The Rev. Patricia Gober signs the covenant that will lead to the merger of three Fall River parishes into the newly named Church of the Holy Spirit. Bishop Bud Cederholm (left) and the Rev. Wallace Gober look on.
Image: Fall River Herald News Photo: Jack Foley Three Episcopal churches in Fall River are in the process of merging into a new parish and held a covenant-signing worship service Sunday, April 6 at the Church of the Ascension, soon to be named the Church of the Holy Spirit. The three churches merging are: the Church of the Ascension, St. Mark’s Church and St. John’s-St. Stephen’s Partnership. The fourth Episcopal church in Fall River, St. Luke's, will remain an independent parish.

The merger follows 14 months of discernment during which the vestries of the three parishes met regularly and eventually decided upon a covenant of agreement.

The Rt. Rev. Roy F. “Bud” Cederholm Jr., bishop suffragan of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, was the celebrant at the service, at which representatives of the three parishes signed the covenant and celebrated their newly constituted faith community.

The congregations have been worshiping at the Church of the Ascension at 160 Rock Street in Fall River since March 16. The next step is for Diocesan Convention to approve the merger when it meets in November.