Evening star., 1942-01-03
tooth Anniversary
Will Be Observed
By Epiphany Church
Special Program
Is Announced for
Tuesdays Services

The Tooth anniversary Of the
founding of the Church of the
Epiphany at 1917 G street NV. will
be observed on Tuesday, the Feast
Of the Epiphany.
The services for the day will be
the celebration of holy communion
at 7:30 and II am. The Right Rev.
James E. Freeman, Bishop of Wash
ington and former rector of the
church, will preach the sermon at
II o'clock. The choir, under direc-
ton of Adolf Torovsky, organist and
choir master, will render a special
musical program. A reception and
supper is planned at 7:30 pm. in the
parish hall. Reservations must be
made at the church Office by Mon
day.
The parish had its inception in
184l with prayer meetings in the
home Of Mrs. James, near Four
teenth and G streets NV. On jan
uary of that year, the Feast of
the Epiphany, the parish was named
the Church of the Epiphany.
SERVICES nelO III HAL.
A group Of 80 worshipers rented
Appollo Hall on E street near Thir-
teenth street NV. On weekdays
the hall was used for theatricals
and other entertainment. with the
stage props" being covered with
canvas for the church services on
Sunday.
The present building construction
was begun in August, 1843 and was
completed in the summer of 1874
The first services were held in the
new edifice on July IA, 1874. with
Bishop Whittingham preaching the
sermon. He was in charge of the
affairs of the Washington jurisdic-
ton of the Episcopal church.
The first rector was the Rev. John
w. French, who in 184l served as
congressional chaplain and Episco-
pal city missionary. He resigned
from the rectorship in 1856, having
been appointed chaplain at West
Point.
Bishop Freeman served as rector
from 1922 to 1924 and he and Mrs.
Freeman still retain their member
ship The Very Rev. Ze Barney
T. Phillips, now dean of Washington
Cathedral and chaplain of the
United States Senate, became rector
in 1924. He has been succeeded by
the Rev. DR.. Charles Sheerin, who
will assume his duties on February l.
Bishop Writes of Church.
Bishop Freeman writing in the
Washington diocesan monthly mag
azine said in part:
What this great parish in the
heart of the city has been to the
life of the diocese at large would
be difficult to state From its in
ception down to this latest hour
it has been a bulwark of strength,
not only to the great congregation
it has served, but to the diocese
generally.
it place of high distinction among
the notable parishes of the country.
Epiphany has never been parochial-
| minded. While it has served great
bodies of men and women it has
manifested its broad interest by
giving to the cause of missions the
largest amounts of any parish in the
diocese.
Its rectors have shared in all the
concern and activities of the church
here, from its first rector, DR..
French. through its present retir-
ing and honored rector, DR.. Phil
lips. 1t has occupied a large place
in the administration of the general
church. DR.. Phillips served through
five general conventions as presi-
dent of the House Of Clerical and
Lay Deputies, and at the same time
as chaplain of the United States
Senate. His spirit is finely illus
trative of what has always been
the spirit of this great parish"