Georgia Bulletin

The Newspaper of the Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta

Six bishops and other clergy members gather for a photo at the Church of the Purification following the 200th anniversary Mass.Photo by Allen Kinzly
Six bishops and other clergy members gather for a photo at the Church of the Purification following the 200th anniversary Mass.

Sharon

Church of the Purification celebrates 200 years 

Published March 6, 2023

SHARON—On Feb. 2, six bishops, several priests and laymen and women celebrated the 200th anniversary of the historic Church of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Sharon.  

The clergy came from the dioceses of Atlanta, Savannah and Charleston to celebrate a Mass in the church, which was followed by the blessing of the sculpture “Simeon and the Christ Child” by artist Kevin Chambers of Atlanta.  

Archbishop Gregory J. Hartmayer blessed the statue of Simeon at the Church of the Purification in Sharon Feb. 2 as part of the church’s 200th anniversary. Photo by Amanda Hailey

The event concluded with a prayer and blessing of the original church site in Locust Grove Cemetery by Bishop Jacques Fabre-Jeune, CS, of the Diocese of Charleston. This fitting end to the day’s program highlighted the original dedication of the church by Bishop John England of Charleston on Feb. 2, 1823. 

Sharon is the site of the oldest Catholic congregation in Georgia, circa 1790. For information, visit www.purificationheritagecenter.org. 

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