In January of 1977, a group of fifteen families organized the Sand Mountain Episcopal Chapel and began meeting over the Bains Appliance Store.  Although the families did not foresee a building for many years, one of their members heard of a little church building in Piedmont that was going to be torn down to make room for a parking lot.  Through the efforts of many, the wheels started turning—literally!  Prayers, plans and miracles began the saga of moving Christ Church, Piedmont, to its future home in Albertville.

On December 3, 1977, the little church was partially dismantled, put on wheels and moved sixty miles north.

When the restoration began, heart pine board and batten put together with wooden pegs and cut nails were discovered, to the delight of the parishioners.  The original bricks from the foundation were carefully cleaned and used as flooring for the narthex.  A red brick belfry houses the bell that was discovered under the church when it was being moved.  The bell is rung at the beginning of each service.

Lovingly and painstakingly, the members and others in the community came together to restore and retain as much as possible of the original little church.  In September of 1977, the congregation worshiped and prayed together for the first time in the little gray building.

In 1982, Bishop Furman Stough appointed Deacon John Sewell to serve Christ Church.  Under Father Sewell, Christ Church began to reach out in the community.  The Jubilee House was established to furnish clothes and other household items for the needy.  While Jubilee House began as a parish outreach program, other churches in Albertville became involved and this grew into a fairly large-scale service to the less fortunate in the area.  This community outreach program continues to the present.

In 1988, the Rev. John Carlisto succeeded the Rev. Sewell and in the years that Father John served as rector, the parish has been instrumental in many community programs.  Under the leadership and direction of Father John, the vestry and church members, the Cecil Wright Tutoring Center was opened to provide after-school tutoring and care for children in Albertville.

 

The Hispanic growth in the Sand Mountain area has been astronomical.  This parish was one of the first churches to respond to the needs of this community.  The parish provided ESL classes to teach English.  The diocese provided a priest and Christ Church provided the building for church services on Sunday afternoons.  Although our Hispanic bothers and sisters have moved into their own worship space, Christ Church in many ways has shared its gifts with the community.