Church Pews from Suburban Church Supply, www.suburbanchurchsupply.com, were selected for the St James Episcopal Church in Eufaula, AL to renew one of the oldest churches in Alabama.

The first recorded Episcopal services were held in Eufaula by The Rev. A. Bloomer Hart in 1838, first in homes, then in the Tavern, a pre-Civil War house on Front Street and, now, the oldest existing house in Eufaula.

The Parish was being organized in 1844 as news of James K Polk's nomination for president arrived in Eufaula. Because of that, General John Hunter moved that the Parish be named St. James' and his motion carried unanimously. (The Church in Alabama, Walter C. Whitaker).

In spite of this rather partisan selection process, the name of the Church is associated with James the brother of John and son of Zebedee also known as James the Elder or Greater (as opposed to James the Less, brother of Jesus). The Church banner bears the symbols of St. James, three shells and a sword. The shells represent Spain where James is said to have traveled and preached. The sword is a reminder of the tradition that tells us James died a martyr's death.

The present building is the third Episcopal Church in Eufaula. The first was built in 1851 on Barbour Street. Around 1883, this frame building was moved to St. James' Place where the parish hall now sits, facing south toward the street and the library. The rectory next door was built in 1890. Ground was broken for the present building in 1905 and construction was completed in 1911.

The original pews came from the 1851 building and were finished in natural wood before being painted in the "Williamsburg" style. The interior is dark oak and the exterior is stucco.

The church pews were replaced in December 2006. Such a historic church required new pews made in the old time tradition by a company that could be trusted. The company chosen was Suburban Church Supply, a church pew company that has stood the test of time providing custom wood church pews to the Southeast for over 30 years. The new church pews were custom build and finished in a dark mahogany wood stain with the scarlet red fabric seats. You can see photos of the newly completed pews at the Suburban Church Supply web site at www.suburbanchurchsupply.com/html/church_pew_news.html.

Suburban Church Supply provides custom church pews, all kinds of church furniture, church chairs, moveable worship seating, communion tables, stained glass windows, and even church steeples for new churches or church renovation.

Visit the Suburban Church Supply web site at www.suburbanchurchfurniture.com for custom church pews, pew refinishing, or other church facility needs.

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