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Grace-Calvary Church
In 1971, the combined congregations of Grace Church and Calvary Church were still undersized. For a few years, services were held for the six winter months at Calvary and the six summer months at Grace. In 1972, the two mission churches combined and the next year petitioned for parish status. On December 23, 1973, Grace-Calvary Episcopal Church became a full parish. After much consideration and prayer, the Cornelia church building was sold two years later. The congregation then undertook to completely restore the historic building. From August, 1974 to February, 1975, the work continued. For most of this time the whole structure hung suspended in the air on steel girders over the foundation. Great care was taken to preserve the original appearance of the building and its interior. One change came with the addition of a cornerstone, inscribed JESUS CHRIST. In 1977, an addition to the parish house provided classrooms and a nursery. The Reverend St. Julian Lachicotte was instrumental in acquiring additional property adjacent to the sanctuary for a church office and a choir room. After his sudden death in 1990, the former parish house was named St. Julian Hall. In 1992, more additions were made to this building. 
During Fr. Julian’s time, with a growing congregation, there was an increased interest in outreach. Grace Calvary was one of the founding churches of the Ecumenical Sharing and Caring Ministry serving the needs of the less fortunate and an early supporter of Habitat for Humanity. Grace Calvary also began sponsoring missionaries abroad and church missions in the diocese. The one in Blairsville became St. Clare’s in 1990, and another in White County became the Church of the Resurrection in 1993. Since 1985 there has been an active chapter of The Daughters of the King and a midweek Communion and Healing Service. The chapter was named in honor of Alice Driver, a guiding force during restoration of the church. During the ministry of Rev. Barbara Brown Taylor, acclaimed for her preaching ability, the congregation continued to grow. Improvements were made on the parish house. At The Holy Cross Cemetery the grounds were enclosed by a stone wall with an iron gate. A walled ash garden and stone meditation area were also built. Every year on All Saints Day a service is held at the cemetery and flowers are place on the graves. |