Our History

May 10, 1908
Cloverdale Church of the Ascension is named
May 10, 1908
May 22, 1908
First Vestry Elected
May 22, 1908
November 25, 1908
Land Secured for Church site
Architect Ralph Adams Cram of Boston chosen to design Ascension
November 25, 1908
March 30, 1909
Incorporation papers are filed.
March 30, 1909
March 30, 1909
Incorporation papers are filed.
March 30, 1909
November 11, 1909
Groundbreaking
November 11, 1909
January 23, 1910
Cornerstone Laid
Easter Sunday Night first prayer service collection for Trinity Union Springs tornado damage
January 23, 1910
January 1911 - April 1917
Rev. Frederick Devall
Rev. Frederick Devall first rector
January 1911 - April 1917
May 1911
Parish accepted by Diocese of Alabama
May 1911
August 1911
Organ ordered from John Brown Organ Co.
August 1911
December 19, 1911
First Annual Bazaar
December 19, 1911
April 1917
AMERICA ENTERS WWI
86 families at Ascension | Rev. Devall tenders resignation
April 1917
September 19, 1917 - August 31, 1919
Rev. F. H. Coffin
September 19, 1917 - August 31, 1919
1919
INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC
1919
1919-1933
Choir led by Kate Booth
1919-1933
August 31, 1919
Rev. Coffin resigns: no church services
August 31, 1919
December 7, 1919
Rev. Peerce N. McDonald
Services resume. Rev. Peerce N. McDonald comes to be “The Shepard of Cloverdale”
December 7, 1919
1926
Algernon Blair seeds building fund
1926
1927
Transepts, tower and new chancel added
1927
1929
THE GREAT DEPRESSION
1929
1935
25th Anniversary
"Let There Be Light” pageant celebrates 25th Anniversary of Ascension
1935
1937
338 communicants
1937
1940
Stained glass windows installed.
1940
December 1941
Pearl Harbor WWII
197 families
December 1941
April 11, 1943
Consecration of completed building
April 11, 1943
1946
BABY BOOM/COLD WAR
1946
October 1946
Death of Peerce McDonald
October 1946
June 1947
Rev. Tom Thrasher
June 1947
March 1952
Death of Algernon Blair
March 1952
1953
Parish house completed
1953
1954
CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT
1954
May 1959
Ascension and Rev.Thrasher welcome ASU students and share communion
May 1959
1961
Rev. Mark Waldo
Time of families
1961
1962
762 communicants
1962
1965
BILLY GRAHAM CRUSADE CRAMPTON BOWL
1965
1969
Benjamin Britten’s “Noye’s Fludde” ( Noah’s Flood ) is performed. The one act opera engages both adults and children.
1969
1980
Cursillo Movement comes to Alabama under Bishop Stough
1980
June 26, 1984
ASCENSION FIRE
Patrol officer sees smoke. Services moved to Temple Beth Or and later to Flowers Hall at Huntingdon College
June 26, 1984
1985
RESTORATION
Re-dedication
1985
July 9, 1989
Mark Waldo's last sermon
July 9, 1989
1990
Expansion: four-story wing to Parish House and Joshua House built
1990
October 1990
Rev. John-Michael Van Dyke
Van Dyke promotes separation from Nation Church
October 1990
April 10, 2005
Ascension SPLIT of congregation.
Van Dyke and followers depart Parishioners hold fast with courage and hope rebuilding a church and community, poised future expansion.
April 10, 2005
July 2007
Rev. John Coleman
July 2007
2010
100TH ANNIVERSARY OF CHURCH OF THE ASCENSION
2010
June 2013
Rev. John Coleman departs
June 2013
October 2014
Rev. Andrew Thayer called on to be the 8th Rector at Ascension
October 2014
July 2017
Rev. Andrew Thayer departs
July 2017
October 2018
Rev. Candice B. Frazer called on to be the 9th Rector at Ascension
October 2018
2020-2022
Covid 19 Pandemic
2020-2022