Introduction

The mission of St. Dunstan's Church is to worship God, to witness to Christ's love in the world through outreach to others and to provide an environment for spiritual renewal. St. Dunstan's is a small church whose members span the generations. Established in 1965, St. Dunstan's is located on five wooded acres, a natural sanctuary for human beings and wildlife.

St. Dunstan's has a history of providing space for outreach ministries such as The Thomas Mitchum School for Handicapped Children and the Fertile Ground After-School Gardening Program. Mary & Martha's Place, an ecumenical center for women's spirituality, has been located at St. Dunstan's since 1994. The parish is active in ABLE (Atlantans Building Leadership for Empowerment), a multi-racial coalition of churches in Atlanta; with Holy Comforter Episcopal Church in Ormewood Park; and with Nicholas House, a shelter for homeless families. Wednesday night "village suppers" and Eucharist as well as Sunday morning liturgies are conducted in an open and inclusive atmosphere. Adult and children's choirs sing regularly and are accompanied by our Delaware-Parkey pipe organ. Our location and size make us a unique Episcopal parish in northwest Atlanta.

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History of Our Church

St. Dunstan's was founded as a mission of the Diocese of Atlanta in December, 1964, by a group of eight families, most of whom had been members of St. Anne's parish. This group wanted a modest family-oriented neighborhood parish with a strong commitment to local outreach and a supportive Christian community, stressing Christian formation.

The mission began regular services in Tuxedo Elementary School in January, 1965, and the Rev. Don Harrison became the first rector in 1965. Under his leadership, St. Dunstan's grew and gained a reputation for innovative programs for members and the surrounding community. Early in 1969 St. Dunstan's became a parish of the Diocese. That April, Don Harrison left to pursue his long-held interest in public housing for the needy.

The Rev. George Home accepted our call in August, 1969, and began a ten-year ministry at St. Dunstan's. During George Home's ministry, St. Dunstan's deepened its Christian commitment, growing in size and maturity. Following our time in the elementary school, we rented space from local churches. In 1970, the decision was made to erect a permanent building on Garmon Road property which had been purchased some years before. The first services in the new building (now the parish hall) were held on Christmas Eve, 1971. George Home resigned in August of 1979 to become vicar of the Church of the Transfiguration in Rome, Georgia. The Rev. Camille Littleton served ably as interim rector until April, 1980.

The Rev. Richard P. Pocalyko became St. Dunstan's third rector. It was during his tenure that the new church building was constructed. The new sanctuary was used for the first time on Easter Sunday, 1987. Rich Pocalyko left St. Dunstan's in September 1990.

The Rev. Margaret Harney served effectively and warmly as Interim Rector during a period of parish self-examination and revitalization. Maggie returned to St. Dunstan's in 1994 as Priest Associate and Director of Mary and Martha's Place.

In December 1992 the Rev. Margaret Rose accepted St. Dunstan's call to be its fourth rector. Margaret brought an enthusiasm and energy which attracted new members and increased lay participation in services and programs. Christian formation, outreach and inreach were high priorities for her, and it was under her guidance that we also branched out into new affiliate programs including Mary and Martha's Place.

In early 2003 Margaret accepted a call to work with the national church. After an extended search, during which we were ably served by The Reverend P. J. Woodall as interim rector, the Vestry announced on June 4, 2004 that our new rector was to be The Reverend Patricia Templeton.

Rev. Templeton, "Tricia," received her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism at the University of Georgia in 1978, and her Master of Divinity at the University of the South, School of Theology, Sewanee, TN, in 1994. She came to us from Chattanooga with her husband, Dr. Joe Monti, and their three year old son, Joseph. Tricia was most recently Chaplain for Hospice of Chattanooga, and Joe is a professor of ethics and theology at the School of Theology in Sewanee.

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Who Was St. Dunstan?

St. Dunstan, the 10th century English saint, was born near Glastonbury in England. A man of the church, a great scholar and a statesman, he gave up the worldly pleasures of the court of King Athelstan to become a monk in Glastonbury. He was known for his skill with metals, and today is revered by silversmiths as their patron saint. Out of his ability in metallurgy grew up the legend that Dunstan, tempted by the Devil while working at his forge, seized the devil's nose with his red-hot tongs. Dunstan became Abbot of Glastonbury in 945 CE, and made the monastery famous as a center of learning. He publicly criticized King Edwy, successor to King Edred. For this he was deprived of his offices and banished. But he returned to England in 957 and was made bishop of London the following year. In 960 he was elected archbishop of Canterbury during the reign of King Edgar, who followed Edwy. Dunstan retired to Canterbury in 978 after Edgar's death and remained there until his death in 988.

Dunstan was canonized for his piety, devotion to learning and dedication to the institutional church. May 19 is Saint Dunstan's Day.

St. Dunstan's shield carries the bishop's miter to symbolize his service as Archbishop of Canterbury; the scroll to symbolize his devotion to learning; the crown to symbolize his life dedicated to the King and Savior of us all; and the bellows to remind us of his practical vocation as a metallurgist. It may be viewed on the banner in the sanctuary. St. Dunstan lived c. 925 CE - 988 CE. (CE refers to the Common Era and replaces the old term AD - Anno Domini).

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