Christ and St. Luke’s Episcopal Church

Over 100 years old, Christ and St. Luke’s Early English Perpendicular Gothic style church has rightfully earned its place on the National Historic Register. In addition to parishioners, Christ and St. Luke’s welcomes thousands of visitors from far and wide to experience the power of music provided by its fifty-voice adult choir, choral scholars, youth choristers, and visiting artists. The congregation lives into its commitment to their community and determination to be a welcoming place for everyone through their mission of hospitality. Welcoming the homeless and working poor, who are fed and housed in the parish, as well as the Ghent Business Association and other groups, completes the picture of a modern community cathedral.

the challenge

After more than 100 years of use, the Church and original Parish House needed comprehensive repairs. Temporary fixes in response to flooding, a deteriorating organ, leaking roofs, and mechanical system failures did not provide viable long-term solutions, while the spaces remained ill equipped to provide accessibility. The needed repairs were essential not only to preserving the buildings’ rich history, but also to ensure the promise of a spiritual home for future generations.

the solution

To address their challenges, Christ and St. Luke’s developed the “Master Plan for the Preservation and Stewardship of our Historic Buildings”. This plan was built upon the consensus of the congregation, expressed in numerous parish meetings over the course of three years. Christ and St. Luke’s took the next step by engaging CCS to conduct a feasibility study. The results reaffirmed Christ and St. Luke’s thoughtful planning process with overwhelming positive support for an historic capital campaign to secure at least $2,500,000 to address their most urgent needs. The campaign focused on: repairing and refurbishing the organ; preserving and enhancing the interior of the church; and providing an elevator and more accessible bathrooms.

CCS gave me the confidence to make gift requests and now I can do it with absolutely no anxiety. This experience has transformed how our parish approaches fundraising.

The Rev. Canon Win Lewis, Rector

the impact

The Christ and St. Luke’s community came together to secure more than $3,800,000 from over 150 parishioners and friends, including a $1,000,000 challenge grant from a local philanthropist. Nearly 40 volunteers were engaged during the campaign to seek support from their fellow parishioners. Construction began in Spring 2017, and the Steering Committee continues to meet and provide updates each month on their progress.