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St. Stephens Episcopal celebrates 60 years Sunday

By Tracy Farnham | The News Herald

Published: October 15, 2009

MORGANTON - Dr. John Fleming will speak during a special 60th anniversary celebration for St. Stephens Episcopal on Sunday during the regular service at 1:30 p.m. with a dinner to follow.
Fleming grew up in Morganton and attended St. Stephens.
This year St. Stephens welcomed a new priest in April, the Rev. Francis King from the New Orleans area.
"I am having a great time in Morganton. The people are open and kind," he said.
King also is the priest of St. Mary's Church.
"We have a covenant relationship with St. Mary's," he added.
"St. Stephen's is a very unique church and it is really known for its warmth and friendliness. It is a family place and people have roots here," King said.
The family history is evident among Sunday's guest speaker whose brother Jimmy still attends St. Stephen's, King added. "John grew up in Morganton and went off to school. He is an accomplished historian and teacher," he said.
Following his graduation from Berea College in Kentucky, John Fleming went on to receive his PhD in American History in 1974 from Howard University. Fleming served on the Peace Corp and various commissions for human and civil rights. In 1988, the National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center in Ohio opened with Dr. Fleming as Founding Director.
Fleming has been awarded lifetime achievement and distinguished service awards as well as appointed by governors and former President Bush to serve on historical commissions and boards.
Currently, Fleming serves as the consulting director of the International African American Museum Project in Charleston, S.C.
He is married to Barbara Fleming, a psychologist and author. They have two daughters.
The Episcopal Bishop of the Diocese of Western North Carolina, Bishop Porter Taylor, also will attend Sunday's special service. "Bishop Taylor will be here to lead the service on Sunday," King said.
St. Stephen's Episcopal Church was established in 1889 and held meetings as a Mission in the upstairs of Philo Harbison's building located on West Union Street. Later on the Mission moved behind where Grace Episcopal Church is located today. The church located at 318 Bouchelle St. in Morganton was built in 1949.