St. Alban's Episcopal Church (Bovina, Mississippi) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Saint Alban's Episcopal Church |
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| Location | Bovina, Mississippi |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Episcopal |
| Website | St. Alban's Episcopal Church |
| History | |
| Status | Parish |
| Founded | 29 November 1857 |
| Consecrated | 5 May 1859 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architectural type | Neo-Gothic |
| Administration | |
| Episcopal area | Episcopal Church in the United States of America |
| Diocese | Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi |
| Province | Province IV |
St. Alban’s Episcopal Church is an Episcopal church and cemetery located in Bovina, Mississippi. It was started by cotton farmers near the Big Black River in 1857. During the American Civil War in May 1863, the church was used as a hospital by Union soldiers. After the war, the Union forces left the church in ruins. However, it was later rebuilt with help from another St. Alban's Episcopal Church in New York. Today, St. Alban’s is still an active church, holding services in the countryside on Warriors Trail, between Vicksburg and Jackson.
Contents
The Story of St. Alban's Church
How the Church Began
St. Alban's started as a church community in 1857. It was formed by a group of cotton farmers living near the Big Black River. The very first church service took place in the fall of 1857 at the Baptist church in Mt. Alban, which is just west of Bovina.
Seventeen men and women from the area decided to create St. Alban's. They agreed on a set of rules for the church. Then, they chose a group of leaders called a vestry. Henry Sanson, a doctor of divinity, was asked to be their main priest, known as the rector.
On June 18, 1858, the church leaders and members voted to build their own church. They chose a spot southwest of the train station in Bovina. Mr. and Mrs. Peterson Bass gave the land near the train tracks to the church on September 23, 1858. The church, now called St. Alban's, was officially blessed by Bishop William M. Green of Mississippi on May 5, 1859.
The Civil War's Impact
The early years of the American Civil War were tough for St. Alban's church. Many members of its community joined the military. For example, Thomas V. Noland started a group called the Warren Volunteers on June 1, 1861. Out of 82 soldiers in this group, 13 had connections to St. Alban's Church. This company first went to Corinth and then to Virginia. The Warren Volunteers fought in important battles like the Battle of Malvern Hill and the Battle of Sharpsburg.
Just before the Siege of Vicksburg, Bovina was full of soldiers and people trying to escape to Vicksburg after the Battle of Jackson. On May 17, 1863, Union forces broke through the Confederate defenses at the Battle of Big Black River Bridge. They then reached Bovina. General Grant left soldiers to guard the crossing at the Big Black.
St. Alban's church was then taken over by the 49th Illinois Infantry Regiment. Union Captain John A. Ritter turned the church into a hospital. By the fall of 1863, St. Alban's church was almost completely destroyed. Only some window glass and the cornerstone were left.
Rebuilding After the War
After the American Civil War ended, people started working to rebuild the church. They received help from another St. Alban's Church in New York. A new church building, made of plain wood planks, was built on the same land as the first church. This new building was officially blessed on February 27, 1880.
The 20th Century Changes
Regular church services were held in the wooden building until 1928. In that year, a new church was built in the Gothic style. The old 1870 wooden church was kept and used as the parish hall, which is a community building for the church.
The money for the new church came from a gift left by Matilda Townsend Palmer in 1927. The new church was officially blessed on October 20, 1929, with Bishop Theodore Bratton leading the ceremony. Later, in 1976, a rectory (a house for the church's priest) was built just east of the church.
See also
- Saint Alban
- St. Alban's Episcopal Church (Staten Island, New York)
- Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi
- Province 4 of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America
- Anglican Communion
