Stras Memorial Church

St. Mary's · Christ Church · Cluster Page

213 North Central Avenue
P.O. Box 342
Tazewell, VA 24651
Hunter House 276-988-2289
Father Russ Hatfield 276-322-0487

Service Schedule for Stras Memorial 11:00 A.M. every Sunday Second and Fourth Sundays are Holy Eucharists First and Third Sundays are Morning Prayerr 2007 Vestry Bonnie Sisk - Sr. Warden Steve Lutz - Jr. Warden Ellen Berry - Treasurer Emily Edmondson Dede Hunter Cassie French, Organist

History

The Rev. Benjamin Dennis, Rector at Christ Church, Pulaski (formed 1875) was assigned in 1884 by Assistant Bishop Alfred M. Randolph as missionary to Tazewell County. He set out to establish formal congregations in both Tazewell Court House and Pocahontas.

In Tazewell, he found Mr. Stras waiting to help him lead in the effort to build an Episcopal Church. Mr. Dennis prepared 12 members for confirmation by Bishop Francis Whittle in August, 1884 in a service at the Tazewell Methodist Church. Mr. Stras did not live to see an Episcopal Church in Tazewell built, however, as he died early in 1885.

His son, Beverly W. Stras donated funds to buy the land on which a local church could be built. While its church was under construction, five more members of Stras congregation were confirmed by Bishop Randolph in an unspecified place.

Stras Memorial Church was completed in just 60 days in 1885, and first used for services in spring, 1886. It was consecrated in 1888 by Bishop Randolph in memory of the later Mrs. Joseph (Letitia Higginbotham) Stras by Bishop Randolph.

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