OUR MISSION
To provide a welcoming community in which all can, with open hearts and open minds, receive God's Grace through worship, fellowship, learning, and outreach to others.
OUR NAME
Church of the Holy Apostles is named for the twelve apostles of Jesus. They are: Simon, who was called Peter; Andrew; James, the son of Zebedee; John, the Evangelist; Philip; Bartholomew; Thomas; Matthew, also called Levi; James, the son of Alphaeus; Jude, also called Thaddaeus; Simon, the Zealot; and, Matthias, who filled the place of Judas the traitor.
OUR HISTORY
Holy Apostles began as a parochial mission of Church of the Holy Communion in 1965. The original church was located in the Hickory Hill area of Memphis, where it enjoyed thirty-five years of ministry among the neighborhood there. In June of 2003 the parish moved and began worshiping in the Agape Chapel on the campus of St. George’s Independent High School in north Collierville, the easternmost suburb of Memphis. The present Church of the Holy Apostles was completed in 2006 and Phase II, the multi-purpose Parish Life Center, was completed in 2008.
OUR PEOPLE
Clergy
Staff
Vestry
Committees
Members
OUR PROPERTY & VISTAS
The church is located on 13.5 acres on the north side of Wolf River Boulevard adjoining the ecologically protected 18,000 acre Wolf River Conservancy. The spectacular exterior views from the expansive glass in the sanctuary include the trees, brambles, wild brush, and dense natural vegetation which provide the habitat and nesting place for God’s precious creatures.
OUR FACILITIES & FURNISHINGS
The church has a classical basilica floor plan which is combined with spacious Gothic arch windows to give the church a light, open feel while retaining traditional features. The Gothic arch pattern occurs throughout the church in groups of three, calling to mind the Trinity.
The Baptismal Font and Columbarium
The Baptismal font is located near the rear door of the church to remind us that we enter the church through the sacrament of Holy Baptism. The font is coupled with the Columbarium to link two of our Easter liturgies, Baptism and Burial of the Dead. The windows by the font face the east, so each morning the light of the new day sweeps across the font and onto the Columbarium bathing both in resurrection rays. The font itself and the Paschal candle stand are gifts from Bishop Otey Memorial Chapel. When Bishop Otey closed in 2002, the congregation gave many of its lovely furnishings to Church of the Holy Apostles and now they are once again being used in the worship of God. The font dates back to 1902 and came to Bishop Otey from the chapel of the Sisters of Saint Mary, an order of Episcopal nuns.
The Choir
The choir sits on the platform across the aisle from the Baptismal font. They sing from the rear of the church because their role is to support the congregation in our mutual worship; we all sing with God alone as audience.
The Sanctuary
The altar, commissioned by the Altar Guild as a gift for this church, was designed and built by parishioner, Allan Klodzinski. The base of each leg of the altar is made of lumber from the nave of the original Church of the Holy Apostles, reminding us of our foundation in that church.
Many of the furnishings from Bishop Otey Memorial Chapel have found a home in this sanctuary: the bishop’s chair, the candlesticks on the altar and retable, the cross, the cushions at the altar rail, and the aumbry. The processional cross and torches are from the original Holy Apostles.
Parish Life Center
This large multi-purpose building which adjoins the educational and administrative wing serves the parish in numerous ways - classes, forums, dinners, socials, sports, and various outreach groups.
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