PURE Sanctuary Temple
Danville, Illinois, USA
PURE Sanctuary Temple was established in 1599 Pisces (1999 AD), with Rev. Becci Penry, HP, as its Founding Head. During its years of existence PURE Sanctuary has had several different Temple Heads, without ever loosing its continuity.
The Temple took the new name of Enchanted Realm in Year 4 Aquarius when Rev. Reanna Marie became Head of Temple. The original name was restored in Year 9 Aquarius when Rev. Jason Highcorrell became Head of Temple.
Danville, Illinois, USA
PURE Sanctuary Temple was established in 1599 Pisces (1999 AD), with Rev. Becci Penry, HP, as its Founding Head. During its years of existence PURE Sanctuary has had several different Temple Heads, without ever loosing its continuity.
The Temple took the new name of Enchanted Realm in Year 4 Aquarius when Rev. Reanna Marie became Head of Temple. The original name was restored in Year 9 Aquarius when Rev. Jason Highcorrell became Head of Temple.
Located in Danville, Illinois, PURE Sanctuary offers teaching and ritual as well as sponsoring local events.
PURE Sanctuary and its members also have a number of special duties toward the Tradition as well.
PURE Sanctuary Temple is charged with the duty of procuring and preparing the lustral water for the sacred Lustration ceremonies held in Spring and Fall of each year.
Several members of PURE Sanctuary hold or have held important positions in the Tradition. These include Rev. Kim Reffet, who formerly served as Elder's Herald: and Rt. Rev. Jason Highcorrell, a member of the Correllian Council of Elders as well as Herald to the Chancellor: another notable member of PURE Sanctuary Temple is the Arch Priestess Bitterwind, retired First Elder of the Tradition.
Right: Arch Priestess Virginia "Bitterwind" Smith, Retired First Elder of the Correllian Tradition and Temple Advisor to PURE Sanctuary Temple, with water for the Lustration of the Ancestors, Year 4 Aq.
Above: Some of the members of Enchanted Realm Temple including L to R:
Vicky, Rev. Kim Reffet, Rev. Reanna Marie, Marylynn, Lady Bitterwind
The Temple of the PURE Sanctuary was founded by Rev. Becci Penry. The name PURE Sanctuary stands for "Pagans United for Religious Enlightenment".
Rev. Becci was a student of Rev. Krystel High-Correll, First Priestess of the Correllian Tradition, at Dancers of Shakti Temple which was teaching through the Awakenings Center in Danville, Illinois. Lady Krystel had founded the Dancers of Shakti in the '70s to facilitate public outreach and teaching, since the Correll Mother Temple then as now functioned primarily on a Closed Court basis.
Vicky, Rev. Kim Reffet, Rev. Reanna Marie, Marylynn, Lady Bitterwind
The Temple of the PURE Sanctuary was founded by Rev. Becci Penry. The name PURE Sanctuary stands for "Pagans United for Religious Enlightenment".
Rev. Becci was a student of Rev. Krystel High-Correll, First Priestess of the Correllian Tradition, at Dancers of Shakti Temple which was teaching through the Awakenings Center in Danville, Illinois. Lady Krystel had founded the Dancers of Shakti in the '70s to facilitate public outreach and teaching, since the Correll Mother Temple then as now functioned primarily on a Closed Court basis.
Above: Rev. Becci Penry, HP
At the time Rev. Becci headed an eclectic group called the Circle of Ascension, and it was this group she originally hoped to Charter as a Correllian Temple.
It was intended that the Charter would be granted at the first Awakenings festival, held in May of 1599 Pisces.
However the differences between the existing eclectic group and the requirements for a Correllian Temple were considerable.
Consequently, after some consultation, it was decided that instead of Chartering the existing group a totally new Temple should be founded, in which members of the existing group could take part or not, as they wished.
Thus the Charter was drawn up for PURE Sanctuary Temple, with Rev. Becci Penry as Acting Head.
At that time the system of Witan Shrines and Proto-Temples we follow now had not yet been put in place, since the Tradition had not yet seen the need for this. Therefore PURE Sanctuary began as a Temple from its first day.
Above: Arch Priestess Krystel with Rev. Becci Penry at the first Awakenings Festival
Lady Krystel acted as Sponsor to the new Temple, and soon turned over most of the teaching she had been doing to Rev. Becci, who proved to be an excellent teacher in her own right.
PURE Sanctuary Temple, meeting at the Awakenings Center, prospered. The new Temple attracted many students and sponsored a variety of events. Notably, it continued to play a major role in the popular Awakenings Festivals in Vermilion County, Illinois.
Rev. Becci continued studying under Lady Krystel, receiving her Third Degree initiation on 7 April of Year 2 Aquarius.
Third Degree status entitled Lady Becci to Head PURE Sanctuary in her own imperium, and to be seated on the Witan Council.
When the decision was made to begin holding public Lustration ceremonies each Spring and Fall, PURE Sanctuary was selected to act as the host Temple.
The Lustrations grew out of the Ancestor ceremonies of the Correll Mother Temple, adapted to public use.
At the time however, falling as it did between the sale of Greenwood house and the acquisition of the Gray Elephant, the Mother Temple did not have facilities large enough for this sort of public ceremony.
Consequently the first public Lustrations were held by the Mother Temple at PURE Sanctuary Temple precincts .
PURE Sanctuary's beautiful Temple space lent itself wonderfully to the needs of the Lustrations, which were quite successful.
Later, other Temples would also host Lustration ceremonies.
Above: The first several public Lustration ceremonies were held in the PURE Sanctuary Temple space in Danville, Illinois. Here Lady Krystel addresses Lady Becci who is acting as Guardian of the South. Also visible are Rev. Stacy Paedusis (Left), Rev. Reanna Marie (Right), and Rev. Casey Carraher (Far Right)
The Lustrations grew out of the Ancestor ceremonies of the Correll Mother Temple, adapted to public use.
At the time however, falling as it did between the sale of Greenwood house and the acquisition of the Gray Elephant, the Mother Temple did not have facilities large enough for this sort of public ceremony.
Consequently the first public Lustrations were held by the Mother Temple at PURE Sanctuary Temple precincts .
PURE Sanctuary's beautiful Temple space lent itself wonderfully to the needs of the Lustrations, which were quite successful.
Later, other Temples would also host Lustration ceremonies.
Above: The first several public Lustration ceremonies were held in the PURE Sanctuary Temple space in Danville, Illinois. Here Lady Krystel addresses Lady Becci who is acting as Guardian of the South. Also visible are Rev. Stacy Paedusis (Left), Rev. Reanna Marie (Right), and Rev. Casey Carraher (Far Right)
Above: Rev. Kim Reffet, Second Head of PURE Sanctuary Temple, with Arch Priestess Bitterwind
As Head of PURE Sanctuary Lady Becci nurtured a number of people whose talents would flower in the Correllian Tradition. Arch Priest Rt. Rev. Jason Highcorrell, former Elder's Herald Rev. Kim Reffet, and Rev. Reanna Marie are all long time members of PURE Sanctuary. In addition both retired First Priestess Lady Krystel and retired First Elder Lady Bitterwind have often attended PURE Sanctuary.
In November of Year 3 Aquarius Lady Becci stepped down as Head of the Temple, because of a personal tragedy in her life.
Knowing that she needed time to grieve and re-stabilize herself, and thinking of the welfare of her Temple first, Lady Becci passed leadership of the Temple to Rev. Kim Reffet as Acting Head.
In November of Year 3 Aquarius Lady Becci stepped down as Head of the Temple, because of a personal tragedy in her life.
Knowing that she needed time to grieve and re-stabilize herself, and thinking of the welfare of her Temple first, Lady Becci passed leadership of the Temple to Rev. Kim Reffet as Acting Head.
Above: Rev. Reanna Marie
The success of this transition was extremely important. Too many Temples have fallen apart because a Temple Head has not been willing to put the Temple welfare first in a moment of personal tragedy, or been willing to hand over leadership to a worthy successor when for what ever reason they have themselves become unable to lead.
If a Temple is to survive it must be able to survive the transition of leadership which Time will inevitably demand. In this PURE Sanctuary is a sterling example to all Temples.
Rev. Kim in her turn also handed over leadership of the Temple, seeing that her life did not permit her the necessary time to run a thriving Temple.
Thus in November of Year 4 Aquarius Rev. Reanna Marie became Acting Head of Temple.
If a Temple is to survive it must be able to survive the transition of leadership which Time will inevitably demand. In this PURE Sanctuary is a sterling example to all Temples.
Rev. Kim in her turn also handed over leadership of the Temple, seeing that her life did not permit her the necessary time to run a thriving Temple.
Thus in November of Year 4 Aquarius Rev. Reanna Marie became Acting Head of Temple.
Rev. Reanna changed the name of the Temple from PURE Sanctuary to Enchanted Realm, and created a new sigil for the Temple.
Rev. Reanna also initiated another change in making First Elder Lady Bitterwind the Temple's Sponsor.
Lady Bitterwind has enthusiastically attended PURE Sanctuary/Enchanted Realm for many years, and happily undertook the role of Temple Guide to help Enchanted Realm move forward.
Right: In November of Year 4 Aquarius Rev. Reanna Marie became Head of PURE Sanctuary. Here Lady Krystel places the Temple coronet, part of the Temple's regalia, upon Rev. Reanna's Head. Rev. Reanna changed the Temple's name from PURE Sanctuary to Enchanted Realm.
Rev. Reanna also initiated another change in making First Elder Lady Bitterwind the Temple's Sponsor.
Lady Bitterwind has enthusiastically attended PURE Sanctuary/Enchanted Realm for many years, and happily undertook the role of Temple Guide to help Enchanted Realm move forward.
Right: In November of Year 4 Aquarius Rev. Reanna Marie became Head of PURE Sanctuary. Here Lady Krystel places the Temple coronet, part of the Temple's regalia, upon Rev. Reanna's Head. Rev. Reanna changed the Temple's name from PURE Sanctuary to Enchanted Realm.
In Year 6 Aquarius (2006 AD) Rev. Jason Highcorrell, long-time High Priest of the Temple, was named as Joint Head of Enchanted Realm Temple. Rev. Jason revived the name "PURE Sanctuary" as a Shrine within Enchanted Realm. For several years the Temple encompassed three campuses: Enchanted Realm campus in Hoopeston, IL: PURE Sanctuary campus in Danville, IL: and a third campus in Westville, IL.
In Year 9 Aquarius Rev. Reanna stepped down as Head of Temple, in order to move to Iowa where she could legally marry her long-term love, Bert. At this time Rev. Jason became sole Head of Temple, restoring the original name of PURE Sanctuary.
In Year 9 Aquarius Rev. Reanna stepped down as Head of Temple, in order to move to Iowa where she could legally marry her long-term love, Bert. At this time Rev. Jason became sole Head of Temple, restoring the original name of PURE Sanctuary.
In Year 11 Aquarius Rev. Jason was named and Elder of the Correllian Tradition, becoming Rt. Rev. Arch Priest Jason Highcorrell. In Year 12 Aquarius Rev. Jason was named First Director of the Tradition.
In Year 12 Aquarius, PURE Sanctuary hosted a regional Lustration of the Living that was podcasted via the internet.
You can learn more about PURE Sanctuary Temple today and its current activities HERE
Left: Rt. Rev. Jason Highcorrell, First Director of the Correllian Tradition, Arch Priest and Elder, Head of PURE Sanctuary Temple
In Year 12 Aquarius, PURE Sanctuary hosted a regional Lustration of the Living that was podcasted via the internet.
You can learn more about PURE Sanctuary Temple today and its current activities HERE
Left: Rt. Rev. Jason Highcorrell, First Director of the Correllian Tradition, Arch Priest and Elder, Head of PURE Sanctuary Temple