St. Timothy's Episcopal Church

 

St. Timothy's exemplifies Christ's love, using our gifts to help people connect to God.

 

900 Calhoun St. Columbia, SC  29201

803-765-1519

The Rev. Tula Henson, Rector


Dogwood trees bloom around St. Timothy's Church

Dogwood Trees bloom around the Church

About Us 

Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina

Mission of St. Timothy's Episcopal Church                                                        

 

St. Timothy’s was established to fill a need of teaching God’s word and of worshipping Our Lord on His day.  We continue to strive to fill that ever present need and to worship, live, and serve solely for the glory of God through His Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ.  As the Holy Spirit guides us as a downtown church, we extend our service to community groups serving those in need and our ministry to the spiritual needs of  individuals working or living or visiting in the area at all times of the day or day of the week, providing areas for prayer and meditation or opportunities to worship, to learn, to serve. Just like St. Timothy was advised by St. Paul, we "fight the good fight."

 

 

Services

St. Timothy’s offers two services on Sundays, 9 AM (Holy Eucharist Rite I) and 11 AM (Holy Communion Rite II with nursery). 


Special weekday services are held every week on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 12:15 pm.


In addition, other special weekday services are held during the Church year:

    Ash Wednesday we offer Imposition of Ashes at noon and 6:00pm.

    Tuesday evenings in lent, we offer Stations of the Cross at 5:30pm followed with study group at 6:00pm.

    All Saints eve service at 6:00pm on November 1st.

    Thanksgiving eve service on Wednesday at 6:00pm. 


Holy Week we offer:

    Tenebrae Service of Light on Tuesday at 6:00pm.

    Maundy Thursday a special service with foot washing and Eucharist at 6:00pm.

    Good Friday services at noon and 6:00pm.

    Easter Vigil on Saturday evening at 7:00pm.


Christmas Eucharist:

    Midnight Mass is 11:00pm on Christmas Eve

    Holy Eucharist is 10:00am on Christmas Day


Our regular Sunday worship services are also highlighted with special celebrations:

    Lessons and Carols during the 11:00am service on the 4th Sunday in Advent

    Epiphany pageant during the 11:00am service on Epiphany Sunday.


There are many opportunities offered to worship and celebrate the work of God in our lives.  Won't you join us for the one that fits your schedule?

 

Sunday School for all ages meets between the two services (10 AM), as does coffee and fellowship for all. While the classes for children meet September through May, the adult Sunday school class often continues into summer with a large Bible study group.

 

 

History

St. Timothy’s is located at the corner of Calhoun and Lincoln Streets within the historic Arsenal Hill District.  Since the Governor’s Mansion is across the street, the church has often been called the “church of the governors.” Indeed, many of the governors of the state attend services at the church while in office. 

 

St. Timothy’s was established by the Church of the Good Shepherd in Columbia in 1892 to provide a Sunday School for children in the Arsenal Hill area.  St. Timothy's Guild was formed in 1894 to further the work of the mission. The present Gothic-style sanctuary was completed in 1913.  In 1943 St Timothy's became a parish and the church building was consecrated (debt-free) in 1944. After the Parish House burned a new building was built and dedicated in 1950.  Improvements in both the buildings and the grounds have been continuous.  Creighton Elizabeth Boggs, a parishoner, presented the History of St. Timothy's Episcopal Church at the 115th Anniversary Cellebration.  Her presentation is available here.  Creighton's brief written history is available here.

 

Features of the Building and Grounds

The church sanctuary features imported stained glass windows. A tour of the windows is available here.  


Bennett Hall, the Parish Hall, features a stained glass window over the French Doors to the Seay Garden.  The window was done by Nathan Strong, a parishoner, and dedicated to Father David Bridgforth in 2006.


                              


 

Around the Church are two gardens.  The Seay Garden, named for longtime member Mrs. Edna Cannon Seay, has small raised gardens along the entryway to the Parish Hall from Lincoln St.  It features a statue of St. Francis of Assisi and a bench for meditation.  The Beckham Garden on Calhoun St. was dedicated in 2006 in honor of Bishop William A. Beckham of South Carolina. It is a registered Quiet Garden with fountain, benches and sanctuary.

 Beckham Garden at St. Timothy's Church

Beckham Garden