Hixson to lead Holy Cross Anglican ‘good news’
The Rev. Myles Hixson with wife, Liz Hixson and son, Mylo, will join Farragut’s Holy Cross Anglican Church when he is officiated as the church’s new rector in October.
Holy Cross Anglican Church, 515 Herron Road, has chosen the Rev. Myles Hixson to lead the church starting Sunday, Oct. 6. He met with parishioners and the diocese bishop at the Sept. 15 service and luncheon that followed.
“I’m glad to be here,” Hixson said just before the Sept. 15 service. “I’m excited to see what the Lord is doing here.
“I think Holy Cross is positioned to really reach Farragut and the wider Knoxville area with the Gospel through traditional Anglicanism,” he added. “We’re here in the Bible belt.
“Most people are Baptist or non-denominational, but I think a lot are searching and looking for something that goes deep, is historic and traditional and goes back to the Apostles.”
Hixson said of Holy Cross Church, “And here we are, this little gem in East Tennessee, so I’m excited to be able to spread the good news of Jesus.”
A native of Chattanooga, he is a graduate of Bryan College in Dayton and Beson Divinity School in Birmingham, Alabama. He comes to Holy Cross with more than six years’ experience in teaching, pastoral ministry and foreign missions.
Most recently, he was serving at St. John Lutheran Church in Roanoke, Virginia, where he was associate pastor.
At Holy Cross, Hixson will be responsible for teaching, preaching, pastoral care and worship.
“Holy Cross welcomes the community to attend (the Oct. 6 service at 10:30 a.m.) and meet Father Hixson, wife Liz and 1-year-old son, Mylo,” said Gregory Davis, Holy Cross parish member.
Holy Cross Anglican Church is a parish of the Anglican Province of America in the historic Anglican tradition. Sunday’s service was a day to celebrate the church, and its members welcomed Bishop Walter Grundorf, leader of the Anglican Province of America, a diocese covering the Eastern United States from Maryland to Florida.
As the church was named after the Holy Cross, “every year, we will celebrate this day,” the church’s Feast Day, said Jerry Aiton, senior warden who leads the non-clergy congregation.
“I do hope you celebrate the celebration today and the mass,” said Father Scott Koszalinski, the supply priest serving as interim rector.
While the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is not found in the church’s prayer books, it is in the liturgy of the church, Grundorf said, adding, “We need a special day for Holy Cross Church ... a great day to be here.”
In his sermon, Grundorf related the significance of the cross, a symbol of Christian faith and of sorrow and joy.
“Always venerate the cross,” he urged. “Remember what happened on that cross.
“Never take it for granted.”
