| All Saint's Episcopal Community 84 Church Street Franklin, NC 28734 (828) 524-4910 (office) (828) 421-4884 (cell) revdorothypratt@gmail.com |
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St. Cyprian
A Brief History of St. Cyprian’s
St. Cyprian’s Episcopal Church had it’s beginnings in 1877
when John Archibald Deal arrived from South Carolina. He
had been given the charge to establish the Episcopal Church in
western North Carolina. He was especially interested in the
black community that lived in the area at the time. The
church remained primarily black and was not integrated until
1979.
In 1886, a small frame building was constructed for worship
and study. The wood for the structure was harvested and
milled on site. Oak trees were used for the floor and poplar
for the walls.
On January 1, 1887 James T. Kennedy, age 21, of Columbia S.
C. answered an ad for a church worker and started a school in
the packing house of the tannery 14 days later. His first class
consisted of two people aged 8 and 30. Classes eventually
grew to 85 students ranging in age from 6 to 60.
Kennedy and Deal built the original St. Cyprian’s Chapel
probably from the school and cabinet making shop that is
thought to have been located next to the existing parish hall.
Kennedy was known for his high standards. He taught
industrial arts and home economics, stressed grammar and
grooming and is well known for his workmanship. He made
the current altar rail, hymn board, pulpit and front altar from
oak. The lectern was crafted from cherry. The back altar and
cross were made from maple. Kennedy’s signature is barely
visible on the cover of the baptismal font.
In May of 1886 or 1890, (records differ), Kennedy was
ordained to the deaconate and remained in Franklin until 1911
when he was sent to St. Mathias in Asheville. He was
eventually ordained to the priesthood.
Between 1911 and 1978, supply clergy provided worship
guidance for the congregation. Much of the history for this
period was lost in fires. The current parish hall was built
during the tenure of Rev. Albert Rufus Morgan. It is named in
his honor. In 1978, The Rev. Thomas Madden of Sanibel
Island, Florida served as the resident summer priest. The
congregation was racially integrated in the fall of 1979 with
The Rev. Terry Cobb as priest.
June 1, 1983 saw the groundbreaking for enlargement of the
sanctuary. The first service in the new facility was on
November 22, 1983.
St. Cyprian’s was known for being a community and learning
center in its early years and that tradition continues today.
Over the years, it has housed a Head Start classroom, Hospice
offices, and in 1982, Mountain Synagogue began using the
church as its worship place. With the arrival of a Holocaust
Torah and the dedication of the Ark, they moved their services
to the parish hall in 1983. Today the hall is still shared with
them and a Seder meal is opened to the public each year.
One member of the church since childhood has memories of
an old pot bellied stove that was the only source of heat for
the church. She also recalls church at 3 p.m. in the afternoon
and Sunday school at Rev. Tucker’s home on Saturday. For
some members this is truly a family place. Daughters,
mothers and grandmothers have all been baptized and
confirmed in this place.
After much prayer, thought and planning with the folks at St.
Agnes; St. Cyprian’s joined with St. Agnes to become the All
Saints Episcopal Community. July 1, 2005 The Rev. Dn.
Dorrie Pratt and her husband, John Miller, was called to serve
the new covenant ministry of the two parishes. December 10,
2005 Dorrie was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Porter
Taylor and she became the full time priest of the All Saints
Community serving both parishes. Dorrie has led the
community of saints with her gentle love as we continue with
renewed hope and sure knowledge of God’s blessings for each
of us.
A Brief History of St. Cyprian’s
St. Cyprian’s Episcopal Church had it’s beginnings in 1877
when John Archibald Deal arrived from South Carolina. He
had been given the charge to establish the Episcopal Church in
western North Carolina. He was especially interested in the
black community that lived in the area at the time. The
church remained primarily black and was not integrated until
1979.
In 1886, a small frame building was constructed for worship
and study. The wood for the structure was harvested and
milled on site. Oak trees were used for the floor and poplar
for the walls.
On January 1, 1887 James T. Kennedy, age 21, of Columbia S.
C. answered an ad for a church worker and started a school in
the packing house of the tannery 14 days later. His first class
consisted of two people aged 8 and 30. Classes eventually
grew to 85 students ranging in age from 6 to 60.
Kennedy and Deal built the original St. Cyprian’s Chapel
probably from the school and cabinet making shop that is
thought to have been located next to the existing parish hall.
Kennedy was known for his high standards. He taught
industrial arts and home economics, stressed grammar and
grooming and is well known for his workmanship. He made
the current altar rail, hymn board, pulpit and front altar from
oak. The lectern was crafted from cherry. The back altar and
cross were made from maple. Kennedy’s signature is barely
visible on the cover of the baptismal font.
In May of 1886 or 1890, (records differ), Kennedy was
ordained to the deaconate and remained in Franklin until 1911
when he was sent to St. Mathias in Asheville. He was
eventually ordained to the priesthood.
Between 1911 and 1978, supply clergy provided worship
guidance for the congregation. Much of the history for this
period was lost in fires. The current parish hall was built
during the tenure of Rev. Albert Rufus Morgan. It is named in
his honor. In 1978, The Rev. Thomas Madden of Sanibel
Island, Florida served as the resident summer priest. The
congregation was racially integrated in the fall of 1979 with
The Rev. Terry Cobb as priest.
June 1, 1983 saw the groundbreaking for enlargement of the
sanctuary. The first service in the new facility was on
November 22, 1983.
St. Cyprian’s was known for being a community and learning
center in its early years and that tradition continues today.
Over the years, it has housed a Head Start classroom, Hospice
offices, and in 1982, Mountain Synagogue began using the
church as its worship place. With the arrival of a Holocaust
Torah and the dedication of the Ark, they moved their services
to the parish hall in 1983. Today the hall is still shared with
them and a Seder meal is opened to the public each year.
One member of the church since childhood has memories of
an old pot bellied stove that was the only source of heat for
the church. She also recalls church at 3 p.m. in the afternoon
and Sunday school at Rev. Tucker’s home on Saturday. For
some members this is truly a family place. Daughters,
mothers and grandmothers have all been baptized and
confirmed in this place.
After much prayer, thought and planning with the folks at St.
Agnes; St. Cyprian’s joined with St. Agnes to become the All
Saints Episcopal Community. July 1, 2005 The Rev. Dn.
Dorrie Pratt and her husband, John Miller, was called to serve
the new covenant ministry of the two parishes. December 10,
2005 Dorrie was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Porter
Taylor and she became the full time priest of the All Saints
Community serving both parishes. Dorrie has led the
community of saints with her gentle love as we continue with
renewed hope and sure knowledge of God’s blessings for each
of us.