STORY BY KAREN BOSSICK

PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK AND JANET HOUTS

A songbird watched from a nearby bush as Charlie Fowler carried the Holy Cross up a brand new ramp that led up the side of Emmanuel Episcopal Church.

Behind him, Gary Price pushed his wife Laren Price up in a wheelchair to the top of the ramp where they made a U-turn and hung a left through a new addition to the 140-year-old church leading into the sanctuary.

Gary Price wheels his wife Laren down the new ramp following Sunday’s service.

“Gracious and loving God…Be with us now and bless this new entrance and ramp, that it may be a sign of your wide welcome and gracious hospitality,” Idaho’s Episcopal Bishop Jos Tharakan prayed.

“As often as any person enters through this way, may they find not only physical access but a spiritual home—a place of belonging, dignity and joy. Let this threshold be a gateway of justice and mercy, where no barrier remains between your children and your table. Grant that all who cross this threshold may know they are seen, honored and loved.”

Gary Price beamed.

“We were married in this church in 962, and we’ve been talking about putting a ramp in ever since. Now, it’s finally happened,” he said.

Charlie Fowler carried the Holy Cross into the church.

Indeed, the 80-member congregation has been saving for years to build the ramp which, with the addition, cost $230,000.

The dedication of the ramp coincided with the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibited discrimination against people with disabilities and improved access to the same things non-disabled people enjoy, what with sidewalk ramps, curb cuts and closed caption TV.

“This is a small congregation, but mighty,” said Sally Horn. “So many people put their heart into this.”

Congregants beamed as they inspected the new arched oak door that Guy Cavalcante donated. It is designed to mesh with the architecture inside the church. Josh Neville donated the Rocky Mountain hardware, and Neville Construction oversaw the project.

Church accordion player Janet Houts stands with church organist Sarah Pettit, who gave a solo during the service.

While St. Charles Catholic Church was the first parish in the Wood River Valley, Emmanuel Episcopal was the first bricks and mortar church when it opened in 1885. Built by Welsh and English minders who had grown up in the Anglican church back home, it is known today for its historic stained glass windows and its amazing acoustics.

Brian Bean pointed out the church cornerstone with the year 1885 etched in it.

“This church opened its doors every Sunday for 133 consecutive years until COVID shut it down,” he said. “Getting this ramp has been 140 years in the making. Better later than never.”

On Sunday, one couple who had driven by the church numerous times stopped when they noticed the ramp. Within minutes they joined the group getting ready to enter the church, the woman pushing her husband up the ramp behind everyone else.

Board member Lamar Waters had a hand in getting the ramp done as a board member of the church, and Mark Howland pitched in, as well.

“I couldn’t help but cry,” said Joan Davies. “This has been so long in coming.”

After closing out the service by singing “Crown Him with Many Crowns,” the congregation retired to a lunch of meaty fall-off-the-bones barbecued ribs prepared by Hailey Fire Chief Mike Baledge coupled with banana pudding, raspberry crisp and peach cobbler.

A lot of parishioners over the years would have enjoyed the ramp, its doors activated by a push button, said retired minister Rob Gieselmann.

“One of the people who come to mind is Roberta McKercher, for whom Hailey’s park is named,” he added. “It nearly killed her to climb the stairs with her walker.”

Laren Price said she, too, has had to climb the steps using her walker.

“This is absolutely wonderful,” she added. “I’m a fourth-generation resident and I never thought they’d get a ramp built in my lifetime.”