected what she called “historical accuracy and faithfulness.” To read more, click here
