The Dedication of Fellowship Hall
Saint Peter's Church in the Great Valley
January 18, 2006

An entry on the opening page of the original Vestry Book of St. Peter's Church in the Great Valley, dated 1744, states simply “Be it Remembered that this Year St. Peter’s Church Was Built . . . “ We have no description of a service of consecration or dedication of this new stone structure, though contemporary documents make it quite clear that a service thanking Almighty God was offered for the permanent replacement of the original wooden chapel.

Now, 262 years later, on the same high hill within the Chester Valley, a sacred, beautiful and historic service of consecration and dedication was offered to God for a new worship structure.

In the liturgical calendar, January 18, 2006 is the Feast of the Confession of St. Peter, a special commemorative day in the worship year of St. Peter's Church in the Great Valley. What better day to consecrate and dedicate the building for which ground was broken in April, 2005, and which some refer to simply as the Barn and others as Fellowship Hall. All agree, however, that this new structure is truly God’s gift to the people of St. Peter's Church in the Great Valley “to make Him known in the wider community.”

The very moving ceremony of dedication and consecration began in the Parish Hall of the historic old church. After an opening prayer by Right Reverend Bishop Charles E. Bennison, Jr., Bishop of the Diocese of Pennsylvania, a group of several hundred parishioners and friends processed through a cold January night to the adjacent sanctuary led by a crucifer and accompanied by the skirling refrain of a bagpipe.

Members of the congregation symbolically carried the building’s blueprints, the sacred vessels with bread and wine for a celebration Eucharist, the altar cloth, the ewer of water for the baptismal font, the Altar Book, the Eucharistic Readings Book, the floral arrangements, and the keys to the building.

After a Litany for the Church sung by all the people outside the door of the new sanctuary, Bishop Bennison symbolically knocked on the door with his staff and proclaimed, “Let the doors be opened.” Using his staff he marked the threshold with the sign of the Cross. Then, after saying the words “Peace be to this house, and to all who enter here”, the entire congregation processed into the new sanctuary.

After opening prayers by the Bishop, our Rector, and our Rector’s Warden, the Bishop consecrated the Baptismal font and the Ambo (the lectern from which Holy Scripture is read and the Word of God is preached).

We heard readings for the Feast of the Confession of St. Peter by Mrs. Connie Braendel (our parish’s oldest parishioner), and Andrew Ockenden. Bishop Bennison delivered a moving sermon, followed by the Nicene Creed, and the Prayers of the People. During the Peace, several special guests were especially welcomed.

Bishop Bennison then moved to consecrate the Holy Table, after which Holy Eucharist was celebrated.

A brass ensemble, and the joint choirs, led by Dr. Martha Johnson and Associate Organist / Choirmaster Dr. Bruce Glenny, performed an array of service music including a world premier of “Psalm 84” by Bruce Neswick, commissioned by the Vestry for this Dedication.

After the Recessional, the joyful congregation was hosted to refreshments and the after-glow of an historic evening.

Photographs courtesy of Roger Thorne