The entry of St. Jude the Apostle Church in the 1966 Architecture Competition sponsored by the Liturgical Conference has been named a finalist in Category II, a completed new church.

Architect of the building Albert O. Ordway of Atlanta designed the church in an attempt to combine the feeling of the traditional and the function of the modern church design. The architect was commended by the Conference on his “grasp of church architecture in the age of renewal.” The nave and two side transepts seat a total of 806. The basement of the church is an approved fallout shelter with facilities for 856 people.

The Church appointments, altars, baptistry, communion stations, pulpit, commentator’s lectern were designed by Ordway and are made of polished Carolina Diamond Gray Granite. All stress a design that is conducive for worship and prayer conforming with all requirements of the new liturgy.

The parish of St. Jude was established on October 1, 1960, with 141 families. Their permanent school and temporary church building was completed in 1962. The convent was completed in 1963; the rectory in 1965. The parish now has 550 families.

The general contract price for the church building was $784,000.