History and Culture

On July 25, 1943, Christ Church Mission, Charlotte, was formally recognized by the Diocese of NorthCarolina. The impetus for its founding had come from the restrictions on travel imposed by the gas rationing of World War II, plus the realization that the Myers Park / Eastover area would soon be able to support a neighborhood church. The mission grew rapidly and was accepted as a parish at the next Diocesan Convention. The land on which the church now stands was acquired, but soaring construction costs and scarcity of many materials made the building of a permanent structure prohibitive. Instead, a quonset hut was erected, largely through the labor of the congregation, on a portion of the land. It served both as a church and parish house for several years. The quonset hut was used in various capacities until it was destroyed by fire in 1969.

On December 1, 1951, the cornerstone for the present church and parish hall was laid. Since its completion in 1952, several additions have been made to the parish hall. Additional Sunday School classrooms were built in 1963, and in 1978 All Saints' Hall was added to the existing structure. In 1991, the Jubilee Fund was established in order to assist in the building of additional space for educational classes, clergy and staff offices, and rooms for our choir and youth programs. In 1980, a Gabriel Kney twenty-six stop organ was installed in the balcony of the Nave.

During the past fifty years, the programs of Christ Church have been enlarged and altered to meet more adequately the needs of an ever growing congregation, which is now the largest in the Diocese. The city of Charlotte has also undergone great change. Christ Church has been challenged to respond creatively to the problems of suburban growth, of inner city decay, of economic inequity, and of a still segregated society. Two areas of ministry were initiated to assist in facing these challenges.

Mission: A new mission located south of Christ Church, now Saint John's Parish, was organized in 1956. In 1965, Operation Partnership, a concerted effort to become more involved with residents of the inner city, was begun. This project later became an ecumenical endeavor in association with other Myers Park churches. In 1990, Christ Church assisted in the development of two mission congregations, Saint Clare's, Mint Hill and Saint Catherine's, Harrisburg. In 1991, the parish began its support of a new mission in the Lake Norman area, Saint Patrick's, Mooresville. In 2000, the parish began support of another new mission, Church of the Beloved, Charlotte.

Outreach: This ministry has been a significant part of life at Christ Church. "Mathew 25," a three year program to respond to the needs of the hungry throughout the world, was launched in 1974 and exceeded its goal of $250,000. "The Saint Francis Fund" was a ten year, million dollar campaign to combat poverty in all forms. This fund reachd its goal in 1992. In celebration of the church's fiftieth year, a new and ambitious outreach ministry was created. "Seeds of Hope" is a five year effort to involve everyone in the parish in reaching out in love, compassion, and caring. The two million dollar goal is only one part of "Seeds of Hope." Fifty percent of the money raised will be used in ministry in the Hope Triangle, an area of tremendous need located in northeast Charlotte. Forty percent of the money will be used for new outreach initiatives in Charlotte. The final ten percent will go to the Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief so that the primary giving at home is at least partially balanced by donations nationally and internationally.

Christ Church has been blessed with strong, visionary leadership and a committed congregation since its inception. The parish stands ready today to meet the challenges of the coming years with the same dedication, creative planning, and Christian concern with which it was begun.

Rectors:
The Rev. M. George Henry 1943-1948
The Rev. Henry H. Rightor Jr. 1949-1956
The Rev. Thom W. Blair 1957-1969
The Rev. Harcourt Waller Jr. 1969-1972
The Rev. Frank H. Vest Jr. 1973-1985
The Rev. Henry Nutt Parsley Jr. 1986-1996
The Rev. Philip J. Tierney 1998-2004
The Rev. Chip Edens 2006-present