Jackson-Feild – Celebrating the past and embracing the future

While ministering to the people of Norfolk during the 1855 yellow fever epidemic, the Rev. William M. Jackson, rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, believed that “a Christian minister’s post in a time of trial was in the bosom of his flock, watching by the bed of death, comforting the bereaved, and encouraging the faith of the weakhearted.”¹

As the disease ravaged the communities of Norfolk and Portsmouth, there was a growing number of orphans left to fend for themselves…no family…no funds…little hope.

On August 27, 1855, Jackson was asked by a relief organization if he would “assume the care of the children made orphans by the pestilence. His noble reply was that if there were five hundred orphans, he would pledge the Church to be responsible for them; and from this time forth he took upon him the heavy burden of providing for them. The lecture-room of Christ Church, now Christ & St. Luke’s, was converted into a temporary asylum for them, and it was a pleasant thing for him to go in and cheer the sad hearts of the desolate little ones.”2   In October 1855, near the end of the epidemic, Jackson succumbed to the disease. In February 1856, the Virginia General Assembly approved the formation of the Episcopal Orphan Asylum, funded and operated by the parishes of St. Paul’s and Christ Church (later Christ & St. Luke’s). The home for children was later renamed The Jackson Orphan Asylum in memory of the man who did so much for the people of Norfolk and Portsmouth, and who literally gave his life for them. Initially the Asylum served boys and girls but somewhere along the line decided to serve only girls.   In 1920, the Rev. Norman F. Marshall – rector of Meherrin Parish and grandson of First Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court John Marshall – started a movement in Purdy, Virginia to found a home for girls. His effort was an outgrowth of a nationwide Campaign of the Protestant Episcopal church of America. Marshall’s Episcopal Home for Girls was established in the unused rectory of Grace Church in Emporia. In 1922, Mr.& Mrs. George Feild donated their ancestral property – Walnut Grove – to the Home. A year later, after extensive renovations were completed, the girls relocated to the house. In 1925, The Jackson Orphan Asylum and the Episcopal Home for Girls merged to become Jackson-Feild Episcopal Home for Girls.

In those early-20th century years, the Jackson-Feild Episcopal Home for Girls was an operating farm led by Superintendent Miss Edith “Ma” Gage. The staff and children lived their lives much as any family would. They grew and preserved their own food, raised chickens and dairy cows, maintained an orchard, and attended public school and Grace church.   The 1950s brought significant change to Jackson-Feild. Foster care homes – rather than orphanages – became the preferred environment for children in need of out-of-home care, particularly children who were abused and neglected. In response, the Board of Trustees approved a change in focus to serve at-risk children.

In 1955, a rectory was built for Jackson-Feild’s chaplain, but the greatest amount of growth came in the 1960s and 1970s. Until 1960, when Rogers Cottage was built, all the children slept in the home’s bedrooms, meals were cooked in the kitchen and served in the dining room, and the administrative staff worked out of various rooms. In 1963, the Edith Gage dining hall was built followed by the Lallie Darden Cottage in 1967, the Robinson-Withers gym in 1971, All Saints Chapel in 1979, and Gwaltney Cottage in 1992. (photo: groundbreaking for Darden Cottage in 1967)

 

In 1994, Gwaltney School was established in order to provide academic instruction to children as part of their overall program of care. To date, nearly 200 students have earned either their high school diploma or GED while at Jackson-Feild.

 

Jackson-Feild again adapted to the needs of children and became a residential psychiatric treatment program in the early 2000’s. Accredited by The Council on Accreditation, a variety of mental health services are provided including Neurotherapy, cognitive behavior therapy, and more. In 2012 Jackson-Feild at the request of public agencies decided to again serve boys.

 

Today, Jackson-Feild is a behavioral health organization treating children with severe emotional disorders. Utilizing a trauma-informed, trauma-focused approach, it serves 100+ children a year.

 

For 165 years, Jackson-Feild Homes has given hope, help, and healing to children. Its ability to meet their needs has never wavered, and while Jackson-Feild celebrates its past it also embraces its future.

www.jacksonfeild.org

 

¹ Rev. George D. Cummins, The Life of the Rev. William M. Jackson, (New York, Protestant Episcopal Society for the Promotion of Evangelical Knowledge, 1856) 69

 

² Cummins, Rev. William M. Jackson, 76-77

Diocesan virtual service for Christmas 1

As a gift to the Diocese, the Diocesan Office staff, in conjunction with diocesan liturgists, will be offering worship on Christmas 1, December 27. Our worship service will be offered virtually to the entire diocese and will be accessed via the diocesan website, YouTube channel and Facebook. It will also be an opportunity for the diocese to worship together during one of the most joyful times of the year. The service recording will be available for on-demand viewing after Dec. 27. O Come Let Us Adore Him!

Stations of the Nativity

We invite you spend some time during this season of Advent “walking” through the virtual gallery to reflect on the scripture passages and featured artwork for each station. The Stations of the Nativity provides the opportunity to connect words of scripture with art that was created by a number of gifted artists. View the Stations of the Nativity gallery here.

Some tips for navigating the Stations of the Nativity gallery:

The tour provides stops at each of the stations to help make navigation in the gallery easier. The program has an auto timer for each station but you can pause the tour, go back, go forward or select a specific station. If you click on the image the artist’s credits will appear.

 

We hope you enjoy the Stations of the Nativity.

Growing in Grace Through Loss and Change: Six-week study beginning in January

Beginning in January 2021, a six-week Growing in Grace through Loss and Change program will be offered via Zoom. There will be two opportunities to participate in this study: 4 to 5:30 pm Sundays (January 31 through March 7) and 6 to 7:30 pm Thursdays (January 28 through March 4). For better or worse, change involves loss. We’re pretty good at celebrating adding things to our lives, and not so good at routinely cleansing, healing, or processing things when we experience change, particularly when it involves loss. The experience of life during COVID, the death of a beloved human or pet, change in job, home, school, partner, health or economic status all cause grief. Growing in Grace through Loss and Change provides simple action steps to become a cleansing/healing machine and live a lighter, happier life. This study will also give you new skills in responding to losses in others’ lives and can be the foundation or expansion of a healing ministry in your parish. Click here for more information and registration.

Episcopal Migration Ministries offers virtual Advent vigil this Sunday

Episcopal Migration Ministries (EMM), in partnership with the EMM Asylum Ministry Network and EMM Immigration Detention Ministry Network, will host a virtual Advent vigil on Sunday, December 13, 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. The Advent vigil, available via Zoom and Facebook Live, will offer a time of prayer and reflection in a world being transformed by forced migration. Click here for more information.

Episcopal Relief & Development launches new online prayer experience

On November 30, Episcopal Relief & Development launched a new online prayer experience. It is designed to provide a curated list of prayers to guide supporters in praying for significant seasons in The Episcopal Church, disasters and other events. 

Content will come from The Book of Common Prayer, and other sources such as the organization’s Anglican partners, ecumenical friends, Seminary Ministry Partners, staff members, theologians and spiritual leaders. Initially, the prayers selected focus on all of those who were impacted by or responded to the record-breaking 2020 hurricane season. Future prayer experiences will expand to include prayers for liturgical seasons, other disasters, and Episcopal Relief & Development’s work with women, children and climate. The tool includes an “Amen” button at the end of each prayer which enables users to easily share the prayer with friends and family on either Facebook or Twitter.

Visit the main prayer hub at episcopalrelief.org/letuspray to learn more.

Employment opportunities

Part-Time AV/IT Technician

St. Andrew’s, Newport News, seeks a part-time AV/IT Technician to support the ministry and mission of the church by overseeing and coordinating all aspects of audio-visual production and information technology. To learn more about us, please visit: www.standrews-episcopal.org. Click here for job description and application information.

Data Entry 

 

The Diocese of Southern Virginia is accepting applications for a part-time Data Entry position. Click here for a position description. Interested applicants should submit a cover letter and resume to Lynn Farlin, Canon for Formation, at lfarlin@diosova.org or 11827 Canon Blvd., Suite 101, Newport News, VA 23606.

The Godspeed Project at Jackson-Feild

A resident at Jackson-Feild Behavioral Health Services (JFBHS) confided to Chaplain Robin Moore that prior to her placement she had no home and no place to sleep. The girl’s plight touched Moore’s heart and motivated her to act.

The Godspeed Project originated as a partnership between the Spiritual Care Program at JFBHS and Carson United Methodist Church in which the Women’s group graciously made and donated thirty pillowcases. Each pillowcase is unique and stitched with love; perhaps these ladies were thinking of their own children/grandchildren when they worked on putting the pillow cases together. The project seeks to supply each resident with a new handmade pillowcase to keep and take with them as they move on to the next place they will lay their head.

 

The Godspeed Project also includes an effort to partner with churches throughout the Greensville region to collect new, unused hard-sided suitcases to be offered to residents upon discharge so that they can pack their belongings instead of putting them into a trash bag, as is the case with so many youth.

 

Pillowcases and suitcases might seem insignificant, but they provide a sense of normalcy to those receiving and using them. They are tangible reminders to the youth that they are valued as human beings and will not be forgotten as they move on in their lives.

 

JFBHS welcomes churches and parishes to join in the Godspeed Project. If your church would like to help, please contact the Rev. Dr. Robin Moore at rmoore@jacksonfeild.org or 434-594-7909.