Our Beginning and Early Years
Saint Alban's Parish is part of The Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina and was founded in 1973 as a mission of the Church of the Ascension in Hickory to commemorate that parish's 100th anniversary. Bishop Weinhauer preached his first sermon as the new bishop coadjutor at the commissioning service.
St. Alban's was declared an organized mission of the diocese by Bishop Henry on September 9, 1973. The Reverend Randy Ferebee, founding Priest in Charge of St. Alban's, led the parish through 36 years of spiritual and physical growth until his retirement in 2009.
The Significance of The Barn
In December 1973, Saint Alban's purchased a six-acre tract of land just off Highway 127. With the land came an old dairy barn. The first parishioners enthusiastically embraced the barn and envisioned it as a house of prayer.
In early 1974, several work parties formed and began clearing the land around the barn. That April, the mission church held its first Easter service outdoors behind the barn. By the winter of 1974, forty families celebrated their first Christmas service inside the barn. Throughout the years, families worshiped together in the barn and St. Alban's grew to become the vibrant, loving, and caring parish it is today.
Growth Through The Years
St. Alban's parish has experienced growth — not only in members and physical space, but most importantly in ministry opportunities. We actively participate in community soup kitchens in Hickory and Newton, sponsor a Red Cross Blood Drive each year, donate food and backpacks in the community, and helped organize a medical clinic now named The John Earl Medical Ministry in honor of our long-time Deacon and Hickory Physician, Dr. John Earl.
Following Fr. Randy's retirement, St. Alban's was blessed with Fr. Bill Livingston as interim Priest in Charge. In Spring 2011, Fr. Tryggvi Àrnason celebrated his first worship at St. Alban's. In November 2023, St. Alban's welcomed Reverend Anne Bridgers as interim while discernment for a new Priest in Charge began.
St. Alban's Today
April of 2025 brought us great joy as we welcomed The Rev. Jonathan Stepp as our new Priest in Charge to lead us into the future!
We continue to be a thriving parish constantly searching for ways to serve our community, the world, and God!
"We are a community of companions on the pilgrimage of faith."
We invite you to share that journey with us.