Former Lake Forest Symphony music director returns to town as pastor of Grace Anglican Fellowship

Exchanging his formal attire and title as music director of the Lake Forest Symphony, Maestro Alan Heatherington has donned a clerical collar as Rev. Father, following his ordination to the priesthood in the Anglican Church in North America.

Known as Grace Anglican Fellowship, a new church, founded by Father Heatherington under the auspices of the Diocese of Quincy, met initially in the Heatherington's Libertyville residence.

Having outgrown that space, negotiations began with the Archdiocese of Chicago and Saint Patrick Church in Lake Forest, resulting in a license agreement allowing Grace Fellowship to worship on Sunday mornings in the Old Saint Patrick Church, at the corner of Waukegan Road and Everett Road.

This historic building became available when Saint Patrick Church moved to its new building next door.

"I am excited to return to Lake Forest, a community I have been a part of for over 40 years," said Rev. Fr. Alan Heatherington. "Having been concertmaster of the Lake Forest Symphony, and later its music director, as well as minister of music at the First Presbyterian Church, and a parishioner at Holy Spirit Episcopal Church, it is a privilege to return to the community now as a pastor."

"Grace Fellowship is not just another church in town," observes a congregant. "It offers a unique blend of historical Anglican worship (liturgy), solid Orthodox faith and traditional church music. For those who desire a return to beauty in worship with a sense of awe and reverence for God, you will find it at Grace."

Gayle Heatherington adds, "There are many options available on the North Shore for contemporary worship and music. But for those wishing to sing familiar hymns of the faith, and experience classical music as a part of their worship, the choices are few. Grace Fellowship fills that void."

Grace Anglican Fellowship began services on June 18, 2017, with Sunday worship at 10:30 a.m.

Beginning Sept. 10, an adult education class on the history and basics of the Anglican Church (Anglicanism 101) will precede the 9:30 a.m. service.

In addition to the Sunday morning service in Lake Forest, each week Grace Fellowship offers a Sunday evening fellowship dinner at 5:30 p.m. followed by Bible study, the beautiful service of "Evensong," and dessert and coffee at the Village Church of Lincolnshire on Riverwoods Road just north of Route 22.

Sunday evenings are attended by Grace Fellowship congregants as well as Christians from many other churches and denominations who attend their own churches in the morning but wish to share in evening Bible study and worship with Fr. Heatherington at Grace.

As one parishioner sums up, "At Grace Fellowship, whether you attend in the morning or the evening or both, you will find warm friendships, a loving community, and a place of acceptance because underlying all that we do is the Truth, Love and Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ."

To learn more about Grace Anglican Fellowship and Father Alan Heatherington's journey from Maestro to priest, visit www.graceanglicanfellowship.org.