Relevant

Holy Cross began as a mission of St. Christopher's Episcopal Church, whose parishioners purchased land for the new church. After two years of planing and prayer by a nine member steering committee, appointed by St. Christopher's Rector, the Rev. Van Davis, Holy Cross held its first worship service on May 9, 1976, at Scenic Heights Elementary school under the leadership of its new Vicar, the Rev. Michael Hesse.

Worship continued at Scenic Heights until Sunday, March 25, 1979, when the congregation moved to its newly constructed multipurpose building on North Ninth Avenue. Worship services, dinners, meetings, rummage sales, and community service projects were all held in the same building. Much of the construction of the interior was crafted by the parishioners including the platforms, altar and rail, baptismal font and lectern, the central stained glass window, and the "Stations of the Cross" paintings on the north wall.

Holy Cross attained parish status in 1982. Fr. Hesse was called to be its first rector and served until 1992. The Rev. Betts Slingluff served as Assistant to the Rector from August, 1984 until his sudden and unexpected death in February, 1986. A new assistant, the Rev. William Geiger, accepted the call in September, 1987, and served until the fall of 1992.

The church grew rapidly during those early years and provided leadership in introducing new programs into the diocese, including Cursillo, Kairos, and a mission relationship with the Diocese of Guatemala, beginning with construction, by Holy Cross members, of a small chapel (Santa Cruz) in a jungle village of northeast Guatemala.

In December 1992, the Rev. Michael Schulenberg was called to be the second Rector of Holy Cross, and served until his retirement in December, 2002. The Rev. William Stoudenmire served as a deacon-in-training from 1993 until 1994.

In September, 2003, the Rev. Ray Waldon was called to be the third Rector of Holy Cross. Father Waldon served until July, 2007, resigning due to health issues.

The Rev. Jeffrey Jencks accepted the call to be Holy Cross' fourth Rector in July, 2008. He was previously Rector at St. John's Episcopal Church in Cumberland, Rhode Island.

Additional construction projects have resulted in more space for Christian Education, parish gatherings, and community programs. Interior renovation of the original building has provided more functional and attractive space for worship, choir, lounge, and library.

Plans including adding a fourth and final wint to the educational comples and enclosing the center area, thereby creating a multiple use parish hall, gymnasium, and community center. These structures, plus a covered walkway, from the main building to the educational complex will complete the master plan adopted by the church in the late 1970's.