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Parish archivists representing six congregations and one school in the Mobile and Baldwin regions of the Diocese met in the Duvall Center on July 12, for a workshop led by the registrar-historiographer, the Rev. Albert Kennington. Bishop Kendrick welcomed the group, and in the afternoon, he invited the archivists and his staff to join him in a special tour of historic Old Christ Church in Seville Square, Pensacola. Lucy Rentz of Christ Church, Pensacola, and the West Florida Historic Trust was host for this tour.
A similar workshop and tour for archivists of other regions of the Diocese will be convened in the fall on a date to be announced soon.
The secretary of the Diocese, the Rev. Steve Pankey, participated in the workshop, speaking on the importance of recording, keeping, and passing on the stories of God at work with God's people in our Diocese. The workshop included review of the basic purpose and work of archivists, technical skills, the importance of protecting all paper records (especially parish registers and vestry minutes); challenges of rapidly changing electronic storage and accessibility, and the possible uses of archival material as our Diocese observes our 50th anniversary. A visit to the diocesan archival repository gave several archivists opportunity to find materials related to projects of their interest.
Of the 62 congregations in our Diocese, 28 have identified archivists whose work ranges from accomplished to just beginning. As we live into another hurricane season – with ample reminders of hurricane and tornado damaged churches – all of our congregations (and especially the clergy and vestries) are reminded to take special care that the official and impossible-to-replace records are safely secured. Every congregation needs someone to be particularly responsible and trained for this care.
Front: L-R: Marcia Pepperman, Vera Finley, the Bishop, Tyra Lancaster
Back: L-R: Poppy Beasley, Bob Peck, Christine Cramer, Fr. Steve Pankey, Fr. Albert Kennington, Carolyn Levensailor, Karen Raine.
Attending this workshop, in addition to the bishop, secretary, and registrar-historiographer, were Carolyn Levensailor (who tends the archives for St. Paul's, Mobile; Christ Church Cathedral; and St. Paul's School, Mobile); Bob Peck (Trinity, Mobile); Vera Finley, Tyra Lancaster, and Karen Raine (Good Shepherd, Mobile); Christine Cramer (Holy Spirit, Gulf Shores); and Poppy Beasley and Marcia Pepperman (Immanuel, Bay Minette).
The Rev. Albert Kennington is registrar-historiographer of the Diocese and vicar of Immanuel Church, Bay Minette