Recap: A Bicentennial Celebration

By Diocesan House

Carolina-blue skies, warm sunshine, gentle breezes and a beautiful church in a historic North Carolina town provided a perfect backdrop for the celebration of 200 years of The Episcopal Church in North Carolina.

What a celebration it was! For almost two full days, guests were treated to history, fellowship, worship, laughter and the sharing of memories as bishops, clergy and lay folk from the Dioceses of Western, North and East Carolina came together as one.

Visit the Bicentennial Weekend Photo Album


At the center of it was Christ Church, New Bern, a church whose foundations predate even the Diocese. A beautiful structure with a rich history, it was in the parish hall that a standing-room-only crowd learned how many churches in the state of North Carolina can make a similar claim. The Rev. Dr. Brooks Graebner, diocesan historiographer, and Terry Byrd Eason, noted liturgical design consultant and designer for new and restored churches, presented “Neat Edifices, Good Taste & Exemplary Zeal: Building Episcopal Churches in North Carolina,” a detailed and intricate look at the evolution of church architecture throughout the years and how specific details connect us, regardless of location.

Following the presentation, those gathered moved outdoors for evening prayer in an idyllic setting. Christ Church’s outdoor chapel is located on the church’s original footprint, where the first (of the church’s three) structure stood after completion in 1750. The Rt. Rev. Robert Skirving, bishop diocesan of the Diocese of East Carolina, welcomed the crowd with celebrant the Rev. Paul Canady, rector of Christ Church, and spoke of the beauty and diversity that can be found in the three dioceses within North Carolina, yet for all those differences, we share a unity of spirit and a bond of peace.

The evening concluded with an outdoor reception on Christ Church’s grounds under the towering trees draped in Spanish moss.

Saturday dawned bright and clear, and early risers were treated to a walking tour of historic New Bern. The second oldest town in North Carolina, the beautiful riverfront community can rightfully boast of many North Carolina “firsts,” such as the fact it was the first state capital, and the little-known-nugget that it is the home of Pepsi (which was invented there in 1898).

By late morning, all had gathered for the celebration centerpiece – a bicentennial Eucharist at Christ Church. Six bishops and one bishop-elect led the service that included participants from all three dioceses, and the Most Rev. Michael Curry, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church was welcomed home to preach. He returned in fine style with a sermon that – as always – had every person listening laughing, nodding, inspired and feeling spiritually lifted. The choir lifted hearts and spirits even higher as the congregation joined in or simply listened during communion. There was an absolute feeling of connection during the service – between those in attendance, between the diocese, and even between Episcopalians not there, as disciples as far away as Boston and Canada watched as the service was shared via Facebook Live. We were connected to each other in the present, to those who came before us in the past, and those connections will no doubt continue as we move forward together into the future.

With that feeling of fellowship going strong, it was celebrated after the service with a reception in Harrison Center, where history exhibits provided a bicentennial background to the conversation and laughter.

As the day started with the history of New Bern, so it concluded with a private tour of one of its landmarks: Tryon Palace, the first governor’s mansion in North Carolina.

For those able to stay, Sunday morning concluded the weekend celebrations with open doors to several Holy Eucharist services, including Christ Church and St. Cyprian’s, a historic African-American congregation that dates from 1866.

Two hundred years in the making, almost a half-decade in the planning, the bicentennial celebration weekend flew by as only celebrations filled with laughter, wonder, friendship, unity and connection can. May the history learned and the relationships shared serve to continue the Episcopal Church’s legacy in North Carolina for the next two hundred years.