Chronology of Epiphany Misson

©This website and contents, copyright, 2004, by John Lynch

Chronology of Epiphany Mission

Compiled by Dan Hardison

(Click on photos for enlarged view)

1898 First service held on Christmas day by Father William S. Claiborne, Archdeacon of Tennessee.

1899 June 20, Epiphany Mission established in Sherwood, Tennessee.

1902 Original church is constructed (a wood structure).

1928 Second church is constructed (stone and brick structure).

1929 Father George W. Jones begins serving Epiphany Mission while a teacher at St. Andrews school in Sewanee.
1932 Father George W. Jones becomes Epiphany Mission's first priest in charge. Publication of The Booklet begins. "The Greater Congregation" is established to help support the mission.

1938 The building of the Mission Garden begins.

1946 Chapel altarpiece depicting the Virgin Mary is painted by a Mr. Judd.

detail view

1947 The Gymnasium (St. David's Gym) is constructed.
Note the bunting on the gym in this photo taken on Sherwood Day 1950.

1948 A new building for Flossie's (the Mission Distribution Center) is constructed next to the Gymnasium.

1950 Father George W. Jones is named "First Citizen" of Sherwood.
The badge from the HMS Sherwood, a British destroyer, is presented to the town of Sherwood with Father Jones accepting.
-read more about Sherwood Day 1950-

1952 Father George W. Jones dies on May 4th after 20 years of service at Epiphany Mission.
Father Joseph S. Huske becomes the second mission priest.

1954 Philip Perkins paints a triptych depicting the Baptism of Christ as the chapel's new altarpiece. It is presented to the church on Easter.
The Nashville Tennessean publishes a story on Epiphany Mission and the triptych in August.
Candles in the Dark Boreen, a collection of the writings by Father Jones in The Booklet, is published.

1960 April 20, an early morning fire on the Wednesday after Easter destroys Epiphany Mission.
"Operation Phoenix", the campaign to rebuild Epiphany Mission, begins.

1963/64 The construction of new church completed.

1967 Father Joseph S. Huske leaves Epiphany Mission after 15 years of service.
Father Rodman Pattee Kirby becomes the third mission priest.

1994 Father Rodman Pattee Kirby dies after 27 years of service at Epiphany Mission.
Rev. Lucy Lee Shetters, CSM, a native of Sherwood, returns to lead Epiphany Mission.

1999 June 20, Epiphany Mission's Centennial Celebration is held. Dedication by Rev. Bertram Nelson Herlong, Bishop of Tennessee.

2001 The Study for the Epiphany Mission Triptych, painted by Philip Perkins in 1953/54, is presented to the church on Easter, 47 years after the original was installed in the church.