BEVERLY — If a new altar isn't enough to mark the 10th anniversary of the Rev. Manny Faria, rector at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, a visit from the bishop — for the first time in five years — should do the trick.
The Rt. Rev. M. Thomas Shaw will give Sunday's 10 p.m. service and bless the new altar — paid for by an anonymous $100,000 donation from a parishioner.
"To me, it was a godsend," Faria said, "because I didn't think it was responsible to start a capital fund to move the furniture around."
But the donation came with a request that it be used to enhance the worship space, so church members spent the summer working with architects to create a new look.
They finished everything up a couple of weeks ago — just in time for Bishop Shaw to consecrate the new altar and chancel space around it.
"He was actually supposed to come in December," Faria said, "but he was called away to South Africa so he had to reschedule."
The trip is part of a regular rotation, where bishops make the rounds to different churches. The goal is to have them come once a year, but that doesn't always happen, and visits are often made by the two suffragan, or assistant, bishops. A visit by the diocesan bishop is an honor that hasn't happened since September 2006.
The biggest change to the space was eliminating a set of stairs leading to the chancel, so parishioners in wheelchairs can go forth to receive Communion. Church members also kept the original altar, but moved a second one forward — so Faria can preach closer to the congregation — and replaced pews with chairs on both sides of the chancel. Workers also created a credence table and cross out of a bulky wooden pulpit, and moved the baptismal font from the front of the church to the entrance, where it traditionally belongs.
Another parishioner also stepped up with a $30,000 donation to make the organ movable, so the space is more appealing for outside concerts or church events.
"It's much airier," Faria said. "It gives us the flexibility we never had the old way."
The space, however, still "looks like St. Peter's." Although there have been changes since he became the rector 10 years ago, the church has always maintained its identity, Faria said.
While some parishioners have come and gone, many others have remained a part of the community for years. Lately, there have been more young families with kids, which has led to a larger Christian-education program. Faria said he'd also like to start holding alternative services that appeal to high school and college students. Church members have also become increasingly involved with international issues, like the awareness of Arab Christians, and went on a mission trip to Israel last year.
"I'm very excited about what we're doing as a parish," Faria said.
Staff writer Cate Lecuyer can be reached at clecuyer@salemnews.com.
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