Christ Church Cathedral (Lexington, Kentucky)
Encyclopedia
Christ Church Cathedral is the seat of the Episcopal Diocese of Lexington
and is located at 166 Market Street, Lexington, Kentucky
. Founded in 1796, Christ Church Cathedral is the oldest Episcopal church in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The Rev. James Moore became the first rector of Christ Church, as well as the first President of Transylvania University
, located just blocks from the Cathedral.
The present building is the fourth to occupy the site and was erected in 1848. Renovations over the years have sought to preserve the original structure, so the current structure is relatively unchanged. The church created what is now called the Old Episcopal Burying Ground, located nearby. It holds many who died during the cholera epidemics of 1833 and 1848.
Christ Church became a cathedral in 1897 and remained so until 1944. In 1989, then-Bishop, the Right Reverend Don A. Wimberly moved the Cathedral back to Christ Church and it remains so today.
Since 2000, the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Lexington
has been the Rt. Rev. Stacy F. Sauls. The former Dean of the Cathedral is the Very Reverend Morris K. Thompson, Jr., who in 2009 was elected the 11th Bishop of Louisiana
.
Working with the Martin Luther King Neighborhood Association and Seedleaf, the cathedral has established a community garden. It is operated primarily to grow vegetables for nearby residents, and encourages their participation in all steps: growing, harvesting, preparing and preserving. Hundreds of pounds of vegetables are given away annually to residents and community associations. In 2009 the garden was enlarged to include fruit trees and berry bushes.
In recent outreach, Christ Church Cathedral has supported recognition of London Ferrill
, the second preacher of First African Baptist Church
. He led his church for 31 years, by 1850 building a congregation of 1,820 members, the largest of any in the state. He was one of the few clergy to stay in the city during the 1833 cholera epidemic, when 500 died of a total of 7,000 people in the city, including nearly one-third of the congregation of Christ Church. At death in 1854, Ferrill was buried in the Old Episcopal Burying Ground, the only African American to be so honored.
In 2010 Christ Church supported installation of a monument to Ferrill at the burying ground, celebrating with a joint service with First African Baptist. They also supported approval of a state highway marker for the site. In addition, Christ Church named its community garden in honor of London Ferrill.
Episcopal Diocese of Lexington
The Episcopal Diocese of Lexington is the diocese of The Episcopal Church with jurisdiction over eastern Kentucky. It was created in 1895 from the Diocese of Kentucky which continues to have jurisdiction of the western portion of the state. The cathedral for the Diocese of Kentucky is located in...
and is located at 166 Market Street, Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
. Founded in 1796, Christ Church Cathedral is the oldest Episcopal church in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The Rev. James Moore became the first rector of Christ Church, as well as the first President of Transylvania University
Transylvania University
Transylvania University is a private, undergraduate liberal arts college in Lexington, Kentucky, United States, affiliated with the Christian Church . The school was founded in 1780. It offers 38 majors, and pre-professional degrees in engineering and accounting...
, located just blocks from the Cathedral.
The present building is the fourth to occupy the site and was erected in 1848. Renovations over the years have sought to preserve the original structure, so the current structure is relatively unchanged. The church created what is now called the Old Episcopal Burying Ground, located nearby. It holds many who died during the cholera epidemics of 1833 and 1848.
Christ Church became a cathedral in 1897 and remained so until 1944. In 1989, then-Bishop, the Right Reverend Don A. Wimberly moved the Cathedral back to Christ Church and it remains so today.
Since 2000, the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Lexington
Episcopal Diocese of Lexington
The Episcopal Diocese of Lexington is the diocese of The Episcopal Church with jurisdiction over eastern Kentucky. It was created in 1895 from the Diocese of Kentucky which continues to have jurisdiction of the western portion of the state. The cathedral for the Diocese of Kentucky is located in...
has been the Rt. Rev. Stacy F. Sauls. The former Dean of the Cathedral is the Very Reverend Morris K. Thompson, Jr., who in 2009 was elected the 11th Bishop of Louisiana
Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana
The Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana is the diocese of the Episcopal Church in the eastern part of the state of Louisiana. The see city is New Orleans.-History:...
.
Working with the Martin Luther King Neighborhood Association and Seedleaf, the cathedral has established a community garden. It is operated primarily to grow vegetables for nearby residents, and encourages their participation in all steps: growing, harvesting, preparing and preserving. Hundreds of pounds of vegetables are given away annually to residents and community associations. In 2009 the garden was enlarged to include fruit trees and berry bushes.
In recent outreach, Christ Church Cathedral has supported recognition of London Ferrill
London Ferrill
London Ferrill, also spelled Ferrell, was a former slave who became the second preacher of the First African Baptist Church in Lexington, Kentucky, serving from 1823–1854. During his 31 years of service, Ferrill attracted and baptized many new members in the growing region; by 1850 the church had...
, the second preacher of First African Baptist Church
First African Baptist Church (Lexington, Kentucky)
First African Baptist Church is a historic church at 264-272 E. Short Street in Lexington, Kentucky. The congregation was founded c. 1790 by Peter Durrett and his wife, slaves who came to Kentucky with their master, Rev...
. He led his church for 31 years, by 1850 building a congregation of 1,820 members, the largest of any in the state. He was one of the few clergy to stay in the city during the 1833 cholera epidemic, when 500 died of a total of 7,000 people in the city, including nearly one-third of the congregation of Christ Church. At death in 1854, Ferrill was buried in the Old Episcopal Burying Ground, the only African American to be so honored.
In 2010 Christ Church supported installation of a monument to Ferrill at the burying ground, celebrating with a joint service with First African Baptist. They also supported approval of a state highway marker for the site. In addition, Christ Church named its community garden in honor of London Ferrill.