By Morgan Sangster
Coming up on a major milestone, The Church of Our Saviour is celebrating 100 years on July 30, 2024!
Founded in 1924 to offer local residents traditional Episcopal worship, the church now upholds its cherished traditions while embracing new life and energy in its new century, welcoming people from all over Atlanta. The sanctuary was first constructed in the 1920s as a wooden structure and later bricked over in the 1950s and grown into a collection of many offices and meeting rooms.
The Church of Our Saviour has grown vastly over the years both physically and socially. While expanding for its increasing congregation, the Church of Our Saviour also broadened its beliefs on traditional social issues. For many years, the leadership held traditional views on marriage, sexuality, and male-only ordination, but in more recent years, the congregation has worked to foster a diverse and inclusive community. The Church has married its traditional form of worship with a more inclusive perspective.
A pivotal moment in the church’s history was the decision to call a woman to serve as its priest and rector. Mother Melanie, says, "We were very against women priests and LGBTQ clergy before. This has really changed in the last 5 or 10 years.” The church is even planning to show "The Philadelphia 11," a film about the first women priests in the Episcopal Church with the goal to show the church's move to more inclusiveness and equality.
Looking ahead, the Church of Our Saviour is continuing to move towards growth and outreach within the intown Atlanta neighborhood of Virginia Highland. More young people are joining and millennials are looking for traditional worship again. “People are looking for something that's not what everybody else is offering. And that's what we offer,” adds Melanie.
As the Church of Our Saviour starts a new century, it shows how faith and tradition last. The church looks to the future and keeps its goal- a place where everyone is welcomed.
Location: 1068 North Highland Ave NE
Sundays in the Church:
10 am Holy Mass
Weekdays in the Lady Chapel:
Mon-Thu: 9 am Morning Prayer/Angelus
Tue: 11:30 am Holy Rosary and 12:10 pm Holy Mass
Wed: 5:30 pm Mass with Unction and Prayers for Healing
Thurs: 5:45 pm Confession and 7 pm Holy Mass
