Located in the center of all of the Downtown Auburn chaos, St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church has had a front row seat to the ever-changing cityscape. Founded in 1893, the church has become a home base for locals and visitors alike who are seeking community and hospitality. At the head of it all is Reverend Thomas Joyner, who came to be the Rector of the church in August of 2020. Reverend Joyner initially lived in Auburn from 2010 to 2014, then moved to Birmingham to serve as the chaplain at UAB. He thought he’d left Auburn in the past, but God (and COVID) had other plans. When St. Dunstan’s decided to become a parish again, they found they needed a pastor and a community. Reverend Joyner filled the position and worked tirelessly with the church body to form a strong community presence in the midst of a global pandemic, and afterward. “Whether we’re hosting, or helping with the Downtown Art Walk, or Cheers on the Corner, it was important that we not hide behind our doors and our fences, but that we open up and invite the community,” the Reverend said. Over the years, St. Dunstan’s has served as the home base for a myriad of events, meetings, and anything of the like.
Reverend Joyner finds it imperative that anyone who enters the building’s iconic red doors feels welcomed. He believes churches are more than spaces for worship; they’re a gathering place where anyone, no matter what, can come in and experience a sense of belonging. Reflecting on this, he said, “I never fail to have someone start attending… and tell me, ‘I just never thought there was a place for someone like me.’” He ensured St. Dunstan’s was a place for anyone and everyone.
Next time you’re caught up in the midst of a long day of shopping, eating, tailgating, or just life, and you pass by a set of red doors, walk through them. Inside, you’ll find not only gorgeous and ornate interior design, but a network of warm smiles, eager to get to know you.