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Our History |
Feeding Hills, a village of Agawam, Massachusetts, was so named because it served as pastureland for cattle herds in colonial days. In 1925, that section began to feed souls as well when the Rev. Arthur Wells Brown, of Good Shepherd in West Springfield, identified 75 Episcopalians living in Agawam. His enthusiasm for serving these residents triggered the establishment of Saint David's as a mission Church.
Funded by donations of land and fine linens, along with surplus supplies from parishes throughout the diocese, the first women's group was organized to refinish deacon's benches to be used as pews for the church (later painted by the men).
Funded by donations of land and fine linens, along with surplus supplies from parishes throughout the diocese, the first women's group was organized to refinish deacon's benches to be used as pews for the church (later painted by the men).
Christmas Day of 1925 was especially joyous for Agawam Episcopalians as they celebrated the first worship service of the mission church. One parishioner noted that "Many tears of joy flowed without shame at that first service, for we had all received much more than we had given."
Sadly, in 1927 a hurricane scattered pieces of the church building. Members salvaged what they could, determined to start over again. A foundation was built and capped, and services held in the basement until 1928 when the first permanent church at 522 Springfield Street was completed.
During the Depression, the congregation kept the church alive with the aid of church suppers, bazaars, and other fund raising projects. Later favorites were the innovative railroad suppers when parish youths would set up train tracks on dining tables and send freight trains carrying condiments back and forth. St. David’s continues to have an active community supper group to this day.
By 1955, the parish had prospered enough that the vicar could move from a rented third-floor apartment on Elm St. in West Springfield to the first vicarage, a small brick home at 111 Letendre Ave., Feeding Hills, and then, in 1960, to a larger vicarage at 56 Reed Street, Agawam. As the town and the congregation continued to grow, St. David's constructed a new church building next door to the old church (which was then used as a parish hall). A connector building was constructed between the parish hall and church building in 1978, and included offices, rest rooms and a library/small meeting room. Construction continued during the Rev. Cowan's years (1981-2001) with the completion of an undercroft, new stairwells, and the installation of memorial stained glass windows. Among the uses for the new facilities were a plethora of youth activities, with a junior choir, Boy Scout troop, vacation bible school, and junior and senior basketball league teams.
In 1983, proud parishioners attended the diocesan convention en masse to relinquish the title of mission for that of a full-fledged parish. The vicar, Rev. Cowan, officially became the new parish’s first rector. As the governing rules of the Episcopal Church evolved, laity performed an increasingly vital role in the parish. Men and women together served on the vestry, as layreaders, eucharistic ministers and eventually lay pastoral care providers.
Saint David’s prospered under the Reverend Cowan. To meet the needs of a growing congregation, the Rev. John Parke was called to be associate pastor in 1988, as was the Rev. Scott Seabury in 2000. Continued growth necessitated holding 10 am services at the Agawam Middle School for three years while a new building was built at the current location of 699 Springfield Street. With great celebration, the people of Saint David’s moved to the new building in 1997.
After the departure of the Reverend Cowan in 2001, Saint David’s entered a difficult transitional period. It was hard to say good bye to a beloved priest who had led the Church through important changes. The Reverend Peter Fritsch served as Rector for one year, during which the Church experienced some decline.
Things stabilized under the Reverend Dan Barker, and the Reverend Darius Mojallili, and we have resumed a slow but steady growth under our current Rector, Harvey Hill, who came to Saint David’s in 2011.
Saint David’s continues to build on the solid foundation provided by past generations as well as to meet the needs of our own time. We gather for worship every Sunday at 8:00 and 10:00. We offer formation opportunities for adults and children each week. We care for each other, and we reach out to a hurting world.
Our future is bright because it is in God’s hands. We are empowered by the Holy Spirit. We follow in the footsteps of our Lord Jesus Christ. And we look forward in hope to God’s kingdom of peace and justice and love. Thanks be to God!
Sadly, in 1927 a hurricane scattered pieces of the church building. Members salvaged what they could, determined to start over again. A foundation was built and capped, and services held in the basement until 1928 when the first permanent church at 522 Springfield Street was completed.
During the Depression, the congregation kept the church alive with the aid of church suppers, bazaars, and other fund raising projects. Later favorites were the innovative railroad suppers when parish youths would set up train tracks on dining tables and send freight trains carrying condiments back and forth. St. David’s continues to have an active community supper group to this day.
By 1955, the parish had prospered enough that the vicar could move from a rented third-floor apartment on Elm St. in West Springfield to the first vicarage, a small brick home at 111 Letendre Ave., Feeding Hills, and then, in 1960, to a larger vicarage at 56 Reed Street, Agawam. As the town and the congregation continued to grow, St. David's constructed a new church building next door to the old church (which was then used as a parish hall). A connector building was constructed between the parish hall and church building in 1978, and included offices, rest rooms and a library/small meeting room. Construction continued during the Rev. Cowan's years (1981-2001) with the completion of an undercroft, new stairwells, and the installation of memorial stained glass windows. Among the uses for the new facilities were a plethora of youth activities, with a junior choir, Boy Scout troop, vacation bible school, and junior and senior basketball league teams.
In 1983, proud parishioners attended the diocesan convention en masse to relinquish the title of mission for that of a full-fledged parish. The vicar, Rev. Cowan, officially became the new parish’s first rector. As the governing rules of the Episcopal Church evolved, laity performed an increasingly vital role in the parish. Men and women together served on the vestry, as layreaders, eucharistic ministers and eventually lay pastoral care providers.
Saint David’s prospered under the Reverend Cowan. To meet the needs of a growing congregation, the Rev. John Parke was called to be associate pastor in 1988, as was the Rev. Scott Seabury in 2000. Continued growth necessitated holding 10 am services at the Agawam Middle School for three years while a new building was built at the current location of 699 Springfield Street. With great celebration, the people of Saint David’s moved to the new building in 1997.
After the departure of the Reverend Cowan in 2001, Saint David’s entered a difficult transitional period. It was hard to say good bye to a beloved priest who had led the Church through important changes. The Reverend Peter Fritsch served as Rector for one year, during which the Church experienced some decline.
Things stabilized under the Reverend Dan Barker, and the Reverend Darius Mojallili, and we have resumed a slow but steady growth under our current Rector, Harvey Hill, who came to Saint David’s in 2011.
Saint David’s continues to build on the solid foundation provided by past generations as well as to meet the needs of our own time. We gather for worship every Sunday at 8:00 and 10:00. We offer formation opportunities for adults and children each week. We care for each other, and we reach out to a hurting world.
Our future is bright because it is in God’s hands. We are empowered by the Holy Spirit. We follow in the footsteps of our Lord Jesus Christ. And we look forward in hope to God’s kingdom of peace and justice and love. Thanks be to God!
