Church of the Epiphany

Did you ever hear of a church named after a suggestion and a direction? Right here, in front of the Church of the Epiphany, that’s exactly what happened. The Church of the Epiphany traces its roots back to 1894 in Inman Park. A group of Atlantans began holding informal gatherings. By 1898, these gatherings evolved into lay services and Sunday school classes. They grew enough to earn mission status. Bishop C. K. Nelson suggested the name “Epiphany”. It was the name of his first parish. The mission was also in the easternmost suburb of Atlanta. The Magi, as the story goes, came from the East. The church’s five-pointed star logo unintentionally echoes its original neighborhood, Little Five Points. The cornerstone, made of Stone Mountain granite, was laid in March 1898. The first service was held in May. In December 1908, the Church of the Epiphany officially became a parish within the Diocese of Atlanta. They called their first rector, Reverend Russell K. Smith. Outgrowing its original building, the Church of the Epiphany moved to Seminole Avenue in 1922. The congregation thrived, reaching 667 members in just seventeen years. After World War II, demographics shifted. By 1953, membership dwindled to 165. The Rev. Dr. Norman Gore became the sixth rector. He led the move to the current location on Ponce de Leon Avenue in 1956. Purchased from Emory University, the new chapel held its first services in October 1957. The church expanded in 1961 and again in 1963, adding a parish hall and offices. The area continued to change. The Church of the Epiphany continued to grow and renew. Under the leadership of Rev. Stanley McGraw (1971-1979) and Rev. Benjamin Turnage (1980-1984), membership climbed. Women took on leadership roles. Betty Walton became the first female senior warden in 1973. By 1984, the church had around 300 members. In 1985, the Rev. E. Claiborne Jones became the first woman rector of an Episcopal church in Georgia. Major renovations followed in 1988-1989, expanding the nave and narthex. A memorial garden was added. Another expansion took place in 2003-2004. It addressed growing membership and activities. The parish hall was expanded. Classrooms were added. The first services in the new building were held on Palm Sunday 2004. Membership was 718. The Church of the Epiphany even purchased adjoining property, planning for future growth. Under the Rev. Benno Pattison (2006-2019), ministries and programs expanded. Staff grew. The Rev. Amy Dills-Wright became Priest-in-Charge in 2019, leading the church through a time of transition and the pandemic. In 2022, she became the next Rector. In 2023, Bishop Rob Wright installed Rev. Dills-Wright as the eleventh Rector of the Church of the Epiphany. As of July 2023, the Church of the Epiphany boasts a thriving community of 1,067 members. It stands as a testament to its enduring spirit and adaptability.