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2022 SESSION

22106171D
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 325
Offered March 2, 2022
Commending St. John's Episcopal Church.
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Patrons-- Rasoul, Head and Wiley; Senators: Edwards, Peake and Suetterlein
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WHEREAS, St. John’s Episcopal Church, a historic church in Roanoke, has served the community by providing spiritual leadership, generous outreach programs, and opportunities for joyful worship for more than 130 years; and

WHEREAS, St. John’s Episcopal Church traces its roots as far back as the 1830s to church communities that served what was the Big Lick; and

WHEREAS, after the establishment of Roanoke and the arrival of new railway lines, the area experienced a significant population growth and members of St. John’s Episcopal Church erected a new six-hundred-seat church at the corner of Jefferson Street and Elm Avenue; and

WHEREAS, St. John’s Episcopal Church flourished over the years and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991; and

WHEREAS, in 2009, St. John’s Episcopal Church underwent an extensive restoration to better serve the current congregation and ensure that future members have the same opportunities to grow in faith; and

WHEREAS, with more than 1,600 members and an average Sunday attendance of 500 people, St. John’s Episcopal Church in the largest parish in the Episcopal Diocese of Southwestern Virginia; and

WHEREAS, St. John’s Episcopal Church offers renowned music programs, education, and other ministries to benefit the congregation and conducts outreach work in the local community, as well as missionary work in places as far away as Ghana; and

WHEREAS, St. John’s Episcopal Church has been guided by numerous wise leaders over the course of its history, with the current rector, the Reverend Eric C. Long, joining the parish in 2014; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend St. John’s Episcopal Church on the occasion of the 130th anniversary of the construction of its current building; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to St. John’s Episcopal Church as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for the church’s long history and legacy of contributions to the Roanoke community.