History

In 1953 The Episcopal Church of the Ascension was chartered as a “Self-Organized” Mission Station, meeting in the Vestavia Hills Town Hall, in homes, and in kindergarten and school buildings, under the guidance of Bishops Carpenter and Murray; The Reverends John Turn, Marshall Seifert, Benjamin Smith; our first Vicars, The Reverends David Cady Wright, and Lee Graham; and Lay Reader, Judge Eugene Hawkins.

In 1956, we became an Organized Mission with The Reverend Josiah W. Ware, Jr. as first full-time Vicar. A building program was begun and in January of 1957 the first services were held in the room we now call Ware Hall. The Ascension received Parish status in December of 1960 with the Reverend Mr. Ware serving as Rector through 1969. During his ministry the Educational Building was added in 1962.

In 1970 The Reverend Edmund D. Campbell, Jr. became Rector. By 1972 The Ascension had 402 communicants.

In March of 1972 The Reverend Robert N. Lockard became our Rector. As we grew the worship area (now Ware Hall) was enlarged and in March of 1975 a pipe organ was installed, completely paid for by gifts and donations. In 1978 the paving of the parking lot on the north side of the Parish Hall was completed along with the beginning of an on-going landscape program.

Then on July 27, 1986 an official Ground-breaking ceremony was held for our new worship area which seats over 300 persons. Actual work began on August 14, 1986 and less than a year later, March of 1987, the first services were held with the dedication by our then Bishop of Alabama, Furman C. Stough on June 9, 1987 of the new building and furnishings. Later the Memorial Garden was added.

In 1998/1999 a new organ, built by the Steiner–Reck organ company of Louisville, KY. was installed. In the years since its installation the organ has performed exquisitely in services, recitals, masterclasses, choral concerts and in recordings.

In 2000 The Reverend Lockard retired and the parish called The Reverend Craig Smalley as Rector in October of 2001. The church received a substantial gift from the estate of Margie Terrill and the present grand staircase and the area now known as Terrill Foyer were added. In 2003 the parish celebrated its 50th Anniversary.

In May of 2007 The Reverend Stephen Dale Hood was called as our Rector. In 2014 a Three-Year Capital Pledge Campaign was begun funding the renovation of the church kitchen, new roofing for the educational building and the Ascension cabin, Bethany Village, Camp McDowell. In 2017 Fr. Stephen accepted a call to St. Luke’s, Bartlesville, OK.

The Reverend Paul C. Elliott was called as our Interim Rector in November of 2017.

In September of 2018, The Reverend Jack Alvey was called as our Rector officiating his first service on September 19th and first Sunday service on September 23rd.

On May 14th, 2023, Ascension welcomed its first full-time Associate Rector, The Rev. Emily Collette.

During the summer of 2023, the nursery space moved to the preschool wing and the existing space was remodeled to include two offices and an additional meeting room. The remodel was possible through a legacy gift left by Alda McDowell in her estate. The new space is called the McDowell Suite in her honor.

Also, in the fall of 2023, Ascension Episcopal Kindergarten (AEK) returned to its original name - Ascension Episcopal Day School (AEDS). The change was in response to dropping the 5K class in order to focus on our younger classrooms.