About Us

St. Agnes' Church is a historic church and a growing congregation in Cowan, Tennessee.  We are an Episcopal mission in the Diocese of Tennessee and part of the 77-million member Worldwide Anglican Communion.

History:

Cowan's first Episcopal congregation, known as St. Saviour's Mission, met in a two room house on Boiling Fork Creek as early as 1894. In 1899, under the leadership of Father Stirling Claiborne, the church acquired an abandoned chapel near Murfreesboro, Tennessee. With financial assistance provided by the St. Agnes' Sisterhood at Trinity Church, Wall Street in New York City, the chapel was brought to Cowan by railroad and reassembled on a donated lot.

The new church was consecrated on May 3rd, 1899 by The Right Reverend Thomas Frank Gailor, 3rd Bishop of Tennessee. The church was renamed St. Agnes' to honor the St. Agnes' Sisterhood for their generous contributions. 

Click here to read "The History of St. Agnes' Episcopal Church."

Worship Services

The primary service at St. Agnes' is Sunday at 11:00 a.m. All of our Sunday services consist of scripture lessons, prayers, hymns with organ music, and a sermon.  Two Sunday's per months we celebrate Holy Communion. 

This congregation also gathers for worship on Holy Days and Various Occasions, particularly Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

All of our services follow the biblical and beautiful liturgy of the Book of Common Prayer. The Holy Scriptures form the very fabric of everything we say, pray, read, sing and preach every time we gather in the Lord's Name.

Christian Education

St. Agnes' offers a Sunday school program on Sunday at 10:00 a.m.   The Sunday school classes teach the treasures of Holy Scripture and the history of our faith with an open Bible emphasis and a commitment to sound doctrine.

We have a Primary class for younger children, a Secondary class for teenagers, and a Parish class for the adults. (Through certain seasons we have a combined Parish class for all ages.)

Our most important Christian Education program is the Church Catechism that covers the basic teachings of the Christian faith.  This program is especially helpful to seekers and new believers. Catechism is an 8-week program and is available at any time of year by request. Simply contact the church at 931-636-6313 for more information and to schedule a class.

Outreach

As God is merciful to us, we should be merciful to others.

Locally, St. Agnes' supports Good Samaritan Ministries to benefit local families in need. Good Samaritan has a long history of providing food, clothing, and shelter in times of need. St. Agnes' also maintains a year-round stash of baby and maternity supplies that we give to local families with newborn infants.

Globally, St. Agnes' supports Gospel Partners of Tennessee in sending missionaries to Andhra Pradesh, India. The organization operates a school and orphanage and preaches the glorious gospel to Muslims living in the province.

In times of crisis or disaster, St. Agnes' responds locally or through relief and development agencies to help our neighbors in time of need.

Fellowship

As the earliest Christians joined in friendship and the breaking of bread, we too enjoy the fellowship of our church family at St. Agnes'. Every Sunday after the morning service we gather in the Parish Hall for coffee, pastries and conversation.

We do not hesitate when we say that St. Agnes' has some of the best cooks in town!  Just ask anyone who has been to our annual Sunday dinner, our annual church breakfast, or our soup and cornbread supper!

Building and Grounds

St. Agnes' is located in Cowan's downtown business district. The church campus consists of two historic buildings: the Nave, where services are held, and the Parish Hall, which includes a kitchen and a library/classroom.  

Our church yard features handsome landscaping with trees and shrubs donated in 2004 by the Men's Fellowship at St. Bartholomew's Church in Nashville.

We have extra parking in the gravel lot next to the church and barrier-free access from the front parking spaces to both front doors.

Click here to view photos of the church on Flikr.

Church Budget and Stewardship

St. Agnes' is a debt-free congregation.  The church operates on a structured budget with dedicated portions going to outreach efforts and relief ministries.  Our annual budget is pre-approved by the church membership and audited at the end of the year.   

Leadership

St. Agnes' is an organized mission of the Episcopal Diocese of Tennessee. We are under the blessed ministrations of The Right Reverend John C. Bauerschmidt, 11th Bishop of Tennessee. The Rev'd Gene Wise serves as our Priest and Celebrant.

The day-to-day operations of the church are governed by an elected Mission Council that consists of a Senior Warden, Junior Warden, Clerk and Treasurer.

The preparation of the church for worship services is handled by an appointed Altar Guild. The Sacristan oversees the altar set-up and the Sexton oversees the cleaning and maintenance of the church facility.

Community Relationships

St. Agnes' is a founding member of Cowan Ministerial Association.  The congregation directly supports Cowan Railroad Museum and Good Samaritan Ministries.

Individual parishioners at St. Agnes' are members of Cowan Commercial Club, Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, Franklin County Arts Guild, and Franklin County Historical Society.

Where We Stand

St. Agnes' is a traditional church committed to sound doctrine.

We stand firmly on the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the Word of God, the ultimate standard of faith, and containing all things necessary for salvation.

We exalt the Lordship of Jesus Christ as the Son of God, the Messiah, and the only name under heaven by which we are saved.

We accept the ancient Apostle's Creed and the Nicene Creed as most certain warrants of Holy Scripture and as sufficient statements of Christian faith.

This congregation affirms the biblical teachings and traditional understandings on human life, marriage, and sexuality.

Although our national church, the Episcopal Church in the USA, has erred on matters of faith, doctrine and discipline, the people at St. Agnes' stand firm on "the faith once delivered" and on the authority of Holy Scripture.  We are traditional Episcopalians who stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the Worldwide Anglican Communion.