August 23, 2017 at 4:46 p.m.
Come see what's behind the red doors
St. Augustine's celebrates 125th anniversary
Come see what's behind the red doors
By Kayla Thomason-
"It is an exciting time for our parish members to look back on its history and see what traditions have remained and what have evolved," said Rev. Meredyth Albright of St. Augustine's. "We are proud to still be a viable church after 125 years."
The anniversary commemoration began with the church's Fourth of July parade float, which included a replica of the famous red doors.
Saturday's "family/community reunion" will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the church and parish hall.
There will be root beer floats, walking tacos, popcorn, water and soda available. Proceeds from the sale of the root beer floats will be used to purchase a new bench or benches for outside the church so those attending The Table, a community meal program held the last day of each month, will have a place to sit before or after their meal.
While visiting with friends and neighbors, guests will be able to view documents dating back to the consecration of the church as well as newspaper clippings and communications exchanged during the church's existence.
There will also be tours of the church, displays and coloring booklets of the stained glass windows.
The signature event of the anniversary celebration is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Sept. 16.
An Evensong in the Sanctuary of the Church will be held at that time, followed by a reception with appetizers and a presentation by Bishop Matt Gunter.
The last event of the celebration, planned for later this fall, is a sweet tip of the hat to the past.
For this one time only the church will dust off its doughnut recipe and sell the sweet treats the congregation was known for from the '20s to the '90s.
A date for the doughnut sale has not been determined but it will be in late October or early November, according to Albright.
For awhile the doughnuts were made weekly by the women and some men of the church, then later it was monthly, Albright wrote in a history of St. Augustine's published in a diocesan newsletter. At the peak of their attendance they would make more than 200 doughnuts for each sale.
In the past the proceeds went to purchases and projects for the church, including the restoration of some of the church's stained glass windows.
St. Augustine's officially started Feb. 21, 1892. For the first two years the congregation met in the Odd Fellow Hall and Baptist Church, until a group of women associated with the Episcopal Church in other areas formed a guild and searched for a permanent location for the church. The construction was complete in 1894.
"However, because of the rules of the time, the church could not be consecrated until it was debt-free," Albright wrote. "The consecration was Aug. 28, 1902, St. Augustine's day."
St. Augustine's is the oldest church building in Rhinelander, in the same location, and used continously by the same congregation.
Kayla Breese may be reached at kayla@
rivernewsonline.com.
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