By Paula Day

Accompanied by a saxophone, parishioners of St. Anthony's Church in Blue Ridge marched into their new church October 28 singing "When the Saints Go Marching In."

After 23 years in the North Georgia town using a makeshift chapel for worship, Catholics claimed the new structure, blessed by Bishop James P. Lyke, OFM, as the "house of the Lord." They were joined by friends and townspeople from other denominations.

"There was standing room only," the pastor, Father Steve Yander, said, estimating 250 people crowded into the building which seats 178. Guests included Jewish and Protestant leaders and civic officials.

The ceremony began in the carpenter shop turned into a chapel, which has served as the congregation's place of workshop since 1976. A cypress cross from that building was refurbished and carried by parishioner Leonard Boymer into the new church several yards away.

As the procession crossed the parking lot, Joe Povlica's exultant rendition of the saints' marching song accentuated the afternoon's festive spirit. Father Yander had announced in late summer his hope to use the song if the church could be ready for dedication around the November 1 feast of All Saints.

At the door architect Richard Lyle presented the plans for the new church to Bishop Lyke and explained that his goal had been to achieve a balance between nature and shelter. A view from inside the church looked out with a squirrel's perspective through large clear glass panels into branches of oak, elm and sycamore that gather together all the colors of a North Georgia fall. The trees vary in diameter from three to four feet, attesting to more than 80 years of growth.

At the locked church door, project manager Joe Cumbie handed the key to Bishop Lyke explaining that it represented the hopes and dreams of the people of St. Anthony's. Bishop Lyke then gave the key to Father Yander who unlocked the door and welcomed all into the new church.

The two-level, 8,700-square-foot structure is T-shaped. The upper level is the church sanctuary. The lower level is a full unfinished basement to be used as a fellowship hall. It can accommodate 200 people at dinner. Restrooms and a kitchen complete the lower level.

On the upper level, glass panels and a clerestory above the center of the sanctuary permit light to suffuse the interior. Furnishings are in blue, mauve, burgundy and grey. Pews upholstered in a mauve fabric will arrive the first week in December. The church project designed by architects Proctor and Lyle cost $400,000. An additional $39,000 was allocated for exterior renovations to adjacent buildings. This includes replacing deteriorating roofs, insulating the Victorian-era rectory and converting the former chapel into two large meeting rooms. All three parish facilities now have the same stucco finish and similar trim.

During the dedication the bishop sprinkled the congregation and the new church with holy water and anointed the walls and altar. The pastor lit candles throughout the church. One guest, impressed by the liturgy commented, "I never imagined how you make a building holy."

The altar, designed by Father Yander, is of cherry wood and was crafted by parishioner Ben Balinski, who also made the tabernacle, credence table and ambo. Behind the altar hangs a seven-by-nine-foot quilt of the risen Christ, sewn by parishioner Barbara Hearts, who was also the organist for the celebration.

Jan Kelly directed the music for the dedication. The Allen organ is a gift from Blessed Sacrament parish in southwest Atlanta.

Judge Bobby Milam of the Appalachian Judicial Court was impressed by the ceremony which emphasized that a building was being dedicated to God, not to the memory of a person or event. A member of the local Baptist Church, he expressed a pride in having such a beautiful place for worship in the town, adding that "good Christian people are always an asset to any community."

After the ceremony, parishioners and their guests gathered for a reception and meal at the Fannin Inn, the town's newest restaurant.

In remarks at the end of Mass, Father Yander recalled the efforts of Father Denis Dullea, pastor of St. Joseph parish in Dalton, 52 miles across a mountain, to open the Blue Ridge mission in 1967. Masses were first offered in the office of an optometrist whose grandson, Leland Sarrell, was an altar server during the dedication Mass.

Prior to becoming a mission, Catholics in Blue Ridge were ministered to by priests from St. Catherine Laboure parish just across the border from McCaysville, GA, in Copperhill, TN. These men continued to help until the staff at St. Joseph was enlarged in 1980 and the Dalton parish could send a priest across Fort Mountain to live at the mission.

Father John Henley was the first to come and then, when he became pastor of St. Luke's in Dahlonega in 1981, Father Jorge Christancho took over the care of Hispanic Catholics in North Georgia and the Blue Ridge mission.

The mission became a parish in 1986 and Father Yander was named its first pastor. The parish now has its own mission, Good Samaritan in Ellijay. About 95 percent of parishioners are retired.

Although Catholics make up a small percentage of the population in Fannin County, they have had an impact in the area. They participate in ecumenical activities, such as a Thanksgiving prayer service and a Labor Day weekend barbecue to benefit county recreational activities for children and youth.

Last February, floods devastated neighboring McCaysville and Copperhill. The parish St. Vincent de Paul Society distributed food, blankets and cleaning supplies, and purchased appliances and building supplies to help families and businesses affected by the flood.

Willie Haight lives across the street from the church and in her 78 years in Blue Ridge has seen buildings on the site change from corn mill complete with windmills to cabinet shop to chapel to church.

"But it's not the church, it's the people who make the church, the lovely people that make the church that count," she observed. From the vantage point of her front porch, Mrs. Haight watched the progress as the new St. Anthony's took shape. She "grieved over" a costly accident involving a dump truck, and wouldn't have missed the dedication, "thoroughly enjoying it." With humor she tells members of her Baptist congregation, "If the Baptist church doesn't perk up, I'll join my buddies across the street." Mrs. Haight pointed out that Blue Ridge is a small community and all its people need to communicate.

Others from Blue Ridge complimented Father Yander and expressed gratitude for the beautiful church, one saying, "You're building a beautiful house for Our Father." One woman said to look out her window and see a cross was an "unexpected gift."

"They no longer fear us," Father Yander pointed out, "but see us as fellow pilgrims in faith."

The Blue Ridge church was the first church to be dedicated by Bishop Lyke in the archdiocese.

Father Yander and parishioners of St. Anthony invite those friends and former parishioners who were unable to attend the dedication to celebrate the completion of their new church with them at the 11 a.m. Mass on November 11.