On July 23, 1832 (a decade after Madison County, Tennessee was organized) a small group of persons “friendly” to the Episcopal faith met at the Masonic Hall, to establish the Episcopal Church in Jackson. The Rev. Mr. Thomas Wright, of North Carolina, presided over the meeting, which established St. Luke’s Parish. Eighteen persons signed the Articles of Association.

The Rev. Mr. John Chilton was the first rector of St. Luke’s. He also served the church in Brownsville, which was established a month after the one in Jackson. He served both parishes until 1834. St. Luke’s labored under many difficulties in the early years because of the lack of money and of members. In 1837, there were only six communicants and no rector. Mr. Chilton returned as rector in 1840.

In 1839, the parish was honored with a visit from Tennessee Bishop, the Right Rev. James H. Otey, who held services in the Madison County Courthouse. The Rev. Mr. Thomas West became rector of St. Luke’s in 1842. He also served Haywood, Fayette, and Tipton counties. Sunday School was organized in that year.

In 1845, a church building was finally erected at the present location, Church and Baltimore Streets (the lot was purchased for $450 in 1844). Although the church was only partially completed, St. Luke’s hosted the Tennessee Diocesan Convention in July 1846. The original hand-pumped organ was installed in 1852, as was the church bell, which still calls the congregation to worship and tolls the death of parishioners at funerals. Pews and the chancel completed the building and the Right Rev. Otey consecrated St. Luke’s on May 14, 1853.

In 1855, James L. Talbot gave the parish a five-acre lot in the suburbs, on which the first rectory was built. Jackson Central Merry High School is now located on that site, on Allen Avenue. The Rev. Mr. John A. Harrison was rector of St. Luke’s at that time. He walked to many of the services at his downtown church during the 25 years he served the parish. This property was sold in 1874 and a lot east of the church was purchased for a new rectory.

The unique brass altar cross and the brass alms basin in use today were presented to the church in 1867 by Tennessee Bishop, The Right Rev. Thomas T. Quintard. (The cross is a copy of one in a Westminster Abbey chapel.) The cross and alms basin were a gift of the British Duchess of Teck, who met the bishop while he was in England raising funds for the University of the South at Sewanee, Tennessee. The duchess suggested he give them to “one of his parishes.” Bishop Quintard gave them to St. Luke’s.

The original church building was enlarged and remodeled in 1883. The nave was extended, a vestibule and the bell tower were added, a new floor was laid and the church was furnished in black walnut, including the pews. The first communion vessels were made in the 1880s from “love gifts” of silver and other valuables from members of the congregation. Personal treasures such as baby cups, tablespoons, cuff links, jewels and other heirlooms were donated. The gold and silver were melted down and made into the communion vessels, with the donated jewels as adornments. The communion vessels are still in use today.

The present reredos (the three-paneled screen above the altar) was acquired in 1885. Made of quartered oak, the carved screen encloses a triptych of paintings representing the resurrection of Christ. The Rev. Dr. Johannes A. Oertel, a professor of art at Vanderbilt University, and an artist of repute, created the paintings. The woodcarving is believed to have been done by the artist’s son. The reredos paintings were restored in 1941 by Pearl Sanders, a local artist, again in 1957, by Russian artist Sergei Bomgart, a friend and teacher of Mrs. Aileen Spence, a St. Luke’s parishioner, and most recently, in 2003, as a result of the May 4 tornado.

The Diocesan Convention was again held at St. Luke’s in May, 1884. The Rev. Mr. George Hinkle, rector at that time, reported to the convention that the church had 240 communicants. St. Thomas Episcopal Church was built at the corner of Hale and Cumberland Streets, for black Episcopalians in Jackson. The church was organized by the Rev. Dr. Joseph E. Martin, rector of St. Luke’s from 1892-1900. It became a diocesan mission. Finally, in 1962, St. Luke’s began welcoming African-American worshipers to its services, under the spiritual leadership of the Rev. Dr. Frank N. Butler. The St. Thomas building was deconsecrated in December, 1969, and the congregation merged with Saint Luke's. St. Luke’s choir was organized during Dr. Martin’s tenure. The Altar Guild gave the brass lectern for the Holy Bible in his memory; Dr. Martin’s two sons gave the marble shield. St. Luke’s had nine different rectors from 1900-1930. The Women’s Auxiliary and the Altar Guild were organized around 1900 and the brass processional cross was given by 25 parishioners, around 1904.

In 1930, the Rev. Dr. William J. Loaring-Clark became rector of St. Luke’s. Under his guidance, a financially faltering parish made great strides, both materially and spiritually. Extensive improvements were made to church property, including building a new parish house.

Dr. Loaring-Clark’s wife, Ada, was prominent in national church affairs as well as those of St. Luke’s and the community. She was the first woman to serve on the National Council of the Episcopal Church and she organized the United Church Women in Jackson, which is still active. In 1932 she also formed St. Luke’s Order of the Daughters of the King, which bears her name. She was national president of that order at the time of her death, in 1936. Dr. Loaring-Clark retired in 1954 and was named rector emeritus of St. Luke’s; he died in 1959.

The Rev. Dr. Frank N. Butler filled the pulpit at St. Luke’s in 1954. He and his family occupied a new rectory at 19 Mimosa Drive, which was bought for their use. The Rev. Mr. Frank S. Cerveny came to St. Luke’s in October, 1963, from the staff of Trinity Episcopal Church in New York City. He remained at St. Luke’s until 1969. During his tenure, he provided the parish with spiritual enrichment and motivation for new programs, such as planning for the establishment of the Episcopal Day School in Jackson. Father Cerveny served as bishop of the Diocese of Florida from 1975-1992.

The Rev. Mr. Paul Shields Walker assumed the rectorship of the parish in March 1969. Under his leadership, the Episcopal Day School (EDS) was chartered in 1970. With 24 students enrolled, the first EDS classes in grades one through five met in the Sunday School classrooms of St. Luke’s parish house from September, 1970, until January, 1971. Father Walker served as school chaplain, conducting daily morning services. EDS merged with Old Hickory Academy in 1989 to form the University School of Jackson, now located on McClellan Road in north Jackson.

In November, 1969, after much planning, the church dedicated the organ, which was custom-built by the Wicks Organ Company of Highland, Illinois. It had a 12-rank distribution of 775 pipes. The console of the organ was seriously damaged by the May 4, 2003 tornado, but the pipes were saved.

A memorial garden was begun in the north churchyard and a brick wall to surround it was erected in 1966. Under Father Walker’s direction, a patio entrance to the garden was built through remodeling of the parish hall in 1972, and the rectory, on Bethany Drive, was built. The Rev. Mr. Alex Comfort was rector from 1983 to 1986, during which time a 9:00 a.m. Family Service was added. From 1986 to 1988, the Rev. Mr. Peter McGill was rector. Rev. Mr. James J. Diffee, Jr., a non-stipendiary priest, served the church twice: during the search between Father Comfort and Father McGill and again after Fr. McGill left. Fr. Diffee died in 1990; the stained glass windows in the sacristy are dedicated to his memory. The Rev. Mr. Pat Sanders delayed his retirement to serve as interim priest from 1989 to 1990.

The Rev. Charles Filiatreau came to St. Luke’s from West Memphis, Arkansas in 1990. During Father Filiatreau’s tenure, the Parish Hall was greatly enlarged (1995) by purchase of the Dunlap property, the columbarium was built (1997), the parking lot across from the church was added (2001), and the United Way Building, next door, was purchased (2003). The Diocesan Convention was held at St. Luke’s in 1997 and in 2003. On May 4, 2003, St. Luke's Church was hit by an F4 tornado, tearing the roof off the building and scattering bricks from the front of the building.

Following the May 2003 tornado, the Saint Luke's community worked countless hours to salvage materials from the nave, and to clean up the parish hall and prepare it for ongoing church services until the nave was rebuilt. In May of 2004, Fr. Filiatreau retired as rector of St. Luke's and from parish ministry in the Episcopal Church.

In August of 2004, the Rev. Susan K. Crawford began her tenure as interim rector of Saint Luke’s. Mother Susan was instrumental in the rebuilding of Saint Luke's, both spiritually as well as physically. Under her direction and through hard work from many parishioners, St. Luke's began its hard work of recovery.

Finally, in September 2006, the new building was dedicated. Under the capable hand of Carter Hord of Hord Architects of Memphis, this historic building was both re-envisioned and restored. The building was reconstructed from the foundation using materials from the original building. Hord architects re-used much of the original brick from the church while replacing un-reinforced masonry with stronger materials.

"That architect lived up to expectations because it was generally agreed that he did an exquisite job of restoring the church, especially the interior," said Jude LeBlanc, an assistant professor of architecture at Georgia Tech University and principal with LeBlanc Crooks Architects. "The overall quality and authenticity of the reconstruction was such that it was a unique contribution to the state, in the sense that it was a pre-Civil War church that was brought back." The Memphis chapter of the American Institute of Architects awarded Hord Architects a merit award for architectural design in 2007.

In September, of 2006, Saint Luke's brand new nave (worship space) was dedicated. After the trauma of the tornado in 2003, it was a welcomed day. Shortly thereafter, in November 0f 2006, the Reverend Sean Ferrell was called to be the thirtieth rector of Saint Luke's. Fr. Sean received his M.Div from The School of Theology at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee in 1999. He served as Chaplain at the Episcopal Center at the University of Georgia, and Chaplain at Michigan State University prior to be called as Rector of Saint Luke's. Fr. Sean is excited to report that he has encountered an exciting, enthusiastic, resurrected, healthy, and thriving congregation seeking to follow the Risen Christ. Saint Luke's is a wonderful place to encounter Christ and we hope that you will join us!