About Our Church
Episcopal Church of the Annunciation was founded in 1967 as a mission of the Episcopal Diocese of Tennessee. Since then the “old” diocese has split in three, and we are in the Diocese of East Tennessee. Through our diocese we are an active part of the Episcopal Church in the United States and the worldwide Anglican Communion.
The first recorded service of Church of the Annunciation was a celebration of Holy Communion on December 10, 1967. We were accepted as an Organized Mission of the Diocese of Tennessee at convention on January 28, 1968. We were received as a parish of the Diocese of East Tennessee on February 14, 1998, at St. Paul’s Church in Chattanooga.
In the beginning, Annunciation shared worship and office space with the Church of the Good Shepherd (Roman Catholic) on the east end of Newport. In spring of 1981, we purchased our present building, the former Andy’s Restaurant, and converted it to church use. The current Episcopal Church of the Annunciation was dedicated by Bishop William Sanders on Holy Cross Day, September 14, 1981.
We are located in Newport, Tennessee, a town of about 8,000 which is the county seat of Cocke County, Tennessee. Our congregation serves a very wide area, and active members come from the other Tennessee counties of Jefferson, Sevier, and Hamblen, and from Haywood County, North Carolina. Some of our members drive 25 miles to get to church (and they are active members too!).
We are privileged to live and serve in one of the most beautiful parts of God’s creation, the Great Smoky Mountains. While our local economy is not primarily based on tourism, we are close to the northern entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and we would be delighted to have you visit us on your travels, as many others have.
At top you see the old church on East Broadway, still serving as the Roman Catholic Church of the Good Shepherd. Underneath it you see our present building as it appeared in summer 1982, not long after it was consecrated. (Compare it to the current picture at the top of the page- yes, it really is the same structure!)
In the summer of 1989 major renovations were made to the inside of the sanctuary to make it more suitable for church use. Then, in the summer of 1992, came our major outside transformation. The outside of the building (a wooden frame “old barn” look, as you can see here) was completely stripped off, a portico, steeple, and covered walkways were added, and the church was covered in a tan stucco.
Recently we have doubled the square footage upstairs by adding a new parish hall, kitchen, and office suite at the back of and adjoining the church. We moved into the new facilities in April 2003. A vacant lot back of the church was converted into parking.
Annunciation has had three resident priests. The Reverend Frank Crenshaw served Annunciation 1968-1970. The Reverend Bill Burks was vicar from 1972 through 1977. The Reverend David Garrett came as vicar in July 1978, and was called as Annunciation’s first rector when the church was received as a parish in 1998. He was installed as rector on July 26, 1998.
The Reverend Stephen L. Thompson was ordained deacon at Church of the Annunciation on June 24, 1991, and served at Annunciation until he moved to Knoxville in 1996. The Reverend Patricia Schumacher served as deacon at Annunciation from 1992 through 1998.
Among the various interim and supply clergy serving our congregation, the Reverend Rowland A. Clarkson (interim 1977-78) stands out; just retired as rector of St. James’ Episcopal Church in Greeneville, Tennessee, Father Clarkson’s ministry is very fondly remembered here. Also well remembered are Father Bill Zion and Father Royden C. Mott. Annunciation’s people are an active part of their community and its charitable organizations.
Our History
Church of the Annunciation was founded as a mission congregation of the Episcopal Diocese of Tennessee. First recorded services were on December 10, 1967, and the mission was formally organized at diocesan convention on January 28, 1968.
Annunciation’s home for its first thirteen and a half years was the Church of the Good Shepherd (Roman Catholic) at 659 East Broadway. This was originally the home of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Fisher, and was later converted and used as a funeral home for twelve years before it was purchased by the Roman Catholic mission society in 1967. The building still serves as the home of Church of the Good Shepherd.
A building committee was formed in January 1981 to look into a building for Church of the Annunciation, which led to the purchase of our current building at 304 Cosby Highway. This building was built in 1975 and had served as the “Hickory House” and “Andy’s Restaurant”. When we purchased it, it had been vacant for two years.
The building we purchased was a wooden building with a rustic “old barn” look. The upstairs dining room adapted very well as a worship area, with the basement as a parish hall and multi-use space.
The first service in the new building was on Wednesday evening, June 3, 1981. The following Sunday was Pentecost and was our first Sunday in our new location. The building was dedicated as a church by the Right Reverend William E. Sanders, 8th Bishop of Tennessee, on Holy Cross Day, September 14, 1981.
A wooden cross, which served as a spire, was added to the building in early 1983. It was dedicated in memory of parishioner Ed Hurd during our service on the Feast of the Annunciation, March 25, 1983.
The interior was renovated extensively in the summer of 1989. The nave was extended to include the old restaurant kitchen, the walk-in cooler was removed to make room for a sacristy, and the old “wagon wheel” light fixtures were replaced with more suitable church lighting, given in memory of Martha and Ed Walker. Stained glass windows replaced the old sheer curtains.
A major remodeling project in the summer of 1992 exchanged the old “wooden barn” look for our current stucco, and added, the porch, portico, and steeple, which can be seen on the main page.
The altar area was raised and the altar rail constructed by Bill Myers and his son Bryan, working in the summer of 1981. The turnings for the altar rail were donated by Wood Products Company of Newport.
The altar itself has quite a checkered history.
The altar we used at Church of the Good Shepherd was, of course, the Roman Catholic altar; however, we had a full set of fair linens that fit that altar. The altar at Church of the Good Shepherd was actually an interior door laid down and supported by ornamental ironwork (this was of course not obvious when the altar was covered with the altar linens).
When we moved to our new church, we needed an altar- quickly. It was discovered by Senior Warden Steve Thompson, who was then principal of Parrottsville School, that our altar linens exactly fit his cafeteria lunch tables. We obtained a cafeteria lunch table and installed fine walnut legs and base to the bottom to make it look presentable as an altar. It was only on Maundy Thursday through Holy Saturday, when the altar was stripped, that we were reminded that the top of our altar consisted of chipped Formica with strawberry Koolaid stains! The altar was dedicated during the consecration of the building on September 14, 1981.
In the mid-1980’s the top part of the altar was replaced by a fine piece of walnut, in exactly the same dimensions, by communicant Bill Hochstetler. Nothing now remains of the material of the original table, but it still has the exact dimensions of that original door.
The two Jacobean frontals for the altar are a memorial to former parishioner Kathleen Kuhn, and were purchased with a bequest from her estate. The festival frontal (white with blue orphreys) first saw use on Christmas Eve 1999, and the everyday tapestry frontal came into use on June18, 2000.
The altar candlesticks were a gift from former parishioners Bob and Jimmye Kisabeth, and were formerly festive candlesticks in their home.
The three-branched candlesticks behind the altar were a gift of Steve Thompson, in memory of his wife Sharon Thompson. They were dedicated on October 3, 1982.
The Paschal candlestick was given by organist Joan S. Lambert in the spring of 1998 in memory of her father, Earle Runceford Steele, in thanksgiving for the ministry of David Garrett, and in appreciation of Church of the Annunciation.
The torches were a gift from St. John’s Episcopal Church in Johnson City, Tennessee.
The candles are permanent lamps. They were a gift of Dr. Tom Conway, except for the torch candles which were a gift of Edna Wilson. The candles were dedicated on September 20, 1998.
The pulpit was built by students at Cocke County Vocational School in the summer of 1981.
The pulpit Bible (Revised English Version) was a gift of Mr. and Mrs. Charles S. Runnion, Jr., in memory of their son Carl McNabb “Chip” Runnion and in thanksgiving for their grandson John Deweese “Chip” Runnion. Our older pulpit Bible (Revised Standard Version) was given in memory of Josephine Ruble.
The table behind the altar and the kneeling benches were built by former parishioner (now deceased) Isaac “Scotty” Cooke. The table behind the altar was later reworked and expanded by Bill Hochstetler.
The bishop’s chair and the chairs in the chancel area were from the household furniture of the late Maye Boatwright Sherrod, former parishioner and mother of Martha Walker. They were given to the church in the summer of 1981.
The bookstand at the altar was a gift from Church of the Good Shepherd, in thanksgiving for our years together.
The hymn board was a gift from former parishioners Kay and Gary Verble.
The lighting of the altar was a gift of Hubert and Eleanor Penny. The Pennys also gave the carpet which covered the altar from 1981 through 1989, when it was replaced during remodeling.
The altar cross was a gift of Ann Fowler Myers and Mrs. Lyman (Joyce) Fowler in memory of Lyman Fowler. It was made of walnut in the summer of 1981 by local craftsman Floyd Belcher of Carson Springs.
The processional cross was given by Mr. and Mrs. C. E. McNabb, Jr., in memory of their parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Mowery and Mr. and Mrs. C. E. McNabb. The support for the cross in the altar area was built by parishioner Bill Hochstetler.
The American and Episcopal flags were given by Hubert and Eleanor Penny and dedicated on March 20, 1983.
The American flag was given to the greater glory of God and in honor of those parishioners of Church of the Annunciation who have served or will serve in the armed forces, and especially in honor of Everette McNabb for his service as a prisoner of war in World War II.
The Episcopal flag was given to the greater glory of God and in honor of the congregation of Church of the Annunciation, especially Harry Reid, Josephine Ruble, James A. T. Wood, Everette McNabb, Sharon Thompson, and Ed Hurd; and in honor of our parishioners who are graduates of the University of the South, especially James A. T. Wood and David Garrett.
The altar vase was purchased from memorial funds in memory of C. E. (Everette) McNabb, Jr.
The story of how we got our pews in the summer of 1981 is quite fascinating.
When we first moved in, our seating consisted of 90 old folding chairs; 40 were a gift of Newport Presbyterian Church, the other 50 a gift of First Baptist Church. They were arranged in a semicircle around the altar.
A fund was started that summer to obtain pews in the future, and some funds had already been given.
One afternoon in that summer Father Garrett received a call from Father Michael Moulden, then vicar of St. James’ Episcopal Church in Cumberland Furnace, Tennessee. Father Moulden inquired what kind of seating we were using. He said that their church had a set of very nice oak pews, originally from St. George’s Episcopal Church in Germantown. However, they were meeting in an old house, and even pressed against one wall the pews only gave 18 inches of aisle clearance, making movement very difficult, especially during Communion. He and his Mission Council had decided that instead of the pews they needed cathedral chairs, and if Annunciation could provide them with the cathedral chairs they would give us the pews. Father Garrett responded that it was a good idea, but at that point Annunciation had the money for neither pews nor cathedral chairs.
Within the hour the church telephone rang again. This time it was Father Smokey Oats, then vicar of St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church in Elizabethton. Father Oats was also wondering what Annunciation was using for seating, as he was trying to give away 80 cathedral chairs in good condition! Father Garrett contacted Father Moulden in Cumberland Furnace again, asking him how many cathedral chairs he was looking for- the answer was 75.
And so that afternoon was organized “the great seating swap”. A local business, Wood Products company, was good enough to donate the services of one of its semi-trailer trucks for only the cost of the fuel and driver. The cathedral chairs were picked up from Elizabethton by Senior Warden Steve Thompson and delivered to Cumberland Furnace by Wood Products, where the pews were picked up and delivered to Newport. Total cost to our congregation was about $330.
An interesting sidelight- when we obtained the pews we had no idea how many there were or what size they were- we simply intended to adapt whatever we received. What we received was exactly enough pews to cover our worship space- including the short ones for the rows where the return air duct is located.
The stained glass windows were added in the winter of 1989, shortly after our renovations, and dedicated in January 1990. They were made by David Goodson, a stained glass artist whose business is based in Strawberry Plains.
A unique feature of the windows is that they are hung in such a way that they are “portable” and may be moved from window to window.
- The Annunciation window was given by Tom and Robin Conway in living memory of Charles D. Conway, III; and by the parishioners of Church of the Annunciation in thanksgiving for the ministry of James A. Patrick
- The Nativity window was given by Ella Wood Jenkins and Shiela and Elena Navarro in loving memory of James A. T. Wood
- The Angels and Shepherds window was given by Bill and Dossie Myers in loving memory of Fred L. Myers, Sr.
- The Baptism of Jesus window was given by Peggy Holston in loving memory of Glenn E. Holston
- The Jesus Healing the Blind Man window was given by Elizabeth Woodson Marston in loving memory of L. Buxton Marston, Mr. and Mrs. George W. Marston, and Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Woodson
- The Jesus Blessing the Children window was given by Charles S. and Beth Runnion in loving memory of Carl McNabb “Chip” Runnion
- The Gethsemane window was given by Christina S. Buda and Newell H. Hurd, in loving memory of William C. “Bill” Buda and Edward Floyd Hurd
- The Crucifixion window was given by Joan Steele Lambert in loving memory of Marjorie F. Steele; by Joel and Eleanor Hice in thanksgiving for Audrey, Aaron, and Alan Hice; and by Virginia and David Garrett, in thanksgiving for Juanita A. Shettlesworth
- The Risen Christ window was given by Sue Clark in living memory of Tom and Margaret Clark and Tom Clark, III; and by Les and Jan Hylander in thanksgiving for their parents
- The Good Shepherd window was given by Ethel G. Haitinger in loving memory of Kalman S. Haitinger, Jr.
- The Holy Spirit window was given by Steve Thompson in loving memory of Sharon Evans Thompson
- The Alpha and Omega window was given by Ed and Martha Walker in loving memory of Maye Boatwright Sherrod
- The Jesus at the Door window was given by Fred and Kathleen Kuhn, to the greater glory of God
The large chalice and paten, used at our main services, were a gift of Trey, Joan, Brooke, Alison and Chip Runnion, in honor of the fiftieth wedding anniversary of Trey’s parents, Charles S. and Beth Runnion. They have been in use since their dedication on December 18, 1994.
The smaller set of communion vessels was a gift of the Reverend Paul Shields Walker, Episcopal priest and native of Newport, at the congregation’s founding in 1967, and served as our only set until the newer set was given. They are a bishop’s traveling Communion set from the nineteenth century.
The credence table was a gift of Tommy and Edith Thompson, and was formerly a typing table.
The alms basins were a gift from James and Maredith Griffith, in honor of Steve and Brenda Edwards.
The lavabo bowl was a gift of Virginia and David Garrett, in thanksgiving for their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary on June 19, 1996.
The candle snuffer was a gift of Jim and Kathy Ethier in memory of James A. T. Wood. It was dedicated on July 19, 1981.
The font was given by Steve and Sharon Thompson in the summer of 1981 in memory of Sharon’s father, Alfred Evans Jr. It was consecrated when the building was consecrated on September 14, 1981.
The first organ was given from memorial funds in memory of Peg Reid, Annunciation’s first Altar Guild chair; Mr. and Mrs. Tom Clark; and many others too numerous to mention.
Our current organ was given by Beth Runnion in memory of her husband, Charles S. Runnion, who was our treasurer for 28 years.
The Stations of the Cross were a gift from Alvy and Betty Clark, and were done by an artist in their former parish in Longwood, Florida. They were first used in our Lenten services on Wednesday in Holy Week of 1998.
The three framed prints of the Annunciation found in the Narthex were the gift of Edward R. Walker, III, son of Ed and Martha Walker, given in 1991 and later in 1999.
The church bell was a gift of Gordon Oosterman, father of former parishioner Mary Elizabeth Armistead. In its former life it was a factory bell. The Chrismon ornaments in the Narthex were made by the late Martha Sherrod Walker, founding member of Church of the Annunciation.
The blue set of vestments for Advent were a gift of James and Maredith Griffith, in honor of Steve and Brenda Edwards.
The white festive set (silk with blue orphreys) used during Christmas and Easter was given in memory of Ella Shields Wood Jenkins. They were dedicated and put into use on All Saints’ Sunday, November 2, 1998.
The second white set with gold orphreys was given by Steve Thompson in memory of his wife Sharon Thompson.
The purple set with red orphreys, used very rarely these days, is the only remaining of a set of three given by first vicar James A. Patrick. This and the other two (white with blue orphreys and green with white orphreys) were Father Patrick’s personal vestments. The red Pentecost set was a gift to Father Garrett on his ordination as priest from St. Martin’s, Chattanooga, where he was serving at the time. It was made by Mrs. U. Kay (Betty) Whaley. The green denim set with scapular and the “four seasons” design was designed and made by Virginia Garrett.
Other sets were given out of memorial funds as the need arose.