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Mission StatementSt. Andrew’s Episcopal Church is a nurturing community striving to reconcile all. Rooted in Christ's love, St. Andrew's is a worshipping community seeking to GROW our relationships with God, one another, and the world.
St. Andrew's Values Grounded in Prayer Renewing Hope Open to the Spirit Welcoming & Accepting of All |
Who We Are |
Located in the historic, downtown center of Emporia, Kansas, and the front porch to the scenic Flint Hills, St. Andrew’s has been a presence at the corner of 9th and Commercial St. since 1870. We share the block with Emporia Presbyterian Church, the historic Granada Theater, the Emporia Arts Council, and several small businesses.
The St. Andrew’s congregation is a welcoming, fun-loving, hard-working, caring community of faith. As part of the Anglican community, the Episcopal Church, the Diocese of Kansas, and the Heartland Minster, we share a tradition of making room for a diversity of religious, political, and social positions while always maintaining that the Risen One, Jesus Christ, is sovereign. Even though the demographics of Emporia and our church have changed over the years, St. Andrew’s maintains a strong commitment to love God with all that we are and to love our neighbors as ourselves. As the geographic center of the Diocese of Kansas, St. Andrew’s opens its doors to numerous diocesan meetings and activities. |
Our Demographics |
St. Andrew’s is a pastoral church. A majority of our members live in Emporia and Lyon County. We also have members from Chase and Greenwood counties. Active baptized members total 115, including 10 youth under the age of 16. The 2023 Sunday attendance averaged 40, not counting online attendees.
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Our Worship |
Sunday worship includes Rite II Eucharist at 9:30 a.m. with organ, piano, and Chancel Choir. A Eucharistic Minister assists the Priest at this service. Eucharistic Visitors take communion to parishioners living in care facilities. All Sunday services are live-streamed. On most Sunday evenings during the school year, we offer an intergenerational campus ministry with worship and a meal. During the week we offer adult Bible study. Other services are held for Epiphany, Ash Wednesday, Tenebrae, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter, St. Andrew’s Day, and Christmas Eve.
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Our Dream for the Future |
Our mission statement reflects our role as a worshipping community to serve God in all that we do. As a welcoming church community, worship, fellowship, love, and care reflect who we are and what we want to be.
St. Andrew’s parishioners are gifted, generous, hard-working, and committed to each other and to seeking God's will. Our church is known in the community for its willingness to welcome all, its love of music with outstanding acoustics, the quiet space offered by our columbarium, and the beauty of our worship spaces. Our parish hall and conference room are available for use by community groups. Internally, we are known for our social events and fellowship. The number one dream of the parish is to grow St. Andrew's membership and our impact on the communities we serve. We find ourselves with the same challenges facing many churches today: We need to be responsive to the needs of an aging population and also seek to be relevant and attractive to a younger generation, who may be coming from an entirely different spiritual reality. We feel that God is calling to us a rector who can work with all ages and who can help the parish define our evolving vision as an inclusive and multi-generational community of faith. PARISH GOALS Provide worship, and spiritual, recreational, and social activities that are attractive to individuals of all ages. Grow our number of younger families
EXPECTATIONS OF THE RECTOR
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Parish History |
On February 14, 1870, The Rev. Levi Holden met with David Plumb, B. T. Wright, R. M. Ruggles, Charles Wheelock, and W. W. Williams to discuss the genesis of an Episcopal church in Emporia, Kansas. Land was purchased at Ninth Avenue and Commercial Street and on November 23, 1870, Bishop Thomas Hubbard Vail laid the cornerstone for St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. The original name of the church was changed to St. Andrew’s in 1871, due to a contribution of $1,000, a Bible, prayer books, and a communion service from Miss Elizabeth Shields of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Philadelphia. The first rector was Levi Lincoln Holden. Thirty full-time clerics have served St. Andrew’s over the past 153 years.
In 1887, a rectory was built next to the church, and the parish continued to grow. In 1911, a parish hall was added. In September 1927, the original church building was razed, and our existing church building was built and dedicated in 1928. The new church building was designed by architect and parishioner, J. Stanley Hagan. By 1988, the old parish hall and rectory were demolished and a new, larger parish hall, office, and classrooms were built. A brick-walled columbarium and garden – St. Andrew’s Churchyard – was built behind the church in 1998. The facility is part of the Emporia Historic District. |
Church Buildings |
St. Andrew’s current building is an example of English Gothic style. It has an exterior of “clinker” brick and an interior of stone and brick with vaulted ceilings of red oak. The church has a Reuters pipe organ and a Johannes digital electronic organ. St. Mary’s Chapel, used for small services, adjoins the sanctuary on the north, with access from the outside, the nave, and the sanctuary.
In 1964, a crucifix by sculptor Lester Raymer of Lindsborg, Kansas, was added over the high altar. In the 1970s, stained glass windows, created by J. Wippel and Co. of England, were installed. In 1991, needlepoint kneelers before the high altar and for St. Mary’s Chapel were made by the women of the parish. The parish hall is a spacious, bright room with a vaulted ceiling and an adjoining kitchen. Church offices, a conference room, a nursery, and restrooms are located on the first floor with classrooms and St. Nicholas’s Chapel for children located on the second floor. The columbarium and garden, enclosed by a brick wall of varying height, are not only used for the interment of ashes but also as a place of quiet contemplation. The church has an off-street parking lot with additional parking on the street. |
The Congregation |
The parish draws its members from Lyon, Chase, and Greenwood counties. Although there are some young couples with children and some younger members, the parish’s main demographic is middle-aged and older. Currently, the parish has 115 members and ten children. Average Sunday attendance is 40, not including online attendees. The university is historically one of the best sources for new members, either from faculty or students. We have an active campus ministry program. Most of our members are involved in one or more ministries within the church.
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Financial Overview |
St. Andrew’s is financially strong and debt-free. Currently, the parish’s 41 pledging units or active givers generated planned pledges for 2023 of $129,525. St. Andrew’s has endowments and other funds of approximately $461,000.
Parish statistics: Year Pledges Amount Total Members Average Attendance 2023 41 $129,525 115 40 2022 44 $133,855 115 32 (COVID) 2021 46 $139,514 99 25 (COVID) |
Parish Ministries |
WORSHIP MINISTRIES
Acolytes, Altar Guild, Chancel Choir, Greeters, Eucharistic Ministers, Eucharistic Visitors, and Lectors/Intercessors CHRISTIAN EDUCATION and YOUTH MINISTRIES Adult Spiritual Formation, Bible Study, and Children's Chapel CANTERBURY AND YOUNG ADULTS St. Andrew’s Canterbury-Young Adult ministry is recognized as part of the Diocesan program and receives some diocesan financial support. The choristers program recruits 3-5 students to be choir members who enhance Sunday Services musically. These students are paid a small stipend drawn from parish funds and a diocesan grant. During the school year a Sunday night dinner invites students, young adults, and all parish members to gather for food, fun, discussion, and Compline. A campus peer minister currently co-leads this group with active support from parishioners. St. Andrew’s also participates in the ESU/Emporia Main Street Block Party to welcome students, and the church continues to seek ways to connect with the campus community. PARISH LIFE MINISTRIES Coffee Hour, Parish Dinners, Special Events Coffee Hour following the Sunday service provides an informal way to introduce visitors to members of the parish and creates a strong sense of community. At least every other month, we have a parish social event involving food. We have a wide range of activities including a Mediterranean meal during Holy Week, a 4th of July picnic, and a Blessing of the Animals for St. Francis Day. During the summer months, Parish Life also schedules twice monthly dutch-treat dinners at local restaurants. We annually host a Shrove Tuesday pancake supper with proceeds donated to a local organization. FACILITIES MINISTRIES Building and Grounds—organize parish work day; maintain facilities CHURCH FINANCE and LEADERSHIP MINISTRIES Vestry, Finance Committee, Stewardship Committee—governance, finance and budget OUTREACH MINISTRIES St. Andrew’s focus on outreach to the community is the product of our desire to be a visible and active body in the heart of Emporia’s downtown district. As a member of Emporia Main Street, the church opens its doors and participates in a number of events such as the annual Unbound Gravel bicycle race (with over 2,000 cyclists and around 5,000 spectators), the Christmas parade (serving free cider and cookies), hosting an annual Christmas Serenade and reception, and as a First Friday Art Walk venue. We seek to be an active and supportive presence for other events such as the Veteran’s Day Parade, Halloween Trick or Treat, Pride Parade, and Back to School Block Party. Some events involve free will offerings which are designated to support community organizations. Recent recipients have included SOS, Spartan Stop, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Corky’s Cupboard, Food for Students, Bloom House Youth Services, and Emporia Community Foundation’s Match Day. The church also maintains a small food pantry and offers emergency vouchers through the Rector’s Discretionary Fund. |
How We Work |
The vestry has nine elected persons who, with the rector, lead the parish. The vestry helps to discern the vision toward which God is drawing the parish. To that end, the vestry is responsible for good stewardship of money, property, personnel, and the spiritual gifts with which the Parish is blessed. Vestry members serve a three-year term and may serve two, successive terms. The Priest selects the Senior Warden with the Vestry electing the Junior Warden. Vestry meetings are led by the priest and follow a published agenda. The Finance Committee develops a proposed budget, which is discussed and approved at the annual meeting. Several members of the parish perform a financial review of the church’s financial records.
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