About Us: A Brief History of Calvary Episcopal Church
Calvary Episcopal Church in Underhill Flats is a small parish in the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont. The Diocese of Vermont is itself a member of the national Episcopal Church, one of the constituents of the worldwide Anglican Communion.
Calvary’s story begins before our official foundation in 1843. The first historical record is of a service of baptism in 1789, led by the Reverend Reuben Garlick of Alburg who came to Underhill Flats. That early effort, however, faded out after a few years and Episcopal worship was not resumed until 1841. In that year a lay reader, Samuel Bostwick, led a new effort to establish an Episcopal Church in Underhill. The first bishop of the new Diocese of Vermont, founded only nine years earlier in 1832, encouraged him and ultimately ordained him to be a resident priest in 1842. With that the now Reverend Samuel Bostwick began the process of establishing an official Episcopal mission in Underhill by registering ‘articles of association’ with the Diocese, the necessary step for recognition under state and canon law. With their acceptance by the Diocese in 1843, Calvary Episcopal Church was ‘born’! The first act was a celebration of conformation of five members and ‘holy communion’ led by Bishop Hopkins.
Ten years later, in 1853, the small community was sufficiently established to take the bold step of purchasing land for $300 on which to build a church. That church, our church today (but without the altar space, sacristy and undercroft which were later additions), was completed in 1857. A year later the first rector was appointed, the Reverend J. Isham Bliss.Since then, Calvary’s history has been marked by some ups and downs.
From 1891 to 1928 the church was closed and fell into disrepair. The same fate befell it from 1932 to 1946. At that point, it came under the care of St. Paul’s Cathedral in Burlington and then, in 1976, it formed part of a grouping led by The Reverend Al Smith, rector of St. James’ in Essex Junction. Finally, in 1980, it had a new start as, once more, an independent parish, with The Reverend Donald Lyon as rector. Fr. Lyon left in 1984, to be replaced by The Reverend Ron Harrison who stayed seven years until 1991. Then Fr. John Keenan and Canon Stanley Irving served for two years as Bishop’s vicar until 1994.
What does all this tell us? It tells us, that after 160 years, Calvary has an established place here in Underhill with a mission and ministry validated by time. It also tells us that we are the inheritors, and current stewards, of the vision, leadership, and faith-filled work of past generations of Episcopalians to whom we owe a debt of gratitude. It was they who paid for the land, built the church, furnished it, and provided an endowment without which today’s Calvary could hardly be imagined. Our history also reminds us that we are a part of a larger whole, a global Communion, through whom we help witness to a world on every continent. Not least, our history and heritage gives us a strong and deep sense or our identity – a community of Christian faith that is open and welcoming to all.