Lexington church explains removing R.E. Lee from name

Vestry voted to name it Grace Episcopal Church

LEXINGTON, Va. – A Lexington church named after a Confederate general now has a new name.

After more than two years of debate, the church vestry voted Monday night to remove Robert E. Lee from its name and restore it back to what it was when the church was founded, Grace Episcopal Church.

"To see folks so divided over our name and what our name means has been very difficult," Grace Episcopal Church Program Director Sharon Massie said.

The controversy over the name of Robert E. Lee Memorial Episcopal Church started after the Charleston church shooting in 2015 and has only escalated since then in light of recent events like Charlottesville.

"We wanted a name that was open and inviting. Many people believe our name was not inviting enough for our mission," Grace Episcopal Church Rector Tom Crittenden said.

The decision to rename the church has caused a deep division within the congregation.

"We’ve seen families leave, people leave," Massie said.

It has also captured the attention of people across the country. Over the past two years, the church has received countless calls and emails.

"There was a gentleman from Texas and he told me his Confederate lineage and he asked me if he had a vote in this battle and I said, 'well the vestry would decide about this sort of issue and so no, you don't have a vote in it,'" Massie said.

While many think this is a step in the right direction, church leaders also tell WSLS 10 they don't want to erase history.

"We understand the historical importance of Lee particularly to this community," Crittenden said.

That's why they're coming up with other ways to honor Lee.

"Restoring the name of the church to the name that Lee knew when he was a member of this church is part of honoring Lee and part of helping us come back together and go forward together," Crittenden said.

Church members say it's about much more than just a name.

“To see it coming down that we're arguing about this man when it's really not about him, it's about the grace of God and how can we glorify God," Massie said.

They hope a new name will bring a new focus to the church.

"We are Grace Episcopal Church and grace is a lovely word. I think that R.E. Lee would be very happy," Massie said.

One option they're considering for how to honor Lee moving forward is possibly naming another part of the building after him.


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