Memories: Pulpit Exchange

The Rev. Ronald English

Photo from Quinnipiac Today, a publication of Quinnipiac University.

In the 1970s, Jim Lewis was St. John’s rector and Ron English was pastor of Charleston’s First Baptist Church, and they became friends. Both were well-known throughout the Kanawha Valley as being outspoken and well-liked church leaders.

They were an interesting pair, as Ron and his congregation were Black, while St. John’s might have had one or two parishioners who were not Caucasian. The two agreed to a pulpit exchange, which promised to be an unusual treat for both groups and both pastors.

Ron made it even more interesting. He asked Jim if he could bring the First Baptist choir with him so they could shout their customary A-mens during his sermon. Jim agreed and countered with the suggestion that our St. Ambrose Choir accompany him to the Black church. And so, it happened.

Obviously, many of us wished that we could be at both worship services, but I’m not aware of anyone from St. John’s who witnessed the First Baptist one.  I remember being one of many who welcomed Ron English to our midst.