Church of the
Resurrection

This page was last updated on: April 21, 2007

Parish History:
          Our parish began as a mission of the Episcopal Diocese of New York in 1886.  The early church was on Church Street in Hopewell (in what is now Frankie's Superette).  During the Depression it wasn't unusual for worshippers to bring a piece of coal to church on Sunday morningin order to have heat during the service!

          Father Samuel Bird had the vision to anticipate the growth that IBM would bring to this area.  In the 1950s, fundraising for a larger church was begun in earnest with a variety of events including sales of Lenten clam chowder and Election Day turkey dinners.

          Ground-breaking for southern Dutchess's newest Episcopal church with its unique modern architecture took place in 1963 and the congregation moved to its present location in 1964.

          In 1974 the Church of the Resurrection was incorporated as a parish with Father Bruce Bowes as the first rector.  A choir loft was built in 1981 to accommodate the Jardine tracker pipe organ acquired from St. Mary's Convent in Peekskill.  The columbarium and cemetery were added in 1987.

          Visitors may notice in our worship area the Mary statue near the font, modeled after the Anglican shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham, and the icons around our communion rail, representing the company of saints.

          Father Victor Austin was called to the parish in 1989.  Our congregation is increasing in numbers while we are also growing in faith.  Most parishioners are involved in at least one of the many church organizations.  Outreach is important to us and we tithe 10% of our annual budget to help the needy and to spread the good news of God in Christ.

          In the spring of 1995, with great excitement and faith, our congregation embarked upon a successful capital fund campaign to raise money for a unique set of 12 stained glass "Resurrection Windows" installed to the right of our altar by the end of the same year.

          The outdoor St. Joseph altar and shrine, with its statue of St. Joseph holding the Christ Child, was constructed in 2002 using generous memorial gifts. We used it twice last year for the Sunday 9:30 service - in September for the beginning of church school and in June to coincide with Father's Day.

          In 2003, Father Austin left us to pursue a teaching ministry.  We were fortunate to have Fr. Matthew Weiler as our interim priest while the parish went through the search process for a new rector.

          We  welcomed Roger and Elizabeth Weber as the rectors of Resurrection in Advent of 2004.  The Webers accepted a call to New Mexico in May, 2006,  leaving Resurrection to search for a new rector. 

Father Domingo Shriver became our current rector in February of  2007.
Since 03-17-2000