History
“Saint Chad’s Mission was started by a congregation of sixteen people on All Saint’s Day, November 1, 1953. ”
Under the spiritual guidance of the Rev. Arthur Joy Lively. A Morning Prayer was held at the West Hillsborough Civic Center. Roz Cole, one of the founding members recalls the names of the founding members as: Stanley Cole, Bob Fussell, Pat Fussell, Burl (Denney) Bolesta, Bob Jones, Zora Jones Kelly, Marie Buchanan and her son Donnie, Malcolm and Ethel Stuart and their son Bob, Mr. & Mrs. Paul Perrine and their son Paul, Jr. It is not certain who the sixteenth person was, but it could possibly been one of the original incorporators (end notes 1). That first Morning Prayer set the cornerstone for what we now call the St. Chad’s Episcopal Church. The mission was named for Saint Chad (Cedda), a Celtic monastic who became Bishop of York in 664 A.D. and Bishop of Lichfield in 669 A.D.
The Rt. Rev. Henry L. Louttit was diocesan bishop when St. Chad’s began. On February 28, 1954 he administered the Rite of Confirmation to the first Confirmation Class. On July 1954, the commercial building at 5508 North Armenia Avenue was purchased to become St. Chad’s house of worship. A great deal of dedicated work was done by the congregation to renovate and clean the building before it could be used for religious services. The first service was held there on July 18, 1954. The place was small and temporary but it met the needs of the budding congregation. The first altar was built by Father Lively. An old reed organ that had been electrified was donated by Mr. Graham Smith. Services were held there all throughout 1955 and 1956.