--St. Barnabas Episcopal Church began in 1954 in Roanoke as the St. Barnabas Mission. On March 21st, 3rd Sunday in Lent, the --Rev. Frank Persons led the first service in Roanoke City Hall, at 7:30pm. There were 15 people present. --Then on April 25th, 1954, first Sunday after Easter, we held the first service of Evening Prayer in the old Presbyterian Church. --In June of 1961, the Rev. A. D. Perkins III became Vicar of St. Barnabas and remained in this position until July, 1974. --The Rev. Grady Richardson followed as Vicar, 1975 - 1977. Also the Rev. William Treat, the Rev. Frank Matthews, the Rev. James D. Walter and the Rev. Paul Cosby. --On Sunday, Nov. 14, 1993, the 21st Sunday after Pentecost, the new church building was consecrated at a service of Holy Communion, Baptism and Confirmation, by the Rev. Robert Miller, Bishop of Alabama, the Rev. Paul E. Cosby Jr., Priest-In-Charge and the Rev. A. D. Perkins III, preacher. --In Oct, 1994, the Rev. A. D. Perkins III returned as Priest-In-Charge and is still with us in 2004.