About
Established in 1973 through the leadership of The Rev. John Bonner, Jr, who was then rector of St. Paul’s Church, Chattanooga, the Thorne Sparkman School’s purpose is to offer other Episcopal parishes and the extended community “the best in Christian education in crucial areas including worship, ethics, liturgy, history, literature, music, and critical thinking.” Named in honor of the Rev. Thorne Sparkman, who served as Rector of St. Paul’s from 1938 to 1949, the School has become an important Lenten offering to those in our area.
The Rev. Sparkman’s ministry to the parish and the extended community during the particularly momentous years of World War II was exemplified by his personal care, inspired teaching and preaching, and outreach to the families of those in service.
Thorne Sparkman is sponsored and/or supported by nearly a dozen Chattanooga area Episcopal congregations, together with several ecumenical partners. The annual Thorne Sparkman School of Religion is made possible through a generous gift to the Glory of God and in loving memory of Charlotte Haymore Clark and William F. Clark by Deborah Seward Roberts Bonner and the Very Rev. John H. Bonner, III.
The Thorne Sparkman School offers a dynamic opportunity each Lent for Christians and seekers to gather in the community each Tuesday evening with others from across our city for a rich time of learning, fellowship, worship, and faith exploration with first-class scholars and teachers. In 2026, we will meet again in person at St. Paul's. Holy Eucharist begins at 5:15 pm, followed by a light soup dinner served before the lecture, which begins at 6:30 pm. This year's offerings will focus on Isaiah 40:1 "Comfort, comfort, my people."
The Rev. Sparkman’s ministry to the parish and the extended community during the particularly momentous years of World War II was exemplified by his personal care, inspired teaching and preaching, and outreach to the families of those in service.
Thorne Sparkman is sponsored and/or supported by nearly a dozen Chattanooga area Episcopal congregations, together with several ecumenical partners. The annual Thorne Sparkman School of Religion is made possible through a generous gift to the Glory of God and in loving memory of Charlotte Haymore Clark and William F. Clark by Deborah Seward Roberts Bonner and the Very Rev. John H. Bonner, III.
The Thorne Sparkman School offers a dynamic opportunity each Lent for Christians and seekers to gather in the community each Tuesday evening with others from across our city for a rich time of learning, fellowship, worship, and faith exploration with first-class scholars and teachers. In 2026, we will meet again in person at St. Paul's. Holy Eucharist begins at 5:15 pm, followed by a light soup dinner served before the lecture, which begins at 6:30 pm. This year's offerings will focus on Isaiah 40:1 "Comfort, comfort, my people."
Location
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Thorne Sparkman is located at the beautiful and historic St. Paul's Episcopal Church at 305 W. 7th Street in downtown Chattanooga.
Schedule and FormatTuesday Evenings: Feb. 24 & March 3, 10, 17, & 24. There will be an organ meditation and a service of the Eucharist beginning at 5:15. A light soup supper will follow at 5:45.
Lectures will begin at 6:30 p.m. each Tuesday evening of the School. |
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Class Registration and Fees
Online Registration with Eventbrite opens January 19, 2026. The cost for General Admission (does not include dinner) for the lecture series is $37.92 for adults and $27.37 for students and youth. The cost for General Admission and dinner is $69.57 for adults, $53.74 for students and youth, and $16.82 for children 12 and under. This amount includes the fees for Eventbrite.
