As a structure a church has more in common with ships than with other buildings. Like ships they are often referred to in the feminine, and they symbolically carry us towards our life's destination. The main seating area of a church is known as the nave since its shape is reminiscent of an inverted boat. Like a ship churches are "decommissioned" at the end of their useful lives.

 

    Our church building is only one aspect of our identity as a worshipping community. It is not the only building to have been called Saint Stephen's Church in Columbus, Ohio, and it likely will not be the last. But she has carried us from the early 1950's into a new century, and that alone is cause to celebrate how we and this building came to be at 30 West Woodruff Avenue.

 

    These slides are not intended to be a comprehensive history of Saint Stephen's Episcopal Church in Columbus, Ohio, but rather to be a kind of family photo album for us to remember our forbearers and honor their dreams. Perhaps they will also help us to carry those dreams into the future, and to dare to have a dream of our own; an house with room enough for all people.  AMEN