Written by Sarah Louise Woodford, Canon for Communications & Media
On June 7, 2024, the rich, dark wood sanctuary of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in New Haven, CT, was dimly lit and in each of its vibrant stained-glass windows, there was a candle, neatly placed upon the windowsill. The candles were glowing reminders of those parishioners who had been a part of the church’s nearly two centuries of ministry and the Candlelight Vigil was both a powerful symbol of their memory and a poignant way to mark the church’s year-long celebration of 180 years of ministry.
Those present stood and collectively said the following collect: “We gather at this 180th Anniversary Celebration to honor those on whose shoulders we stand—those who have paved the way; those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom and existence…May we always remember our ancestors with reverence and love as we give thanks for all they have taught us and all they have done to open these doors for us. May they continue to share with us their great wisdom and strength as we seek to preserve and continue the heritage they have left us.”
From St. Luke’s Candlelight Vigil.
There truly is a rich heritage St. Luke’s seeks to preserve and continue. The church, located at 111 Whaley Avenue, began its ministry in New Haven, CT, on June 7, 1844, through the African American parishioners of Trinity on the Green. It is the third oldest Episcopal Church in the country with a predominately African American congregation. Many from the Caribbean have found their parish home here and its award-winning Steel Band often plays both locally and nationally. Its parishioners have included founding member Alexander DuBois, grandfather of W.E.B. DuBois; Bishop James T. Holly, the church’s second rector who later became the first Episcopal Bishop of Haiti; and Constance Baker Motley, an important figure in the Civil Rights movement who worked closely with the NAACP’s Legal Defense Fund and Thurgood Marshall. She would go on to be the first African American woman to sit on the Federal bench of New York’s U.S. District Court. Constance Baker Motley is also the great aunt of 180th Anniversary Executive Board member, Michelle Royster-Clark and the cousin of another executive board member, Morgan Esdaile. St. Luke’s is ready to celebrate her and many more parishioners and memories throughout the year.
The year’s theme is taken from Romans 12:12: “Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer.” A Bible verse given to those planning the anniversary events by a parishioner. Events for the anniversary began in April with Friends and Family Sunday. Following June’s Candlelight Vigil, there were events over the summer, including a picnic in July. St. Luke’s celebrated its third annual Community Day on August 24, with its main focus on the 180th Anniversary. Run by the church’s Hospitality Chair Donna Johnson and a team of faithful parishioners, the day was full of bookbag giveaways, food, and face painting and games for children. Twenty local vendors participated in the event.
From St. Luke’s summer picnic.
The bulk of events are yet to come and will be celebrated starting this fall, beginning with a series of Spirit Sundays, which will start with Homecoming Sunday on September 8, 2024. Parishioners are encouraged to wear something that connects with the theme of the day and participate in an activity after church. Some of the themes of the Spirit Sundays include Homecoming Sunday, when folks are asked to wear St. Luke’s colors (red, black, or gold); and Legacy Sunday on February 9, 2025, where folks are asked to wear their 180th Anniversary t-shirts with church-related table games following the service. A concert showcasing St. Luke’s Steel band is also being planned for the fall. All of this will culminate with a picnic and a gala next summer.
These events come from the imagination and planning of the 180th Anniversary Executive Board, co-chaired by Jocelyn Freeman and Danisha Collins. I was able to speak to a few members of the executive board over Zoom earlier this August, including sisters Danisha Collins and Vickie Daniel, Michelle Royster-Clark, and Morgan Esdaile. During our hour-long conversation, the executive board members spoke fondly about St. Luke’s and how being part of the executive board allowed them to give back to, and celebrate, the heritage of a church family that helped them not only grow as women of faith, but also as leaders in the church. “St. Luke’s made me who I am,” said Co-Chair Danisha Collins, “I got my first taste of leadership as a girl when I was asked to read the lessons during the service.” Her sister Vickie chimed in, “St. Luke’s is the place that got me my first summer job. When I needed community service hours for my college application, I was able to do it through St. Luke’s.” The group also spoke about how much they enjoyed being acolytes and participating in the church’s liturgical dance program.
Other members of the 180th Anniversary Executive Board noted that through their planning, they came across a few surprises from the stories older members of the congregation told them as they planned events for the year. “We once had a basketball team!” they said with a lot of laughter. All of them also participated in a church-wide fashion show as children, a memory they had forgotten. “I wanted to bring the fashion show back,” said Morgan. On the Spirit Sunday entitled “Denim Sunday” (April 6, 2025), there will be a fashion show after the service. There are also plans to include a fashion show in the gala.
Michelle also spoke about how anniversary planning reminded her of the programs at St. Luke’s that were impactful to her—like the Girls’ Friendly Society, a worldwide Anglican organization for girls. Girls’ Friendly began a chapter at St. Luke’s early in the 20th Century. “I was deeply influenced by the Girls’ Friendly,” she said, “and I want my daughters to have a chance to be part of it, too.” Michelle hopes that after this year, she will be able to continue St. Luke’s involvement in Girls’ Friendly for not only her three girls, but for other young women at the church.
We ended our conversation with talk of the gala, coming the summer of 2025. The gala, whose theme is “Rejoice in Hope” is open to all in ECCT and will be an evening full of celebration and fun. The executive board is working on a fashion show as well as awards that will be named in honor of St. Luke’s parishioners who have died.
“It’s time for us to take stock of what we’ve done and celebrate St. Luke’s,” said Danisha. “It’s time for us to put the joy at the forefront.”
A note on the 180th T-Shirt Design: The t-shirts, which are being sold to support the gala, were designed by St. Luke’s 180th Anniversary Executive Board. The color scheme, which is of the pan-African flag, speaks to St. Luke’s African American and Caribbean heritage as the pan-African flag represents the diaspora as a whole. St. Luke’s official colors, gold and red, are also part of the color scheme. A glowing Episcopal shield is also present, representing the church’s traditional ties to the denomination’s ministry. The back of the shirt includes the year’s theme from Romans 12:12.
Please follow St. Luke’s on their Facebook Page for updates throughout the year.