More than 100 people, including the Right Rev. Dr. Dorothy Sanders Wells, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi, two visitors from Virginia and others from near and far, celebrated Easter at Christ Episcopal Church, Church Hill, Miss., on April 20.

The afternoon began with a free concert of Easter-related classical music by five professional musicians. It concluded with an Easter eucharistic worship service led by the Rev. Samuel B. Godfrey.

Called “Resurrection Sunday: A Celebration of Eternal Life,” the events gave thanks for the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the tomb and for the recent multi-year resurrection/restoration of the 1858 Christ Church building.

“The concert was top-notch in every way,” said John Norris, Junior Warden at Christ Church. “And the worship service, with more Easter-related music provided by Dr. Byron Johnson and Dr. Patrick Doherty, was very beautiful and meaningful.”

“I’m glad it worked out for me to be with you all,” said Bishop Wells. “I’m so grateful for the faithful restoration of Christ Church and the dedication of the communicants. I look forward to seeing how Christ Church’s ministry continues to unfold.”

Echoing Bishop Wells’ compliments of the church’s restoration were church leaders David Paradise and Betty Guedon Paradise, whose Guedon family roots are deep in the church’s history.

“The church is a major example of the renewed vitality of Church Hill,” David Paradise said. “The restoration has exceeded our fondest hopes.”

Davidson Perry-Miller and John M. Nelson, II, of Staunton, Virginia, were also highly complimentary of the church’s restoration. A lover of history, Perry-Miller recently restored Waverley Hill mansion in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

“John and I were driving from Arizona back home to Virginia and decided to stay overnight in Natchez,” Perry-Miller said.
“We saw publicity about the Christ Church concert and the church’s restoration and decided to spend two extra nights in Natchez so we could visit the church on Easter Day.

“We are so very glad we did,” he said. “We’ll definitely be back.”

Also pleased with the Easter events was Fr. Sam Godfrey. “In worship and music with our Bishop, we celebrated Easter and our risen Lord. And we celebrated the renewal of Christ Church, preserved to worship God now and in the future.

“It is a place of worship for all people,” he said. “Everyone is invited. Services are at 2 p.m. on second and fourth Sundays.”