History

A Story of Generations

Faithful generations have gone forth into the world from the doors of The Episcopal Church of the Nativity for over ninety years. It was 1905 when Bishop C.M. Beckwith arrived in Dothan, Alabama with Reverend W.N. Claybrook to organize an Episcopal Mission.

The Church was given the name of Nativity to commemorate the birth of Jesus, the moment of the incarnation when The Word was made flesh. The auspicious name would be an inspiration to successive generations at Nativity as each undertook the task of manifesting the glory of God in their particular time and place.

They began with four families, a mere twenty-two members, whose dreams, work and faith formed the cornerstone for later congregations. The names of these early communicants – Lewis, Hanahan, Slocomb, Boozer – and a little later, Oakley, Slingluff and Boozer – still appear among the membership through the presence of their descendants.

In 1907 The Reverend Wilmer S. Poyner arrived to serve the mission. From 1913 until after World War I, the mission was without a permanent Vicar, with the exception of six months service by The Reverend L.G.H. Williams.

In 1919, Bishop Beckwith sent the Reverend Ellsworth Collier to serve the mission. It had 36 baptized members and 21 communicants. The early mission met in the houses of its members. During the early days of Reverend Collier’s tenure, the mission erected a small wooden structure on Main Street. This remained sufficient until 1927, when a second generation undertook the building of a small brick church at the same location.

It was executed in the English Country Gothic style, which would become its architectural signature. The church set an aesthetic standard for future construction. Its fine craftsmanship imparted a rich legacy to later generations. The nave was beautifully appointed with a network of arched wooden beams. The church leadership commissioned Pittsburgh Stained Glass Studio to create a rose Window commemorating the nativity. They also commissioned a stone altar with a reredos engraved with the lovely words of St. John’s Gospel: The Word Was Made Flesh And Dwelt Among Us. These works were among the most beautiful religious expressions in the City of Dothan. Both works are a part of our church today. You can see the rose window on the home page of this web site.

The Reverend Collier moved in 1929, and the congregation of Nativity faced the depression period without a resident Vicar. The Reverend Clair T. Crenshaw arrived in 1936, and his services were shared with missions in Eufaula and Clayton, Alabama. The last Vicar to serve Nativity was The Reverend Peter Dennis in 1938.

During World War II, from 1941-1943, The Reverend G. Ralph Madison was Rector and it was he who had the mission admitted as a parish church in the Diocese of Alabama. The Reverend E. Lawrence Baxter followed him from 1945-1947, who was succeeded by The Reverend Joseph L. Kellerman, who remained until 1950.

The Reverend Ben A. Meginnis became Rector in July, 1950. In 1962, under his leadership and guidance, the congregation erected the current church on Holly Lane and reinstalled the rose window and altar at the new location. Again they commissioned Pittsburgh Stained Glass Studios, this time for a series of lancet windows telling the story of the life of Christ. You can see several of these windows on the home page of this website. The commission included a large lancet window commemorating the resurrection. In keeping with traditional Gothic design, the church installed the larger window over the altar and the rose window over the entrance. The church was now the beneficiary of the finest collection of stained glass windows in its community.

Even so, the doors to the church were always open. All hours of the day and night, people throughout the city came to Nativity to sit in its pews and ponder the story told in its windows. It was, and remains, a source of comfort, inspiration and renewal. And as such, the actual building was, and continues to be, a powerful witness to the love of Christ.

In 1965, The Reverend William Capers Acosta became Rector, and he continued overseeing the growth of Nativity parish until his retirement in 1977.

In 1974, the church built an addition to the parish hall, comprising the present nursery, former administrative offices and two classrooms. In the ensuing twenty years, its members worked to maintain and improve the existing facility with the growing awareness that they were heirs to and custodians of something rare, beautiful, and sacred.

The Reverend Melvin Hudson Harper served as the sixth Rector of Nativity from 1978 until his retirement in the spring of 1993. With “Father Mell” as our good shepherd, the church continued to grow in numbers and spirit.

In March of 1994, The Reverend David B. Powell became the seventh Rector of Nativity. In 1999 the congregation began raising money for a renovation and addition to the church. The construction on this project began in the fall of 2000 and was completed in December of 2001. This project added several classrooms, a new parish hall, a renovated nursery and a courtyard (with planned labyrinth).

In August of 2004, The Reverend Craig E. Gavin became the eighth and current rector of Nativity. During Father Gavin’s ministry we have celebrated our Centennial, acknowledging our past achievements with true gratefulness and deep humility. Nativity has also dedicated the labyrinth recently.

As we face our second 100 years we will, with faith, trust God to guide us ever forward in our mission and ministry.

The Episcopal Church of the Nativity

205 Holly Lane

Dothan, Alabama 36301

334-793-7616

nativity@centurytel.net