Wichita Falls church buildings vacant amid bishops’ feud

A church near Rider High School in southwest Wichita Falls is vacant, with its disappearance signaling the end of all buildings identified with the Wichita Falls Episcopal Church.

The benches of Saint Stephen’s Church on Lindale Drive are empty. All Saints Church on Southwest Parkway, once identified as Episcopal, has been vacant for several years. A For Sale sign is planted on its vast lot.

Vacant churches have their origins in a split within the Episcopal Church. The story of the split is complex but began simmering here in 2008. In its simplest terms, conservative congregations have split off from the Episcopal Church, which they saw as becoming too permissive on issues such as same-sex marriages, homosexual men and women ordered. as priests.

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Most dissenting congregations are now called Anglicans, a reference to the origins of the Episcopal Church in the Church of England.

Due to the hierarchical structure of the church, the buildings belong to regional dioceses and not to individual congregations. In the case of local churches, it is the Diocese of Fort Worth. The split prompted the diocese to split into two, each claiming ownership of the properties.

In April, the United States Supreme Court refused to hear a case brought by the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth, owner of Saint Stephen’s. This meant that the diocese had to comply with a lower court ruling that its physical properties were to be turned over to the Anglicans.

The court ruling has left Wichitans who are still loyal to the Episcopal Church homeless.

Congregations forced to relocate to Wichita Falls

Reverend Christoper Rodgers – his followers called him “Prof. Topher” – led his flock to Park Place Christian Church on Call Field Road, which made it possible for Episcopalians to organize services on Saturday evenings.

Rodgers said his congregation tried to make arrangements to stay in their old building.

“We did everything we could to ask if we could rent it or buy it back. We could have done it. The other side didn’t let us do it. Seems to me the Christian thing to do was do this. It didn’t have to be that way, ”he said.

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At first, it was not clear whether the lower court’s decision covered the contents as well as the building, so Rodgers’ group moved the goods to a warehouse. The judge ruled in favor of the Anglicans, so the Episcopalians had to hand over the property.

“We were essentially stripped. It’s all our clothes, all our ships, all our laundry. I make communion with the wedding porcelain from my wedding, ”Rodgers said.

The forced move took a toll on Rodgers’ congregation, which numbered around 35 per Sunday in the old building.

“This last Saturday we were about 18 years old,” he said. “To my knowledge, I am not losing anyone to another denomination. These are just people who are confused.

Looking to the future after the quarrel of the Episcopal Church

Prior to the split, Saint Stephen’s was one of the three Episcopal Churches in Wichita Falls. The future of the property, valued at around $ 750,000, is uncertain.

All Saints on Southwest Parkway, which once had a congregation of 1,000, has become an Anglican church and closed its doors several years ago. The 13,586 square foot building on over five acres of prime land is for sale for $ 1.5 million. The listing agent suggests that it would be most suitable for the development of commercial or residential land.

The Good Shepherd Church on Burnett Street in downtown Wichita Falls is the oldest, dating from 1884. It is now an Anglican church.

Rodgers puts the bricks and mortar aside and looks to the future.

“In the short term, what we do is take our bearings and then plan the game for the longer term. Are we trying to acquire a new building or are we permanently partnering with a friendly congregation? “

These questions have no answers at this time, but Rodgers said his Episcopalians were not left out.

“We’re going to have to stand up like a Phoenix,” he said.