THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, August 17, 1994 TAG: 9408160139
SECTION: ISLE OF WIGHT CITIZEN PAGE: 10 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Trudy Cuthrell
LENGTH: Short : 32 lines
Christ Episcopal Church has roots that date back to St. Luke's Church, established in 1632. As population growth shifted from the St. Luke's area toward Smithfield, Christ Church was built in 1832 and became a new center of congregational life for that area.
Christ Church grew slowly - from 48 communicants in 1881 to 100 in 1965.
During these years, alterations and additions modified the structure. In 1841, the interior walls were finished with stucco. In 1892, two front vestibule towers were added along with the stained-glass windows.
By 1977, work began on the addition of a large, two-story wing to house Sunday school rooms, a chapel, parish hall, kitchen and offices.
Soon afterward, nearby property was purchased for a parking lot and in 1993 a house owned by the parish was torn down to provide a green area - possibly for a park that could be used by the community as well as the church.
Today, Christ Church is still an old structure but a place of new life and vitality, according to its rector, the Rev. F. William Lantz.
As the parish approaches 160 years of ministry, Lantz said that parishioners desire to remain a positive spiritual force. by CNB