On May 19, parishioners and friends of the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany in Tunica gathered in their gabled, Gothic Revival church building to celebrate its 100th birthday. Epiphany could pass for younger, though, because of the unwavering love and care shown to her by her parishioners.

That care was the theme of the sermon preached by the Reverend Marian Dulaney Fortner, a child of the church. She began by noting the many improvements and continued maintenance undertaken over the years: A bell tower, a bridal walk, new landscaping, the repair of water damage. And the most recent—a brand new roof.

“Coming together to install a new roof speaks of life, hope, and the future,” said Fortner. “Yes, after 100 years, Epiphany continues to bear the light of Christ of the Episcopal Branch of the Jesus movement among the citizens of Tunica.”

While the gathering marked the centennial of the dedication of the space, construction on Epiphany began in 1921. The true story begins even earlier, however, with the arrival in Tunica of George Day and Sallie Whitley Perry. George Perry started his career working for a streetcar company in Memphis making 14 cents an hour (about $4.82 in today’s dollars). The Perrys moved to Tunica County in 1908, and after 14 years of hard work George was farming thousands of acres of prime farmland.

Sallie Perry was a force to be reckoned with as well, raising their six boys and three girls. And it was her desire to provide them a home for their spiritual formation and nurture that planted the seed that would become the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany.

The first five congregants of what would become the church started meeting once a month in the evenings in 1912, holding Episcopal services in space borrowed from the Presbyterian Church. Clergy came from Clarksdale, Cleveland, and Memphis, including The Rev. Walter E. Daikin, grandfather of Tennessee Williams.

For ten years, Epiphany persevered in this manner, but for Sallie it wasn’t enough—she had a vision for a new church building, and it was under her initiative that such a building was erected over 2-3 years.

The Perrys helped fund much of the construction, and Episcopalians from elsewhere lovingly contributed to this new expansion of the Church: a stained-glass artist from St. Louis installed the windows, Nativity Greenwood gave the baptismal font, Grace Church, Canton, donated the first organ.

Today, a letter from Sallie showing her appreciation to all who helped is still preserved in Epiphany’s parish hall. It reads in part, “We feel very grateful that we have been able to erect this little building to the Honor and Glory of God, And we want everyone to feel at Home and welcome in its Service.”

Sallie’s wish has been born out over the last century, as Fortner pointed out in her sermon.

“In the last 100 years, many have been welcomed at these doors,” she said. “Just like the bricks and mortar that make up this church, so do the faithful deeds of her members embody the church. And just like each brick matters, each of you matter. Each one of you adds to the buildup of the kingdom of God.”

The Reverend Rufus Van Horn, who came to Tunica to lead Epiphany in August 2023, delighted in seeing the evidence of the deep bonds that run through that 100-year history during the celebration.

“Well before the service began, people began arriving and hugging and catching up,” he says. “The presence of the Holy Spirit was visibly there and active. God’s work in our presence continued throughout the Eucharist and the festive, laugh-filled lunch that followed. The occasion was a beautiful reminder of God’s continuing vital work in this place.”

Those old bricks have lasted 100 years because of the community that loves them, and that love, still alive and well, will surely sustain them for 100 more.