Who We Are
Our Beliefs, Values and History
Calvary is a community of faith believers endeavoring to know Christ and make Him known. We cherish our rich history, traditional form of worship, and dedicated church family. We strive to continually grow in the faith we profess.
Calvary follows the rich traditions of Liturgical Worship that have been a hallmark of the Episcopal Church for many years. The celebration of Holy Eucharist is our primary Sunday morning service. A small but faithful group of people gather on Wednesdays as well for Noonday Prayer.
We lean heavily on the Book of Common Prayer and the Episcopal Hymnal for our services. Our choir is small but faithful, and we have several musicians in the congregation who lend their talents at special services. At appropriate times throughout the year, special music and elements are added to enrich our worship. The celebration of Holy Eucharist is our primary Sunday morning in one service.
Calvary would be labeled by most as “mid-church”. While we love and appreciate the traditional stylings of formal worship, we remain flexible where needed.
Calvary’s core values include:
- Purposeful community outreach
- Inclusiveness to all
- Uniqueness of each member
- Spirit of family
- Pastoral care
- History and tradition
- Ordered dignity of liturgy
- Intellectual spirituality
Our Rich History
The 1880’s provided much excitement for the Episcopal church in Ashland. Although the bishop of Kentucky held a service in Ashland in 1885, it was two years later, in 1887, that a formal Episcopal mission was established, with services held in the minister’s home at 16th and Winchester. A year later, the cornerstone was laid for a house of worship for Calvary Church at 14th Street and Winchester Avenue, the present location. On Easter Sunday in 1889, more than 300 worshippers gathered for the first service in the new building.
Today Calvary members celebrate their roots, continue their ministries, and grow in their commitment to know Jesus and bring others to know Him as Lord and Savior. Many celebrations in the parish and in the community marked Calvary’s first one hundred years of witness in 1979.
In the years since its founding, Calvary has seen good times and bad. A fire in 1898 destroyed the church, and fires in 1978 and 1982 devastated other facilities. Through these three fires, twenty plus priests, through a dozen bishops, and through changes in our town and our times, Calvary’s spirit remains strong with and undeterred sense of mission to know Christ and make Him known. Calvary’s past has strengthened her present and provides a strong witness for her future.
