Our Stories: Diane Hayes

Written by Diane Hayes, Published on June 14, 2018.

My relationship with St. Paul's has been quite literally "on-off-on."

I grew up in the Methodist church, baptized just up the street at First Methodist. We attended Collegiate Methodist in Ames, and then Aldersgate in Urbandale when we moved back to my father's native Des Moines.

During my senior year at Simpson College in Indianola, I was asked if I'd like to sing at St. Paul's. So every Sunday I drove with Maria DiPalma and Vickie Brandt to sing in the choir with Paul Dieka conducting. It was my first time in an Episcopal church. We weren't a Cathedral yet, and we were alternating Rites 1 and 2, every other Sunday. The choir member I got to know best was Sally Bates, and I still have her recipe for cheese Danish. I grew to love the Book of Common Prayer. Some Sundays the same words were an easy comfort; some Sundays it was as though I was hearing them for the first time.

After college I moved away to Dallas, Texas, and back to the United Methodists; then to Chicago, IL., where I was received into the Episcopal Church by Bishop Frank Griswold; then St. Paul's Indianapolis, IN., and finally back to Des Moines to take care of my Mom.

Returning to St. Paul's was like coming home! Sally was still in the choir, the organ was a wonderful treat, and Rebecca Gruber, a college friend, was directing the choir. What more could I want! So I'm back, no plans to go anywhere. Sad that my mother is gone, but thrilled to be able to become more involved in my church home.

Thanks for listening.

Diane continues to sing in Cathedral choir and the Howell Scholars. She served for a while in the Chapter (Vestry Committee), with her most current term ending in early 2022.