St. Barnabas congregation announces new name, location

Members of the St. Barnabas Anglican Church march from the church to the congregation's new home at Bay High School on Nov. 13. The building at Bradley and Wolf roads has been awarded to the Episcopal Diocese.

Beginning Sunday, Nov. 20, the congregation of Bay Village’s St. Barnabas Anglican Church will hold its 10:00 a.m. Sunday services in the auditorium at Bay High School until a permanent facility is built or purchased. In addition, the Anglican congregation – made up of more than 250 individuals – plans to change its name to Christ Church Westshore. 

The congregation is moving because its former building at Bradley and Wolf Roads – where many parishioners have worshiped for decades – was awarded to the Episcopal Diocese after a lengthy property dispute.  

“All will be welcome at Christ Church Westshore,” said Reverend Gene Sherman. “We are a community of believers who seek to know God, love one another, and serve the community around us.”

Sherman added, “Our congregation understands that the Word – as it was handed down to us in the Bible, along with our caring church family, are more important than a building.  That is why we all are moving together to worship at Bay High.”

In addition to utilizing Bay High for its Sunday morning service, Christ Church Westshore will utilize the Great Hall at Bay Presbyterian Church for its Monday evening prayer service at 7 p.m. and a Wednesday Holy Communion service at 10:30 a.m. Christ Church weddings and funerals also will be held at Bay Presbyterian Church for the time being.  

“Bay Village takes care of their own,” commented Sherman with regard to the outpouring of generosity from both Bay High and Bay Presbyterian Church.     

Christ Church will utilize office space at Bay Presbyterian Church. Effective Nov. 14, the phone number for Christ Church Westshore will be 440-899-7151, and the mailing address will be: Christ Church Westshore, c/o Bay Presbyterian Church, 25415 Lake Rd., Bay Village, Ohio 44140. The new website will be christchurchwestshore.com.

The Christ Church congregation will continue to be involved in its many outreach initiatives, including the Brookside Hunger Center, The Cleveland City Mission, services at the Knickerbocker, the Bay Directory, youth and adult mission trips, and Vacation Bible School. In addition, Christ Church will offer a wide variety of fellowship opportunities, including Junior High and Senior High Youth Groups. 

St. Barnabas’ existing leadership, including Reverend Gene Sherman, rector; Sean Templeton, assistant rector; and Robert Andrew, associate rector, will continue to lead the Christ Church Westshore congregation.

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Volume 3, Issue 23, Posted 4:11 PM, 11.16.2011