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Parish History |
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In the early 1960's, the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Lexington, The Right Reverend William R. Moody, decided to encircle Lexington with four guardian angel parishes, and in April 1962 he announced that a new mission named for St. Raphael would be established in the southwest quadrant of Lexington. The first worship service was held on May 6, 1962, and the following year Dr. Willard A. Page was assigned as Deacon-in-Charge. By May 1964 St. Raphael's had become a mission and Dr. Page had been appointed its Vicar. The mission met for three years in James Lane Allen School until the present location was selected. The Ground Breaking was held June 19, 1965.
The church was designed after Bruton Parish in Williamsburg, Virginia, and
the first service was held in the new building in August 1966.
Parish status was attained in May 1971, and Dr. Page was called as its
first Rector. He served until his death in October 1975. St. Raphael’s has since been served by six Rectors: Ronald W. Summers (1976 -1984), Joe Ashby (1984 -1985), Robert D. Matheus (1987 - 1999), Joan Smith (interim 2000-2002), and Sally Boelter (2002- 2007). The Reverend John D. Dews currently serves as Interim Rector. |
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