I have about 75 volumes Sunday School books sent to me by a good lady of New York (Grace Church) and another lady from New York sent me catechisms.
(Source: The Rev. J. H. Postell, Parochial Report, Buncombe County, 1886 Journal of Convention, 82)
The Story Goes On
THE STORIES OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH WOMEN
OF THE DIOCESE OF NORTH CAROLINA
IN THE WORDS OF THOSE WHO LIVED THEM.
We will tell the stories not because we live for the past but because the past informs the present,
and we must be present before we begin, with God’s help, to claim our future.
The story fragments below were collected and published during the five-year lead-up
to the 200th anniversary of the Diocese of North Carolina in 2017.
I have about 75 volumes Sunday School books sent to me by a good lady of New York (Grace Church) and another lady from New York sent me catechisms.
(Source: The Rev. J. H. Postell, Parochial Report, Buncombe County, 1886 Journal of Convention, 82)
For the Church to be built at Columbia, there are already in hand nearly $800. Thanks are due, for this, to many friends in different parts of the country, who have responded to the Missionary’s call for aid; and, more particularly, to the Ladies of Edenton, who, by their self-denying labors, raised, of the amount above, $500. In addition, $300 or more can be gotten whenever called for.
(Source: The Rev. Joseph W. Murphy, Parochial Report, St. David’s Church, Scuppernong, Washington County, 1861 Journal of Convention, 42)
The Working Society continue their zealous exertions. Besides other appropriations for the benefit of the Church and to charitable purposes, they have contributed $20 to the Missionary Fund, which they wish, if necessary, to be applied to the printing of our lamented Bishop’s works.
(Source: The Rev. John Avery, Parochial Report, St. Paul’s, Edenton, 1830 Journal of Convention, 9)
Lucy always felt that St. Stephen’s should be involved in the larger life of the Episcopal Church, often serving as a delegate to the Annual Convention. Throughout the years Lucy served in various leadership positions in St. Stephen’s ECW, including president for 1973-1974 and 1977-1979. As president or as program chairman, Lucy invited friends she had met from around the diocese to speak at ECW programs, opening her home to the speakers. Her friendships throughout the diocese resulted in Lucy’s being elected Vice-President of the Diocesan ECW in 1979. Lucy served on the Diocesan ECW Board from 1979 to 1984. During this time she chaired the Education and Training Committee and organized the Diocesan fall seminars.
In 1984 St. Stephen’s Church was instrumental in bringing Hospice to Harnett County and Lucy was on the first board of Hospice. Between 1987 and 2000 Lucy served three terms on the St. Stephen’s Vestry.
(Source: “By Word & Example” profile of Lucy Blake Ward Adair, posted to the website of the Episcopal Church Women of the Diocese of North Carolina, November 9, 2015)
President of Woman’s Auxiliary – Mrs. Thomas B. Keogh; President of Ladies’ Aid Society – Mrs. Richard C. Pope. The exterior of the church building has been thoroughly repaired and painted, with the valued assistance of the Ladies’ Aid Society, who have erected a neat and delicate metal fence around the church grounds.
(Source: The Rev. Alfred H. Stubbs, Parochial Report, St. Barnabas’ Church, Greensboro, 1890 Journal of Convention, 115)
At the annual meeting of the Woman’s Auxiliary in Chapel Hill last week, we voted to collect keepsakes and treasures of gold and silver that people would like to give to be made into a Communion Service. It will first be used, according to our Bishop’s suggestion, at Camp Greene; after the war is over it is to be given by the Bishop to some missions where it is needed. Gifts of silver will be used to make the service; gold and jewels will pay for the cost of making and be used in ornamentation.
(Source: “A Communion Service for the Soldiers,” Laura June Alston (Mrs. George W. Alston), The Carolina Churchman, May 1918, p. 13)
As it may serve to stimulate others to the like good work, I will add, that a number of young misses, between 6 and 14 years old, have, by one of our young ladies, been formed into a society, and spend one afternoon in each week, in working for the purpose of charity. May their hearts, as well as their hands, be ever engaged in the cause of Him who went about doing good.
(Source: The Rev. Adam Empie, Parochial Report, St. James’ Church, Wilmington, 1824 Journal of Convention, 18-19)
A Female Benevolent Society has been instituted for the purpose of furnishing with work those females who are unable of themselves to procure it, and also to relieve those who are incapable of labour. A great number of the female members of the congregation are attached to this Society, and take an active part in its proceedings.
(Source: The Rev. Richard S. Mason, Parochial Report, Christ Church, New Bern, 1822 Journal of Convention, 9)
We now have a Woman’s Auxiliary, St. Agnes’ Guild, Junior Guild, Babies’ Branch, and a large branch of the Girls’ Friendly Society which meets once a week. The Junior Guild also meets once a week; the others, once a month. The ladies have had their Seventh Annual Bazaar. Their average profit has been about one hundred dollars. We have improved the church building in various ways too tedious to mention - have built this year a good and commodious Parish House, well arranged, with classrooms and auditorium, with kitchen and large dining-room in the rear. We are all poor, but I have never seen a more faithful and untiring set of ladies. We are trying now to pay a little note of one hundred and fifty dollars, and at the same time furnish the interior of the Parish House. If what I have stated in this will be of any benefit, I am sure I am delighted to give this little information. I always feel a delicacy in such matters; I feel like I am boasting. Faithfully yours, to serve the Ladies of the Woman’s Auxiliary, S. J. M. Brown
(Source: “The Church’s Work at Cooleemee,” by S. J. M. Brown, Written by Request, The Carolina Churchman, May 1915, p. 10)
[Her] Diocesan roles led to national ones. As Diocesan ECW President, Scott was a delegate to the 1976 ECW Triennial Meeting and witnessed General Convention’s vote for women’s ordination. Swept by the enormity of the gathering and the spiritual silence in anticipation of vote results, Scott returned home [to North Carolina] with new ideas on the changing roles of women. Participation in 1977 in national group discussions by women about women proved to be her “awakening.” Women were angry that ECW had not done enough. Understanding this as potentially destructive, Scott faced the concept of women as “tokens” and worked to change it.
(Source:“By Word & Example” profile of Mary Scott Tyree Evans Hughes, posted to the website of the Episcopal Church Women of the Diocese of North Carolina, September 29, 2015)