Parish History

​​1860s - The origins of the Episcopal Church in Como, Mississippi.

 

1872 - On Christmas Day, the cornerstone of the Church of the Holy Innocents was laid Mrs. N.R. Sledge, Sr. who suggested the name of the church building, Holy Innocents, in the name of her two infant grandchildren, Katie and Tommy Hunter, and in memory of their mother, who died in 1870. Their names are memorialized in the oculus above the front doors.  The Monroe Pointer family donated the land for the church and the Sledge family contributed the principal funds for the building.  

October 1873 - Holy Innocents was consecrated by the Rt. Reverend William Mercer Green, the first Episopal Bishop of Mississippi.

 

1881 - A rectory was constructed.  The six-room rectory served as the home of rectors and their families until February 1919, with new rectories replacing it as the years progressed. 

 

1946-1960 - Although classified as a parish during these years, Holy Innocents combined with St. Peter’s Mission Church in Oxford, with clergy that served both but resided in Oxford.  

 

1960s- In 1961 the Holy Innocents Vestry voted to request a change of status from a parish to an “organized mission” after 90 years as a parish. The newly structured mission built a parish hall and constructed a brick veneer vicarage which opened in 1966.  After a 21-year association with St. Peter’s, Como once again had a resident priest. Priests based in Como assisted with the founding of St. Timothy’s Church in Southaven and Holy Cross Church in Olive Branch.  

 

February 1970 - Holy Innocents became formally yoked with Epiphany Church in Tunica.

 

1986 - Holy Innocents began working to regain autonomy.  The church, with the financial support of the diocese, once again hired a resident vicar. These years marked Holy Innocents as a regional church with outreach serving primarily Panola and Tate Counties. The focus of the church was the community and liturgical life. 

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1990's - Holy Innocents experienced a period of growth with a fund-raising campaign culminating in the church undergoing an extensive physical restoration.  

 

2000's - The church, while remaining a mission, became financially independent with no diocesan funds necessary for operation.  Renewal of the parish hall and renovations to the sacristy and the addition of a columbarium were the major physical changes to the church during this period. For the  next two decades the church grew and expanded.

 

2018 - After decades of solid membership growth and financial independence, Holy Innocents was reestablished as a parish church of the diocese.