The Reverend Dr. John Monro Banister served as the rector of the Church of the Nativity, Episcopal, from 1860-1906. He was born in 1818 in Petersburg, Virginia, graduated from Princeton University as valedictorian in 1840, was admitted to the bar in 1842 (but never practiced law) and died in Huntsville in 1907.

More Information about John Monro Banister


THE CHURCH OF THE
NATIVITY, EPISCOPAL

The Church of the Nativity congregation was organized December 17, 1842 - the name chosen because of the approaching Christmas season. The Convention of the Diocese of Alabama, Protestant Episcopal Church, approved the congregation on February 16. 1843. The original brick church, erected in 1847, stood east of the present structure.

The present church building, an outstanding example of Gothic Revival architecture, was designed by Frunk Wills and Henry Dudley of New York. Erected at a cost of $37,5OO, it was dedicated Easter Eve, April 13, 1859, and consecrated January 29, 1860.

NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK - 1990
(Continued on other side)

By: Deane K. Dayton

Rights: Deane K. Dayton

Date: 2010


212 Eustis Avenue SE

THE CHURCH OF THE
NATIVITY, EPISCOPAL
(Continued from other side)

Bibb Chapel was consecrated in 1806 as a memorial to Wilson Carey Bibb. Ridley Hall, for parish functions, was completed in 1953 as a memorial to Dr. James L. Ridley. Joffrion Hall, dedicated in 1983 as an educational building, was named for the Rev. A. Emile Joffrion, ninth rector.

For 150 years, Nativity was served by only ten rectors, two of whom became bishops. The Rev. Henry C. Lay, second rector, was consecrated Missionary Bishop of the Southwest (1859>. The Rev. Randolph R. Claiborne, Jr., seventh rector, was consecrated Suffragan Bishop, Diocese of Alabama (1949) and became Bishop of Atlanta (1953).

By: Deane K. Dayton

Rights: Deane K. Dayton

Date: 2010


Church of the Nativity, Episcopal

By: Deane K. Dayton

Rights: Deane K. Dayton

Date: 2012


Church of the Nativity, Episcopal

By: Deane K. Dayton

Rights: Deane K. Dayton

Date: 2012


Church of the Nativity, Episcopal

By: Deane K. Dayton

Rights: Deane K. Dayton

Date: 2012


Front: The Church of the Nativity, Huntsville, Ala.

Southpaw Postcards
George & Peg Heeschen

Rights: From the postcard collection of George and Peg Heeschen, The Southpaw, Huntsville, Alabama

Date: c1912

Visit the Southpaw website


"The Church of the Nativity Episcopal located on Eustis Ave. was organized in December 1842. This photo shows a funeral outside the building, which was constructed in 1859, and is still in use today. Considered a fine example of Gothic revival architecture in the South, it was designed by architects Frank Wills and Henry Dudley of New York and cost $37,500. The spire reaches 151 feet tall. The original church building and present church stood side by side until the orginial was razed in 1878."

Huntsville-Madison County
Public Library

Rights: Huntsville-Madison County Public Library

Date: unknown

Visit the Huntsville-Madison County Public Library website


Church of the Nativity, Episcopal

By: Deane K. Dayton

Rights: Deane K. Dayton

Date: 2012


Church of the Nativity, Episcopal

By: Deane K. Dayton

Rights: Deane K. Dayton

Date: 2012


Church of the Nativity, Episcopal

By: Deane K. Dayton

Rights: Deane K. Dayton

Date: 2012


Church of the Nativity, Episcopal

By: Deane K. Dayton

Rights: Deane K. Dayton

Date: 2012


Church of the Nativity, Episcopal

By: Deane K. Dayton

Rights: Deane K. Dayton

Date: 2012


Church of the Nativity, Episcopal

By: Deane K. Dayton

Rights: Deane K. Dayton

Date: 2012


Church of the Nativity, Episcopal

By: Deane K. Dayton

Rights: Deane K. Dayton

Date: 2012


Church of the Nativity, Episcopal

By: Deane K. Dayton

Rights: Deane K. Dayton

Date: 2012


Church of the Nativity, Episcopal

By: Deane K. Dayton

Rights: Deane K. Dayton

Date: 2012


Church of the Nativity, Episcopal

By: Deane K. Dayton

Rights: Deane K. Dayton

Date: 2012


Cast iron north fence 1859.

Architectural Collection of Harvie P. Jones, FAIA

By: Harvie Jones

Rights: Architectural Collection of Harvie P. Jones, FAIA, Dept. of Archives/Special Collections, M. Louis Salmon Library, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL.

Date: c1997


Cast iron north fence 1859.

Architectural Collection of Harvie P. Jones, FAIA

By: Harvie Jones

Rights: Architectural Collection of Harvie P. Jones, FAIA, Dept. of Archives/Special Collections, M. Louis Salmon Library, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL.

Date: c1997


Church of Nativity - East fence at Greene Street installed c1880s / newspaper item in HJ files (verify date).

Architectural Collection of Harvie P. Jones, FAIA

By: Harvie Jones

Rights: Architectural Collection of Harvie P. Jones, FAIA, Dept. of Archives/Special Collections, M. Louis Salmon Library, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL.

Date: c1997


212 Eustis Avenue SE

Architectural Collection of Harvie P. Jones, FAIA

By: Harvie Jones

Rights: Architectural Collection of Harvie P. Jones, FAIA, Dept. of Archives/Special Collections, M. Louis Salmon Library, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL.

Date: c1997


Cast iron gate c. 1859. (A calalogue item. Same design is in a Mobile cemetary - See Robert Gamble's book on Alabama Architecture.

Architectural Collection of Harvie P. Jones, FAIA

By: Harvie Jones

Rights: Architectural Collection of Harvie P. Jones, FAIA, Dept. of Archives/Special Collections, M. Louis Salmon Library, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL.

Date: c1997

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