Growing Through The Years

 In The Beginning

The Church of the Holy Nativity began as an answer to prayer, and it remains so today. In 1964, twelve individuals prayed Holy Nativity into existence. All communicants at Christ Church, near the north end of St. Simons, hoped to establish an altar further south in the area known as the Village. The original plan called for Christ Church to have responsibility for the mission; but after more prayer, the twelve petitioned for direct diocesan authority over the new congregation. That’s when the hard work to secure the priority needs began: a priest, a place, and all the accoutrements required for Eucharist.

In late November, Father Archer Torrey, a missionary on leave from Korea, was granted permission from the Bishop to celebrate Eucharist on Christmas Eve 1964 with the emerging congregation. The venue for the service was the Oglethorpe Room of First Federal Savings and Loan on Ocean Boulevard. Twenty-nine Episcopalians attended the service complete with folding chairs, metal picnic table altar, and borrowed Vestments, altar appointments, prayer books, hymnals, and processional cross.

Meetings continued to “seek the will of God for the young church.” It was “decided that we did not need a large, beautiful church with stained glass windows, a pipe organ, etc., but to worship where we could be a beacon light to the Island, reaching out to the lost and hurting in the community as well as those looking for a church home.”

Prayers continued. God’s answers required faith, ingenuity, and determination. The acquisition of a building occurred in stages. In early 1965, Sunday services were held in the Golden Isles Masonic Lodge, with a quick conversion from secular meetings to worship services on Saturday evening, and back to meeting space Sunday afternoon. The church ultimately purchased the Lodge building for $600 but needed a suitable location. Originally, land on King’s Way was chosen, but objections arose due to the building’s size, and the neighborhood sought the help of the Sea Island Company, which arranged a property transfer that gave Holy Nativity its current home on Mallery Street. The building was moved on November 18, 1965. 

As the congregation grew, more space was needed. Prayers continued. God winked. In 1966, the Naval Air Station Jacksonville was giving away obsolete buildings to organizations willing to move them. Despite a myriad of mishaps (including a hurricane during transport), the “Gospel Barge” made its delivery up the Inland Waterway to the waterfront at Epworth, and then the building was transported by flatbed truck to its new home. Inside, a kitchen, sacristy, office, parish hall, and  restroom with running water (a first) was constructed. Outside new siding, landscaping, and a church bell were installed. In 1971, an additional lot was purchased, and a columbarium was installed later that year,  followed four years later by a meditation garden. Holy Nativity membership kept growing, setting the stage for the mission to become a parish, which was accomplished in 1983.

As the congregation grows, so does Holy Nativity’s spiritual journey and outreach; however, the promise of being a beacon light for our island home has never wavered. No matter if your reason for being with us today is simple or profound or where you are in your walk with God, we are privileged you have entered through our red doors to worship with us. Feel Holy Nativity’s welcome embrace. Peace be with you.

Adapted from Fifty Years on Our Island Home. To read the original The Church of the Holy Nativity, 1964-2014: Fifty Years on Our Island Home click here. 4cfe84_13b88aaae23a412c8ebc9e10f09d4f45.pdf