History of the Parish
In September 2003, following the 2003 General Convention of ECUSA, Bud Darden, a former Episcopalian, published in the local Highlands and Cashiers newspapers a letter addressed to “The traditionally minded followers of the Episcopal Faith”. That letter served as the catalyst for the establishment of the Parish. In response to the letter, about 30 individuals attended an informational/ organizational meeting at the library in Cashiers.
Subsequent to that meeting, and after a great deal of prayer, investigation and discussion, the Parish was formed, adopting the name Christ Anglican Church, and later decided to become a part of the Anglican Province of America (APA). The Parish first held services in the Cashiers Library, and later at a Cashiers church. After a few weeks, the Community Bible Church (CBC), a large Evangelical Presbyterian Church located four miles from the center of Highlands on the road to Cashiers, invited the Parish to use CBC’s facilities on Tuesday evenings. Several months later, in early 2004, CBC’s Pastor gave the Parish permission to use the sanctuary on Sunday afternoons. The Parish began Sunday morning services at the Community Center in Highlands on the Cashiers Road, starting the Sunday after Easter of 2007.
During the first months of the Parish’s existence, visiting priests conducted services. In early 2005, the Reverend Tommy Allen, a recent graduate of Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry, was called to be a full-time priest. In December, 2006, he accepted a call to become a Coastal Crisis Chaplain in the Charleston, South Carolina, area.
In June of 2007 Christ Anglican called Father Cass Daly and his wife, Audrey, from St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Hartwell, Georgia. Before that he was rector of The Church of the Epiphany in Jacksonville, FL, and earlier, Associate Rector of St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Port Salerno, FL. He graduated Cum Laude from the University of the South's School of Theology, receiving his Master of Divinity in 1997. After that he received a Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Care from Andersonville Theological Seminary, graduating Summa Cum Laude.
Fr. Daly has been actively involved in the communities where he has served, both as a layman and as a priest. He has most recently served as Vice Chair of the Hart County Georgia Council on Domestic Violence, and on the Boards of the Hart County Literacy Council, The Hart County Clothes Closet and Food Pantry Board, and the inter-denominational Hartwell Ministerial Association. He has also been a Chaplain to the Hart County Prison and to the Hart County Hospital. It is anticipated that Fr. Daly will quickly assume similar responsibilities in Macon and Jackson counties and make significant contributions to our communities.
“My passion, as a priest, is to bring people to Christ in many ways. I love to teach and to preach.”
“My greatest gift, as a priest, is my ability to connect with people. I love to see a person grow spiritually. In a previous career, I was a coach and part of that is certainly still with me. I take great joy in encouraging, supporting and cheering for people in their faith walks.”
“We [Audrey and I] know that we are being called to work and action in a new Apostolic, Anglican mission.”
Christ Anglican Church’s prayer is that through Fr. Cass and Audrey Christ Anglican Church may be a true blessing to the communities it serves.