Welcome to Christ Church Episcopal, Lead South Dakota in the middle of  the Northern Black Hills.

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A brief history of Christ Church.

The history of Christ Church is closely entwined with the history of the Homestake Gold Mine. Ownership of the mine was in the hands of the Hearst family, and Phoebe Hearst was, from  its earliest days, a patron of Christ Church. The first services of record were held in a room over a local pool hall. Moments of silence in the service were marked by the soft clicking of the billiards in the room beneath.

Christ Church was officially designated as a mission in 1881. By 1879 a ladies guild was engaged in fund raising for the building of a proper church. This project was a major undertaking because the nearest railroad was in Sydney Nebraska, 380 miles away. Bishop Hare, the first bishop of Dakota Territory, promised financial support and a priest to the struggling mission.

After the building of a wooden church structure the congregation continued to grow until the present brick building was erected. The Episcopal congregation seemed unable to leave its association with billiards however since the top floor of the very substantial rectory was fitted with billiard tables for the benefit of the local men and boys. It was occasionally a ballroom for festive community dances.

Early in this century the Hearst Free Kindergarten was established. This effort was under the patronage of Phoebe Hearst, mother of William Randolph Hearst. Many youngsters from Croatia, Serbia, Italy, Finland and Norway, children of immigrant parents, learned English in this way in Christ Church.

In 1920 Homestake needed the land upon which the church and rectory stood and utilizing employees the church and rectory were moved brick by brick to the present location. At this time a substantial bell tower with a set of three fine cast bells was added to the structure.

Today the parish has survived a decline in the gold mining industry, and finally the closing of the Homestake Mine. Lead is a much smaller community. The population decline has been reflected in the membership of parish, but worship, Christian education and a fine music program continue. The parish has learned the necessary skills to cope with adverse circumstances, and with the assistance of a half-time priest and a local deacon, Christ Church continues its ministry in the name of its Lord, Christ Jesus.