Christ Church Cathedral, the seat of the Episcopal Diocese of Lexington, faces you at 166 Market Street. Founded in 1796, this is the oldest Episcopal church in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Over the years renovations have sought to preserve the original structure, and it remains relatively unchanged.
The church created what is now called the Old Episcopal Burying Ground nearby; it held many who died during the cholera epidemics of 1833 and 1848, though most of the remains have been moved because of flooding. Beyond worship, the cathedral reaches into the neighborhood. Working with the Martin Luther King Neighborhood Association and Seedleaf, it established a community garden mainly to grow vegetables for nearby residents, and it encourages their participation in every step: growing, harvesting, preparing and preserving.
Hundreds of pounds of vegetables are given away annually to residents and community associations. In 2009 the garden was enlarged to include fruit trees and berry bushes. In recent outreach, Christ Church Cathedral has supported recognition of London Ferrill, the second preacher of First African Baptist Church; he led his church for 31 years, by 1850.
Notice the community garden nearby, enlarged in 2009 with fruit trees and berry bushes that now give away hundreds of pounds of vegetables each year.