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The Episcopal Church of The Holy Comforter, Gadsden, Alabama


The Holy Comforter Website | Camp McDowell | Lila Graves, Stations of the Cross | Episcopal Relief and Development

The Episcopal Church of the Holy Comforter is located at 156 South 9th Street. It is the third church building constructed by the congregation. The previous building was lost to fire in 1919. The present building is a gothic style with nave, choir and sanctuary.

The Episcopal Church of the Holy Comforter is located at 156 South 9th Street. It is the third church building constructed by the congregation. The previous building was lost to fire in 1919. The present building is a gothic style with nave, choir and sanctuary.
The Episcopal Church of the Holy Comforter is located at 156 South 9th Street. It is the third church building constructed by the congregation. The previous building was lost to fire in 1919. The present building is a gothic style with nave, choir and sanctuary.
Rev. James E. Elliott, Jr. has been the rector since 1996. Married to Jane P. Elliott, they have two sons and five grand children. He was educated at Auburn, Emory, and Sewanee. He is the Dean of the Mountain Convocation and Ecumenical/Interfaith Officer of the Diocese of Alabama.
The Eagle has long been a symbol of the Word of God. We are a church that believes in the Word of God read and preached. Much of our Book of Common Prayer consists of scripture. Three lessons and a psalm are read each Sunday.
Saint John is one of the original twelve apostles. On the cross Jesus commended his mother to John and John to his mother. The eight nave windows date from the 1940s and were made by Payne-Spiers Studios.
Saint James the greater was a close friend of Jesus. He was one of the first apostles to suffer martydom. Three scallops, the pilgrim’s staff and a pilgrim’s cloak with hat are symbols of Saint James referring to his long journey’s.
Saint Paul is often called the apostle to the gentiles. After persecuting the early church, he was dramatically converted on the Damascus Road in a blinding vision from Jesus. He wrote many of the letters in the New Testament.
Saint Simon Peter was the leader among the Apostles. Jesus gave him the keys to the kingdom for his recognizing that he was the Christ, the Son of God. The keys represent the power to bind and absolve. He died on a cross in the shape of an X.
Moses was the one who led his people to freedom. Through him God gave the Ten Commandments. God revealed himself to Moses in the burning bush. In the Great Hall is a window telling of his rescue from the Nile River when he was an infant.
David was the second anointed king of Israel. Jesus was a direct descendant of King David. David wrote many of the Psalms and his enlightened reign was a highlight of the history of Israel and Judea. He was both a poet, fierce warrior and spirit inspired leader.
Many things take place in Holy Comforter’s Memorial Garden. Some come to sit and meditate. Photographers come her for its beautiful setting. The dead are committed in Holy Comforter’s Columbarium. The water of the fountain and pond remind us of our baptism.
There are fifteen individual Stations of the Cross. They remember our Lord’s death and resurrection. They are used for individual and corporate meditation. They were crafted of Alabama clay and designed by Lila Graves whose story itself is inspirational.
There are three rose or round windows at Holy Comforter. The two in the Great Hall remind us of the bounty and goodness of the Lord. The rose window in the west end of the nave is of a descending dove, symbol of the Holy Spirit or Holy Comforter.


Message Board
posted:  Mar-17  |  by:  admin
Each Sunday morning Holy Eucharist Rite I is celebrated at 8:00 and Rite II at 10:30; Christian Education classes for children are taught at 9:20; various programs of study for adults, including choir, begin at 9:30 and continental breakfast provided by volunteers is offered between the two services. On the second Sunday each month a full breakfast, “The Best Breakfast in Gadsden,” is prepared by the men of the parish.
The MISSION of the CHURCH of the HOLY COMFORTER of Gadsden, Alabama, is to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ, through prayer and worship, while proclaiming the Gospel and Promoting Justice, Peace, and Love.

The first meeting to organize an Episcopal Church in Gadsden was held in the Printup Hotel in 1888.

The present rector, the Rev. James E. Elliott, Jr., began his ministry June 1, 1996.

During his tenure, funds have been raised to pay off the indebtedness from the construction of the great hall and library. New stained glass windows were constructed and installed in the west end of the great hall and two new windows for two transoms in the church. Restoration work has been done to correct problems with the newer buildings and preserve the older buildings.

The memorial garden has been replanted and restructured with a fish pond garden addition, an expanded columbarium and original art by Lila Graves representing the Stations of the Cross. You may wish to read about Lila Graves by clicking the Lila Graves LINK above.

Under the leadership of the Rev. Elliott, rule of life groups - prayer, study and service - have become important parts of the life of Holy Comforter.

The Brotherhood of Saint Andrew meets every other week. (The Brotherhood has provided funds for two Habitat Houses through its sale of Brunswick Stew.) The Holy Comforter chapter of Daughters of the King has two groups that meet monthly, one during the day and one in the evening. On the last Sunday of each month, groups of members including Episcopal Young Churchmen, prepare and serve a meal at the local Salvation Army shelter. A Monday meal was added feeding evacuees from hurricanes Katrina and Rita as well as Gadsden’s homeless people.

Education for Ministry has produced many fine graduates at Holy Comforter and is still active with a group that represents each of the four years of study. Eleven students and two mentors are involved in the work of EFM at Holy Comforter for the academic year of 2006-2007.

Each Sunday morning Holy Eucharist Rite I is celebrated at 8:00 and Rite II at 10:30; Christian Education classes for children are taught at 9:20; various programs of study for adults, including choir, begin at 9:30 and continental breakfast provided by volunteers is offered between the two services. On the second Sunday each month a full breakfast, “The Best Breakfast in Gadsden,” is prepared by the men of the parish.

On Wednesday mornings during the academic year a chapel service is held for EDS students, family, faculty and others. Every Wednesday evening Holy Eucharist is celebrated at 6:00 PM.

Members of Holy Comforter actively participate in and form the majority representation on each board of three organizations born out of this community that continue to serve greater Gadsden: The Holy Comforter Episcopal Day School, Episcopal Kyle Home, and Holy Comforter House. Mrs. Laura McCartney is the headmistress of the Day School. Mrs. Tinley Kirby is the executive director of Holy Comforter House. Mrs. Linda Holloman is the director of Kyle Home.

In addition, the EDS Summer Day Camp has a full program from June through August. EDS is presently developing a program of environmental education to be offered locally to both public and private schools.

Many faithful members have worked in the church and community through the years. Notable among them is Mrs. William J. (Billie) Sibert who was the church secretary for 42 years and for four rectors.

Our current lay staff are: Mrs. Gemma Barfield, parish secretary, Children’s and Youth Minister; Mr. Alan Lancaster, financial administrator; Mr. Joe Farmer, organist and choirmaster; Mr. Odis Yow and Mrs. Doris Jackson, housekeeping. Our wardens for 2007 are: Mr. Lanny Lancaster, Senior Warden, and Mrs. Janice Rains, Junior Warden.

March 14, 2007


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