Ascension Church, as with many things that have survived over a century and a half, has had quite a history.
Some of that history will be spotlighted on May 22, after a special worship service with our newly elected bishop. The service begins at 11 A.M. A reception will be held starting at noon after that service. Ascension Episcopal Church is located at 5th and Temple Street. Everyone is welcome.
The newly elected eighth bishop of the West Virginia Episcopal Church will lead that service on Sunday, May 22. Bishop Matthew Cowden has family roots in West Virginia, and he grew up in northern Virginia.
He served as a college theater professor before he was ordained after completing his Master of Divinity at Virginia Theological Seminary. He comes here from South Bend, Indiana after being consecrated by the Most Rev. Michael Curry in March.
He will be visiting Hinton to lead the worship at Ascension and begin to get to know the community.
Ascension church’s first service was in 1874, two years after Summers County was established as the county seat, and before the city of Hinton was incorporated. A building was completed in 1881, at the corner of Temple and Third.
However, that church was destroyed only 16 years later, by a rare cyclone in 1897. A picture of the church after the cyclone, which tore off the roof and walls is available at https://wvhistoryonview.org/image/014576.jpg
A new wooden building was completed the next year, featuring the huge wooden arches and stained glass windows that are still present. Later, the building was physically moved two blocks down the street to its current location.
Other events have punctuated our history, with the most recent being the tearing down of the rectory behind the church to build a green space for community use. Come and see us on Sunday!
