Faithful generations have gone forth into the world from the Episcopal Church of the Nativity for more than 100 years. It was in 1905 when Bishop C.M. Beckwith arrived in Dothan, Alabama, with Rev. W.N. Claybrook to organize an Episcopal Mission.
The Church was given the name Nativity to commemorate the birth of Jesus, the moment of the incarnation when The Word was made flesh. The auspicious name would be an inspiration to successive generations at Nativity as each undertook the task of manifesting the glory of God in their particular time and place.
The parish began with four families, a mere 22 members, whose dreams, work, and faith formed the cornerstone for later congregations.
In 1907, the Rev. Wilmer S. Poyner arrived to serve the mission. From 1913 until after World War I, the mission was without a permanent vicar, with the exception of six months of service by the Rev. L.G.H. Williams.
In 1919, Bishop Beckwith sent the Rev. Ellsworth Collier to serve the mission. It had 36 baptized members and 21 communicants. The early mission met in the houses of its members. During the early days of Reverend Collier’s tenure, the mission erected a small wooden structure on Main Street. This remained sufficient until 1927, when a second generation undertook the building of a small brick church at the same location.
It was built in the English Country Gothic style, which would become its architectural signature. The church set an aesthetic standard for future construction. It’s fine craftsmanship imparted a rich legacy to later generations. The nave was beautifully appointed with a network of arched wooden beams. The church leadership commissioned the Pittsburgh Stained Glass Studio to create a rose window commemorating the Nativity. They also commissioned a stone altar with a reredos engraved with the words of Saint John’s Gospel: “The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.” Both works, the rose window, and the altar, are part of our church to this day.
The Reverend Collier moved in 1929, and the congregation of Nativity faced the Depression period without a resident vicar. The Rev. Clair T. Crenshaw arrived in 1936, and his services were shared with missions in Eufaula and Clayton. The last vicar to serve Nativity was the Rev. Peter Dennis in 1938.
During World War II (from 1941-1945), the Rev. G. Ralph Madison was rector, and it was he who had the mission admitted as a parish church in the Diocese of Alabama. The Rev. E. Lawrence Baxter followed him from 1945-1947, who was succeeded by the Rev. Joseph L. Kellerman, who remained until 1950.
The Rev. Ben A. Meginnis became rector in 1950. In 1962, under this leadership and guidance, the congregation erected the current church on Holly Lane and re-installed the rose window and altar at the new location. Again, the Pittsburgh Stained Glass Studio was commissioned for a series of lancet windows telling the story of the life of Christ. The commission included a large lancet window commemorating the resurrection. In keeping with the traditional Gothic design, the church installed a larger window over the altar and the rose window over the church entrance.
In 1965, the Rev. William Capers Acosta became rector. He continued overseeing the growth of Nativity until his retirement in 1977.
In 1974, the church built an addition to the Parish Hall, comprising the present nursery, former administrative offices, and two classrooms. In the ensuing 22 years, its members worked to maintain and improve the existing facility with the growing awareness that they were heirs to, and custodians, of something rare, beautiful, and sacred.
The Rev. Melvin Hudson Harper served as the sixth rector of Nativity from 1978 until his retirement in the spring of 1993. With “Father Mel” as our good shepherd, the church continued to grow in numbers and spirit.
In March of 1994, the Rev. David B. Powell became the seventh rector of Nativity.
In 1999, the congregation began raising money for renovation and addition to the church. The construction of this project began in the fall of 2000 and was completed in December 2001. This project added several classrooms, a new Parish Hall, a renovated nursery, and a courtyard with a labyrinth.
In August 2004, the Rev. Craig E. Gavin became the eighth rector. During Father Gavin’s ministry, we celebrated our centennial, acknowledging our past achievements with true gratefulness and deep humility.
From January 2008 until April 2013, the Rev. Ede Plovanich served as the ninth rector of Nativity. Following the abrupt departure of Father Craig, Mother Ede served as rector through a difficult time in the life of the congregation. Through her leadership, she brought the Nativity family back together.
In June 2012, the Rev. Peter R. Wong was called as Nativity’s curate. Following Mother Ede’s departure in May 2013, Father Peter served as our interim rector and was called as our tenth rector in November 2013. In November 2020, Father Peter accepted a call to Trinity Episcopal Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
In April 2021, Nativity called Rev. Randy Sellers to be our priest-in-charge and installed as our eleventh rector on May 11, 2022.