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| Conference Center at Rock Point |
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| Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Burlington |
As a scepter is a symbol of authority in the hands of a
ruler, so the beautiful property of Rock Point is emblematic of the Diocese of
Vermont. Juxtaposed with the natural historic appeal of the Rock Point property
stands the testimony to the modern creative imagination of mankind in the Cathedral
Church of St. Paul—the “throne” of the Episcopacy. The two represent all that
is diverse in our diocese and celebrate, even invite that diversity. More than
any other properties in our diocese, these two entities belong widely to all of
us. Inasmuch as our parishes are our church homes, Rock Point and the cathedral
are our “back yard and playground.”
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| Vermont Episcopal Institute, archived photo |
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| images of the Bishop's House |
Rock Point’s colorful history parallels its scenic beauty. The
property was “given” to the diocese by John Henry Hopkins, Jr. under the
condition that Bishop Hopkins debts and his own incurred in the purchase of the
land be absolved and that the bishop’s dream of establishing a school and
seminary on the grounds be secured. And so in 1860 the Vermont Episcopal
Institute was opened for use and included an academic wing for a boys’ school
and a theological wing for the seminary. Both schools shared a central chapel. The Institute functioned as a school and
seminary until 1899 when it was closed. The building stood empty for decades
until the diocese converted it into a Diocesan Center. Meanwhile, in 1888,
Bishop Hopkins Hall, which is now Rock Point School, was opened as a girls’
school. That school, too, was closed in
1899 as costs for these academies became prohibitive. However, the school in
Bishop Hopkins Hall underwent a number of incarnations, and today is a coed
school for students with special educational needs and has an entirely
different history line than that of the other schools housed in the building. In
1895, the current Bishop’s House was built under the auspices of Bishop Arthur
Hall. Bishop Hall was a member of the
Society of St. John the Evangelist, and thus designed the building after the
“mother house” in Crowley, England (a capital H footprint). Looking out of the
dining room window, one can see the Bishop’s Cemetery wherein all Vermont
Bishops and their kin may be buried. In 1937, the Chapel of the
Transfiguration, more widely known as the Outdoor Chapel, was consecrated
adding another element to the total property.
It became apparent in 1968 that the business of the diocese needed
meeting and office space other than that in the bishop’s residence. Rather than
including offices in the ongoing Institute building renovations project, the
current Diocesan Offices were built. In
1979, the beautiful gothic building that was the old Institute was destroyed by
fire and its remains demolished and buried on site. Since it was insured for
replacement value, work for the new conference center was set immediately into
motion, and on September 30, 1980, Bishop Booth Conference Center was
consecrated. The most recent and exciting addition to the Rock Point properties
is the solar array which was consecrated on April 30, 2012 and is designed to
provide 75% of the electricity use on the Rock Point property.
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| images at Rock Point School |
Today, Rock Point is a serene hub of diocesan activity. Rock Point School is home to 30-40 students
during the academic year from all over the country; 15 during the summer
session. The school was and is actively involved with the solar array installation,
taking advantage of the opportunity to learn about renewable energy and
sustainability. Right next to the solar array and on both sides of the Diocesan
Office is a large community garden that helps provide locally-grown food to the
surrounding community. At any time
during the day, you will likely see someone tending the many beds.
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| images at the diocesan offices |
The Diocesan
Office is an unassuming building that provides an open and welcoming atmosphere
to all visitors. There must be a story about the ornately carved grandfather
clock, but it’s a story you’ll have to find out on your own!
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VT Bishops, clockwise from top left: John Henry Hopkins,
William A. H. Bissell, Arthur C. A. Hall, Samuel Babcock Booth,
Vedder Van Dyck, Harvey Dean Butterfield, Robert Shaw Kerr,
Daniel Lee Swenson, Mary Adelia McLeod, Thomas Clark Ely |
In the hallway,
you will find the walls adorned with portraits of most of the Episcopal Diocese
of Vermont bishops (Bishop Hall, the 3
rd bishop is elsewhere and
Bishop Hopkins graces the conference room). Up the road from the office building is the Bishop’s House. The house is
H-shaped with a common room in the center and the Bishop’s Wing on the left and
the Family Wing on the right. The Bishop’s
Wing includes the library (which is now an archaic period piece), the bishop’s
study and upstairs is the chapel which has been used for private baptisms,
confirmations and other services.
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| Bishop Booth Conference Center |
And just a little beyond the residence are
the buildings of the Bishop Booth Conference Center. The center includes the
Bishop Van Dyck dormitory building, the Bishop Butterfield main hall with more
rooms, a dining hall, a library and meeting rooms, and the Bishop Kerr building
which houses St. Michael’s Chapel and conference facilities. BBCC hosts several
retreats throughout the year, including Advent and Lenten retreats, family
retreats, and a host of other conferences. The center is nestled in a gentle
wooded glade that overlooks Eagle Bay on Lake Champlain. A path leads down to the bay where summer
campers can go swimming, boating and exploring. A short walk down an overgrown road
brings you to the Chapel of the Transfiguration across from an open field where
once stood the Vermont Episcopal Institute. And just beyond that, you will find
the summer camp cabins. As you make your way down to Lone Rock Point, you will
see some of the rarest, oldest and most interesting geology in the world! The
overthrust is an exposed ancient fault where two distinct plates are visible
and the crushed rock between the plates indicates the fault. The upper layer is rock that has moved some
30-50 miles from the east! Rock Point has trails that will lead to this site
and many others around the peninsula.
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| images from the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Burlington |
Two miles south of Rock Point, and less than a ten minute
drive brings you right into the heart of downtown Burlington. On the corner of
Battery and Cherry Streets, right above the lakefront, stands the imperious majesty
of the Cathedral Church of St. Paul. The
controversial building is ultra-modern in its architecture and composition,
being constructed of enormous blocks of stressed concrete. The church was built in 1973 on its new
location overlooking the lake and the Adirondack Mountains after a devastating
fire in 1971 destroyed the old St. Paul’s Church. The Cathedral Church of St.
Paul has something of a Janus-like character: it is both a parish church with
local pastoral responsibilities and is a diocesan cathedral church with services
and hospitality offered for the parishes within the diocese. For instance, two
of every three diocesan conventions are held at the cathedral. And of course,
the Hopkins Bookstore is housed at the cathedral. The cathedral serves in partnership with
Cathedral Square, a housing development for seniors and low-income households.
St. Paul’s also partners in JUMP (Joint Urban Ministry Project) with other area
churches, which promotes physical, emotional and spiritual well-being of those
in need of pastoral care. The church has supports the work and mission of the
Integrity Vermont Group. Integrity affirms the LBGT community in God’s family
and works for full inclusion of this community in all of the sacraments.
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| "Viola Finding Her Voice" by Melinda White-Bronson |
The parish has a large and active children and youth
contingent, with the youth group (SPY-St. Paul’s Youth) taking mission trips each
year, most recently to El Salvador. Many children sing in the Treble and
Canterbury Choirs. The Treble Choir is comprised of children in grades 2-5 and
trains young singers using the Royal Chorister Training Program. By the time they graduate to the Canterbury
Choir, grades 6-12, singers are well able to sight read music and learn advance
methods of choral singing. Together,
these beautiful choirs enhance the 9:00am Sunday worship service at St. Paul’s. Music is an integral part of cathedral life. This summer as part of the Cathedral Arts
program, a visual arts exhibit called “Drawn to Music” displays unique music-themed
artwork by local artists. Cathedral Arts
also includes performing arts. It is supported by and supports the local chapter
of Episcopal Church and Visual Arts (ECVA), a church-wide program exposing local
area artists. Each year, an aspect of Episcopal life is chosen to be the theme
for the artwork entered in the display.
St. Paul’s is currently in the midst of renovating its St.
Francis Chapel. The chapel will be a meditative haven for contemplative
worship. The 8:00am service is a Contemplative Holy Eucharist that includes a
10-15 minute quiet period of meditation following communion. To sit in quiet
company, each in his own silent space, really deepens one’s sense of connection
with God in one another. The Cathedral offers a Meditation Center where
meditation groups gather three times each week at different times to
accommodate one’s schedule. The Meditation Center is an offering to the diocese
and other Christian communities in Vermont and upstate New York.
The descriptions in this blog are merely a glimpse of all
that Rock Point and the Cathedral Church of St. Paul have to offer our diocese.
For those who have never experienced either place, do not lose the chance to do
so at your earliest opportunity! These are true treasures of our diocese, and
ought not to be kept secret! I encourage you, dear reader, to visit these sites
(both physically and virtually) with all my enthusiasm!
Rock Point—Bishop Booth Conference Center:
Rock Point Blogspot:
Rock Point School:
Cathedral Church of St. Paul:
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