Christ Episcopal Church, 1858, hosted a program for members and guests of the William Dunbar Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024 at 3pm. The illustrated program “The Amazing Revitalization of Church Hill, Miss.,” by Carter Burns, Executive Director, Historic Natchez Foundation, Natchez, Miss. featured Christ Church, Wagner’s Store, Church Hill Variety store/restaurant, and other outlying historic properties. After the presentation the attendees were invited across the street to Church Hill Variety for refreshments of finger sandwiches, charcuterie, cheeses, seasonal fruits, cookies, lemonade and iced tea. Drink cozies were souvenirs of the program.

In attendance were members of Christ Church Vestry: The Hon. Marion Smith (Trinity Warden) and his wife the former Carolyn Vance, Mr. Eddie Thompson (Bishop’s Warden) and his wife Rose, John Norris (Junior Warden) & Tate Taylor (project manager for the restoration of Christ Church).

William Dunbar Chapter Regent Caroline Cole led the afternoon meeting. Ms. Betty Jo Harris represented Natchez Historic Foundation, and happens to also be a member of the William Dunbar Chapter, DAR. The parents of Mr. Burns were also in attendance, Mr. Peter Burns and his wife the former Diane Carter. Mrs. Burns and all three of her sisters (Mrs. Ben Yarbrough, Mrs. Tom Schwager, and Mrs. Judy Flurry) are members of the chapter.

Also in the crowd were Mr. & Mrs. George Bates (Mr. Bates is the President of NHF’s Church Hill Commission), Ms. Christy Williams (Executive Director of the Pilgrimage Garden Club), Mrs. Judy Stahlman (charter member of the chapter), Mrs. Susan Cassagne (DAR district director) and her daughter Ms. Juliette Cassagne (Regent of the Natchez Chapter NSDAR and the Recording Secretary for Mississippi State DAR).

The church sits on a small hill on land donated by Col. James Gillam Wood, a member of a patriot family and the ancestor of William Dunbar Chapter NSDAR member Cammie Wood Dale.

Wagner’s Store dates to 1870. It is being restored by the Historic Natchez Foundation to become a welcome center and meeting place for the Church Hill community.
The Christ Episcopal Church congregation is the oldest in the state of Mississippi, founded in 1820. Today’s church building, constructed of brick in 1858, is the third church structure. The church inspired the name of the Jefferson County unincorporated community called Church Hill, Miss. The entire nave of Christ Church needed repair and restoration during a months-long project headed by filmmaker Tate Taylor (“The Help”). Taylor is a member of the church. Tate Taylor was project manager of the Christ Church restoration in 2023-2024.