Past to Present

History

     Our records indicate that the five men most responsible for the founding of Emmanuel Episcopal Church were: Messengers Vernon Chalmers, W. B. Miller, John Pollard, Thomas Williamson, and Isaiah Pickett.

      The vision of these five men, who discussed their hopes and dreams with the Right Reverend Charles T. Quintard, then the Bishop of Tennessee, was first realized in 1883 when the parishioners, who had been holding services variously in their homes and later at Zion Hall located on historic Beale Street in Memphis, secured a church building, formerly a Lutheran church.  By the time that the Rev. E. Thomas Demby became vicar in 1907, the membership had begun consideration of a new location, preferably a Black residential area for better accessibility to the communicants, and to promote a better climate for growth.  To this end, the Right Rev. Thomas F. Gailor, then the third Bishop of Tennessee, helped the members to purchase the property which was vacant on the corner of St. Paul and Cynthia Place.  In 1909, construction was begun on the new church which was completed and consecrated by Bishop Gailor on March 25, 1910.  The new building, a cruciform, brick structure, and a temporary frame parish hall, built in 1913, provided Father Demby the necessary equipment to institute a varied long range program.  In 1914, Rev. Demby was made Arch Deacon and presided over Black Episcopal churches in Tennessee.  Later, he was elected Suffragan Bishop for Negro churches in the Diocese of Arkansas.  

 

     Between the years of 1915-1928, several priests served Emmanuel.  With the appointment of the Rev. Elmer M.M. Wright as the vicar in 1929, Emmanuel again began to move forward.  The congregation grew more rapidly than during any previous period.  The Rev. Morris B. Cochran, appointed vicar in 1939, received Holy Orders at Emmanuel.  He made a valuable contribution to Emmanuel during his tenure (1939-1943).  

 

     The Rev. St. Julian Simpkins, who arrived on March 1, 1944, achieved the longest tenure of any priest to serve at Emmanuel to date, 13 years.  He immediately launched a reclamation campaign and was successful with 22 members returning to the church.  That same year he also spearheaded the gigantic task of repairing and redecorating the church and sanctuary and complete renovation of the parish hall.

  

     In 1949, the Department of Christian Education of the Diocese selected Emmanuel for a demonstration program in Religious Education, and other community and parish activities.  A director of Religious Education was secured, serving for two years.  She was instrumental in the organization of Emmanuel Church kindergarten which served the community.  Some of the children served during that period (now grandparents) are currently worshipping and functioning at Emmanuel.  In 1956, the third structure housing Emmanuel was totally rebuilt at the St. Paul and Cynthia site, and new furnishings installed.  Father Simpkins accepted a call to the Diocese of Ohio in 1957.  The Rev. Samuel D. Rudder succeeded him as priest-in-charge and served 1958-1963.  The congregation continued to prosper and much progress was realized in fund raising efforts for the building fund.  

 

     In 1971, the Reverend M. Clarke Baker assumed duties as interim vicar by appointment of Bishop William Sanders.  During Father Baker's tenure, Emmanuel realized a long held goal of becoming an independent, unaided parish.  The first priest to serve Emmanuel in its parish status was the Rev. Emery Washington from 1977-1983.  Under his leadership, the initial stages of planning for relocation of the church took place.  The Rev. Thomas E. Shepherd succeeded Father Washington and served from 1985-1990.  The relocation process was completed under his tenure.  The congregation moved into a newly constructed edifice in the Whitehaven subdivision on the corner of Raines Road and Boeingshire Drive, in time for Christmas Eve services, December, 1989.  A formal dedication service was held on January 7, 1990 with the Right Reverend Alex D. Dickson, then Bishop of West Tennessee officiating, assisted by other Bishops of the Diocese of Tennessee. 

 

     In January, 1992 the Rev. Carver Washington was installed as the new rector.  He began a series of Bible Study classes which met weekly, with soup suppers hosted by the attendees on a rotating basis.  Father Israel served until he accepted a call to Pennsylvania in December, 1996.

 

      March, 1997-October, 1997, the Reverend John Urban served as Interim Priest.  Alternating as Interim Priests, were the Reverend Sydney Carsten, and Deacon Edgar Ince.  The Rev. Ira J. Johnson, Ph.D. delivered his first sermon at Emmanuel on June 13, 1999 and served until 2009. 

 

      January 1, 2011 Father Colenzo J. Hubbard was appointed as Priest-in-Charge .  

     Effective January 1, 2016 he accepted his appointment by Bishop Don E Johnson to serve as Vicar.