The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-05-28
HISTORIC CHURCH AMONG VERY FIRST,
 PAR|SH|0NER SAYS
St. Pauls Parish, Founded in 1887, Among First Five Self,Supporting, Says
 Mir. Engle

CarlowviIle, May 7.-(speciai)- The coming session of the council of the Protestant Episcopal church of the diocese of Alabama, for the cleo ton of bishop coadjutor, has focused the attention of all Epis- village of approximately 200 people.
 Situated as it is on a ridge about eight miles frop the Alabama river, in Dallas county, Carlowviile owes it's existence. like so many of the villages in the central and southern section of the state, to the pioneers from South Carolina, who came down to Alabama in the early part of the nineteenth century. With the ex- ception of two or three families who were Episcopalians, the settlers were all of the Baptist and Presbyterian faiths. An additional group of set tiers added to the number of Bpis- copalians in the village. The Pres byterians settled near Richmond and built themselves a brick church. the brick for which were burned from the clay deposits on the local hill- sides The Baptists built a log house near the present site. It was while F. Beekmap Lee, a young theological student from the school in New York was home on visit to his mother, who, with her sister and their formation of an Episcopal parish took place in 1887.
 Realizing his sterling worth, the neighborhood banded together and promised him that if he would como to them, that they would build him church. He consentel and the parish was organized more com pletely and placed under his care as 8 deacon In charge. Before the building was gotten under way the members of the Baptist communion offered their church building for ths use of the members of the Episcopal parish, and thus was formed CO., operation between the followers of the three faiths that has followed the history of the parish.
 The building of the church for St. Paul's parish was completed in 1Ss3 Three years later the church build ing. being free from all encum- brances, was consecrated by the late Bishop Cobb. Since that time there has never been any debt on the church building.
 SHsAsU Nc8ulWf
 This parish was one of the five original parishes in the state en- tirely self supporting. Since the time the first minister was called and he commenced preaching in the parish the only Sundays that morn ing prayer has not been read to the congregation were those when by mutual consent the congregation at- tended another church service in the community where . union service was held of all faiths.
 Holds Record
 Carlowvflle holds what A eous1d- cred . record that cannot be eQualed anywhere in the United States. that being that she has had but three ministers since the organization of the parish, and has only been with out minister for . period of less than two years. but during which time lay services were held.
 Lee Ordained
 Rev. Lee came to CariowviJle as a deacon and was ordained to the priesthood several years afterward at Savannah. He was the pastor for a period of 57 years, he having spent his entire ministry among the peo- pie of this community It is said of him that though an Episcopal rector. yet he was truly the shepherd of the entire countryside, rich. poor. white or black. all denominations calling on him to bury their dead and per form their marriage ceremonies.
 CasselI Next
 His successor. the Rev. Cassell. fol- lowing the example of his predeces- sor. came here a deacon and was or dained to the priesthood after he took charge, thatsceremony having taken place at Carlowville. He, too. was the pastor of the entire countryside. After serving the parish for 23 years he died without having broken the record established py Rev. Lee. The dearth of ministers prevented Car lowville from obtaining a minister for the next few years. and 1t was this dearth that caused her to ac- cept an experiment new to the es- tablished custom in the Episcopal church, that being to accept . man whom the bishop selected and place him in charge of tho parish and al- low him to complete his studies while carrying on the work of the parish. Only recently this candidate was or- dained to the saconate.
 With . membership of less than iB kfA rHo rfnI han rani0fafsaaS {Haaa& ~~<A