SESQUICENTENNIAL St . Andrew ’ s Episcopal Celebrates 150th Anniversary
By HANNAH GERKEN
Sesquicentennial – a word long enough to represent the 150th anniversary of St . Andrew ’ s Episcopal Church in Downtown Bryan . To celebrate this milestone in the church ’ s history , several events are planned in October , November , and December .
“ As the rector , I see it as a celebration of 150 years of presence in Downtown Bryan and celebrating all of the people who have made that possible through the years ; [ we are ] of course giving thanks to God for that ,” says Father Daryl Hay , rector at St . Andrew ’ s . “ But it ’ s also as a moment to reflect on the future . Downtown Bryan is changing . The neighborhoods around are changing , and even Bryan College Station is changing . So how can we embrace our future and make a greater impact ?”
St . Andrew ’ s will begin the celebration during the October First Friday event with a kick-off birthday party in the church ’ s parking lot . Local musician Joey McGee will provide music , and in the spirit of birthday parties there will be food and cake for everyone .
On Thursday , Nov . 2 , the Evensong , or evening prayer , will be sung for All Souls Day . This music and prayer litany
52 INSITE September 2017 will be a chance to pray in honor of the founders of the church and any parish members . A luncheon will be hosted for parish members at Phillips Event Center on Dec . 9 with a visit from the Dean of the Cathedral , Barkley Thompson . To celebrate the day St . Andrew ’ s was founded , Bishop of Texas Andy Doyle , will be present for worship service on Dec . 10 .
St . Andrew ’ s was originally established in Millican in 1864 . However , the church only stayed in Millican for three years . As the railroad extensions grew between Houston and Bryan , the population began to move into the Bryan area . When a yellow fever epidemic lowered the population of Millican even more , the remaining parish members moved to Bryan .
A Rich Tradition of Faith When walking into St . Andrew ’ s , it is impossible not to notice the breathtaking stained-glass windows lining the sides of the church . These windows are original to when the church was built in 1914 , with only a few exceptions . One window had to be replaced after being destroyed in a storm and two were restored after being vandalized .
The sunlight streaming through the windows brings a magical quality to the church and draws the eyes to the details . Above the altar is one large stained-glass window depicting the Last Supper . This window was recently restored and was taken out of the church for almost a year . The final piece was placed back in the window on Christmas Eve , making for a true Christmas miracle .
St . Andrew ’ s in Bryan officially opened on Dec . 10 , 1867 , though not in the location where it resides today . The first church was built at the corner of 25th Street and Parker , a block away from its present-day location . In 1907 , plans were started to build a new church on the corner of 26th Street and Parker , the highest point in Downtown Bryan . The cornerstone for the new church was laid in 1912 and the first service was held on Palm Sunday in 1914 .
In 2012 , St . Andrew ’ s celebrated 100 years in their current location , making them the oldest church building in continuous use in Bryan .
St . Andrew ’ s has long been a participant in the B / CS community .