St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Meridian has welcomed a new rector, the Rev. A. Austin McGehee.

McGehee comes to St. Paul’s after serving at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church in Atlanta. As a lifelong Episcopalian, he values liturgy, preaching, and music as they are essential to the tradition and in proclaiming God’s love. As a priest, Rev. Austin is devoted to exploring the “Apostles’ teaching and fellowship in the breaking of the bread, and in the prayers” and how that shapes life’s most vulnerable moments. Rev. Austin received his master of divinity from The General Theological Seminary in New York. He lives with his wife, Tiffany, the Any Given Child Educator for the Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience, and their 16-month-old son, Alban. On Fridays, you may find Rev. Austin walking around downtown Meridian with his 4-year-old Aussie Shepherd Fowler at his side.

“When I describe the Episcopal Church to people what immediately comes to mind is home. You could walk into any Episcopal worship and the prayers and language are the same. This is because we worship with our Book of Common Prayer; prayers passed on throughout the history of the Church. We are an apostolic church, which means that we trace our bishops back to the apostles. We uphold the teachings of scripture while we always look for new ways God speaks to us. All our worship is centered around the Holy Eucharist, where all baptized Christians are welcome, and where we believe Jesus Christ is present with us in the bread and in the wine.

“Our community at St. Paul’s has been described as ‘welcoming by nature and resilient by necessity; an independent, proud yet humble and diverse people who have come through many trials and struggles to make necessary changes while honoring the state’s best traditions of kindness, faithfulness, and generosity of spirit.’ I believe that this is as reflective of the spirit of Mississippi and the city of Meridian as it is of the whole Episcopal Church. Our work is being faithful to our tradition; for all of those who have come before us, while always listening to how God is moving and active in our lives now. We are a faithful community; engaged with the world and seek to bring the good news of God’s redeeming love to all people. It is part of the promise we make at baptism to respect the dignity of every human being. Our family is extremely excited to join the St. Paul’s community and to discover its next chapter together.

“This is the Lord’s house, home of all God’s people, school for the faithful, refuge for the sinner, rest for the pilgrim, haven for the weary; all find a welcome.”

History of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

On May 29, 1901, a group of 49 people met with the Rt. Rev. Hugh Miller Thompson, Bishop of Mississippi, in the lobby of the Southern Hotel in Meridian, to sign a formal petition to form St. Paul’s Episcopal Mission. Two days later, Bishop Thompson gave canonical consent to the organization of St. Paul’s Mission. Thanks to the generosity of many Jewish friends, the first services of St. Paul’s Mission were held in Temple Beth Israel starting June 9, 1901. On July 4, 1901, The Rev. Peter Sears accepted a call as the first Rector and began his duties September 1, 1901. November 1, 1902, marked the first service of Holy Communion held on All Saints Day in the newly built church located at the corner of 23rd Avenue and 11th Street.

Like many Episcopal churches, the buildings of St. Paul’s are in the Neo-Gothic Ecclesiastical style of architecture. From the beautifully pointed stained-glass windows to the fort-like buttresses, St. Paul’s Church buildings reflect the sense of strength and tradition of the Anglican/Episcopal faith. St. Paul’s has had 18 permanent Rectors, six associate Rectors, 11 Curates and several interim Rectors who have served the church since its founding. Of those 18 Rectors, two have served as Bishop of Mississippi.

St. Paul’s has a long history of commitment to the Diocese of Mississippi as well as supporting the greater community. St. Paul’s was a leading voice in the restoration and reconciliation efforts during the civil rights and school desegregation eras in Meridian. It has always opened its doors to other faith communities and community organizations and its members have taken leading roles in housing, food and prison ministries. Well into its second century of existence, St. Paul’s looks forward to continuing to be a vibrant center for worship, formation and ministry in Meridian and beyond.

St. Paul’s is one of 85 congregations that make up the Diocese of Mississippi. The diocese is headquartered in Jackson led by the Rt. Rev. Brian R. Seage, the Bishop of Mississippi. Like the state, it is influenced by both old- and new-South cultures and traditions.

About the church:

Name: St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.

Rector: The Reverend A. Austin McGehee.

Denomination: Episcopalian.

Founded: May 29, 1901.

Address: 1116 23rd Ave. Meridian, MS 39301.

Contact info: stpaulsmeridian@gmail.com or 601-693-2502.

Service Times:

Sunday – Contemplative Eucharist at 8 a.m. and Eucharist at 10:30 a.m. with organ and choir.

Weekday mornings prayer in the Chapel at 8 a.m.

Wednesday – Evensong at 5:30.