About

General Staff

The Rev. James Medley, Rector.

James+ comes to us from the Diocese of Southern Virginia where he has been rector of two parishes and associate rector of another. Born and raised in the Richmond, VA area, James+ is excited to explore the Diocese of Masschusetts and Fall River. James+ and his wife, Dr. Janelle Mason, live in the South Almond Street rectory after moving from their previoius parish in Norfolk, VA. As southerners, both look forward to experiencing more snow than they are accustomed to in Virginia.

Colleen Taylor, Office Manager. Colleen is organized and always willing to help. She worked for the City of Fall River, as the secretary to the City Council for 29 years. She was very happy to have been selected for this new position in April of 2024.

Bill Lacey, Minister of Music. He’s a New England sports fan, for sure, and puts life into music here. A retired music teacher, Bill is lots of fun. Just make sure you root for the right teams around him!

Bobbie Niles, Property Manager. Bobbie does the heavy lifting around CHS. She coordinates care and repairs for the large church building, the S. Almond Street property and the rectory. A quiet presence, she gets things done!

History

In 2006, Church of the Ascension, the St. John’s/St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, and St. Mark’s Episcopal Church formed an “Inter-Parish Council” to pray and discuss how they might work together and share resources. In 2008, all three parishes vote to merge and stay at the former Church of the Ascension at 160 Rock Street in Fall River.

In the next ten years, Church of the Holy Spirit focused on ministry to the homeless, senior ministry, and being part of the Southcoast Mission hub that housed the Life Together program (providing training and experience for young adults to live into Christian leadership). In 2018, the parish entered into transition after the rector left for a new position.

History of the Parishes that Formed Church of the Holy Spirit

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church:
In 1870, a small group of Episcopalians began worshipping in the Flint neighborhood of Fall River. They first purchased an old one-room school house for $100 as the St. Mark’s mission church. By 1920, they had built a wooden church on Mason Street and, in the 1940’s stonemasons from the church built a stone church. Over the years, St. Mark’s engaged in many charitable acts, becoming known in the Flint neighborhood of Fall River as a place that would help the needy

St. John’s/St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church:
On October 6, 1878, St. John’s held its first worship service at Connell Hall. From 1880 to 1900, St. John’s built churches on South Main and Oliver Streets. However, more notably, the women of St. John’s were allowed to vote in parish elections beginning in 1894. St. Stephen’s mission church began worshipping in the south end of Fall River in 1893. St. Stephen’s was influenced by the Oxford Movement and so worshipped in the “High Church” style that came to be known as Anglo-Catholic. Over the years, St. John’s and St. Stephen’s worked together, establishing a relationship of trust and mutual concern. And so, in 1966, St. John’s and St. Stephen’s called a rector together and in 1993, the parishes elected to merge as the St. John’s/St. Stephen’s Partnership Church.

Church of the Ascension:
Church of the Ascension began worshipping in 1835. They built a wooden church that, on Christmas Eve of 1850, burned down, allegedly due to the burning of Christmas greens. The second building was started soon thereafter and was completed in 1875. In 1963, St. James Episcopal Church from the north end of Fall River closed and merged into the Ascension. Church of the Ascension was known for its generosity in helping the less fortunate. One of the primary reasons it was chosen as the building that would be kept in the 2008 merger was because it hosted so many agencies that worked to help those in need: two soup kitchens, three recovery groups, Habitat for Humanity, a Thrift Shop, and United Interfaith Action, a community organization.

Facilities

The main church building for Church of the Ascension was completed in 1875. The St. James Chapel was added in 1965 which incorporated windows, altar and other furnishings from St. James Episcopal Church. The large upstairs space houses Sunday School rooms, the STARMAKER THEATER and storage, while the lower level provides office space, bathrooms, and the parish hall, which has a commercial kitchen. There is storage space in the basement, along with our Thrift Shop.

Church of the Holy Spirit also owns a rectory on New Boston Road and another house on S. Almond Street that have housed the senior ministry, the Southcoast Mission Hub (and the Life Together program), and the Mount Hope at Kennedy Park intentional community.

If you or your group are interested in renting space in the church, please contact the church office.

General Staff

History

Facilities

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160 Rock St. Fall River, MA 02720