Church Planter – Old North Abbey
patrick@oldnorthabbey.com
If you’re looking for the Old North Abbey website, please click here.
Patrick grew up in Texas and Tennessee. He earned a business degree at the University of Miami, Ohio, and an M.Div from Duke Divinity School. After marrying Caroline Collins of Knoxville and working a construction job to pay the bills, Patrick accepted a position as Associate Minister with All Souls Church in downtown Knoxville where he served for three years.
Feeling called to engage in the discernment process with the Anglican Mission in the Americas, Patrick was ordained as a deacon in August 2009 and as a priest in February 2010. Over the past two years, Apostles Anglican has supported Patrick King, his wife Caroline, and their two-year-old son Auguste as they planted a church in Old North Knoxville, called Old North Abbey, and began learning the pace, rhythms, and needs of this urban neighborhood.
The Kings’ vision for God’s work in Old North has become one of radical hospitality. Before moving half a mile down the street to 4th & Gill, their front porch provided a place to gather, pursue rich conversations, and deepen relationships. The Kings invited people whom they barely knew to share a meal, and over time, these dinners have blossomed into sweet times of fellowship where strangers become friends. Moving into a neighborhood happens one conversation, one relationship, at a time.
In Patrick words, “We [Old North Abbey] are interested in literally building a better world by loving our neighbors well and by advocating for better design within our neighborhoods. In other words, we care about people and place.”
Patrick wants his ministry in the community to be both informed and imaginative, and he realized that he had to keep showing up and listening well. He remarked that history tells us that good intentions don’t get Christians very far. Before we presume to offer anything helpful, we must listen and learn the language. Listening well means we’re not waiting for our turn to talk. Instead, we try to be patient and learn from the people who live in our neighborhoods. We use what God has already put in place to share the gospel.
If Patrick looks familiar, that may be because you witnessed his antics during the Duke vs. UNC basketball game in 2003. His alter ego is “Speedo Guy.” Keep in mind that causing a UNC player to miss two game-winning free throws counts as evangelism for a Duke alum.
