The Good Tree: A History of Saint Aidan’s

It was a project like no other. There was an energy right from the first meeting. Not everyone knew each other but it didn&;t matter. No-one knew how to do this thing but that didn&;t matter either.In 1993 the Right Reverend Frank K. Allan 8th Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta was keeping an interested eye on the rapid development of a northern suburb known as Johns Creek. He began to think about the Christian souls who were settling there putting down roots to begin a new life and raise their children in a new city. Where would they worship? How would they express their Christian faith? What could he do meet their needs?The Good Tree is the story of a group of parishioners from Saint David&;s Episcopal Church in Roswell who got together to build a mission church in nearby Alpharetta. Beginning with prayer and enthusiasm and guided by the inspirational Father Noel Burtenshaw the founding of a new mission church was a deeply spiritual and yet very human journey for all concerned. The Good Tree describes that journey from its unexpected beginnings through the first twenty-five years of highs and lows twists and turns including the difficult period that followed the ordination of Canon Gene Robinson as Bishop of New Hampshire.If you ever wondered how a church building comes to be in a particular place at a particular time or if you are interested in exploring the expression of Christianity in the modern world or if you are simply interested in reading an inspiring story about a group of ordinary people with a determined Christian purpose then you will enjoy reading The Good Tree.