Emmanuel Episcopal Church

Emmanuel - 175th Year Anniversary Celebration - May 5th

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Burns Night, Sunday, February 12 at 3 pm

Burns Night is an event that honors the Scottish poet laureate Robert Burns. Celebrated sometime near Burns’ birthday, it is an opportunity to celebrate all things Scottish.

Emmanuel parish will host a Burns Night, Feb. 12, at 3 PM, as a benefit. Accompanied by Celtic harp and guitar, Stephen & Regina will sing Scottish songs, including several by Robbie, recite Robbie’s poetry, and play Scottish dance tunes.

A reception of light Scottish fare will follow. No haggis, we promise. The concert will benefit the music program at Emmanuel, with a portion going to Episcopal Relief and Development to fund the Millennial Development Goals.

When	Sun Feb 12, 2017 3pm – 5pm Eastern Time
Where	Emanuel Episcopal Church, 66 Main St, Chatham, VA 24531, USA (map)

Bicentennial of the Rev. G.W. Dame to be Celebrated by Emmanuel Church & Chatham Hall on September 30th

On Sunday, September 30, Emmanuel and Chatham Hall will celebrate, at Emmanuel, the bicentennial of the birth of the man who revived the almost-extinguished Episcopal faith in the area and served as trustee of Chatham Hall (then the Chatham Female Episcopal Institute) and as Danville and Pittsylvania County’s first superintendent of schools,

The fete honoring the Reverend Dr. G.W. Dame (1812-1895) will include Chatham Hall’s 28-voice St. Mary’s Choir, overseen by Choir Director David Grimes; as well as an “antique” service of worship from the 1789 Book of Common Prayer, used in Dame’s day.

The Reverend James Mathieson will lead the worship service.  He’ll also share his thoughts on the Rev. Dr. Dame’s contributions, as will Chatham Hall Rector Dr. Gary Fountain.

During and after the Revolution, when Southside residents rejected British rule they also turned their backs on the Church of England.  Membership in the Anglican Communion dropped to nearly zero in and around Chatham and Danville; and there it stayed until Dame came to town.

Dame, 28 in 1840, and soon-to-be an ordained Episcopal priest, arrived in Danville to head the Danville Female Academy.  He was eventually appointed as the first post-Revolution Episcopal rector of Camden Parish, comprised of Patrick, Henry, Franklin and Pittsylvania Counties.  When he arrived, he found eight Episcopalians in the parish.