Tradition

Fr. Gene Pearson, Interim Rector

2770 West Central Avenue Toledo, Ohio 43606 419.473.1367

St. Andrew's Episcopal Church

Toledo, Ohio

Our Parish Heritage Includes More than One Hundred Years

of Serving Our Lord

The Episcopal Church began in the British Colonies as the Church of England, also called the Anglican Church. When the colonists broke with England, the churches here could no longer be part of the former organization. These churches organized as the Episcopal Church. Episcopal refers to Bishops. The governing structure of the Episcopal Church is very much like the governing body of the United States — a representative democracy. Perhaps the similarity isn’t such a coincidence, as many of the founders of this country were also part of the newly formed Episcopal Church.

St. Andrew’s began in 1890 as a mission with the vision of its becoming a “High Church.” At the time, that meant a parish with Anglo-Catholic liturgical traditions. More than 100 years later, we continue to celebrate the Holy Eucharist at all of our church services, and use incense, bells, music and pageantry to enhance many of our liturgies. We also have diverse liturgical experiences, and are a comfortable home for people of varied backgrounds. For example, we have couples where one was Roman Catholic and the other was from another Protestant denomination.

We are part of the Diocese of Ohio, National Episcopal Church and worldwide Anglican Communion.

Several years ago, a member of our extended parish family, Lee Gleason, drew a beautiful pen and ink drawing of St. Andrew’s. Note that a subdued version of this drawing is used as the background for this web site.

For more information about the Episcopal Church, please click & visit the National Church's website.

Bishop Mark Hollingsworth during his February 2008 visit.

This photo was taken in the late 1950s when the church was expanded into its current structure. This photo was found in the Toledo Library archives.

In the 1960s, we had three priests - Fr. Gruetter, Fr. Brown & Fr. Reasner.

Fr. Jim Howie was our Rector for eight years in the 1990s.

Fr. Lynn McCallum was our Rector for 10 years, retiring in July 2007.

Sunday at 10:00 liturgy as we sing to the Lord.

One form of tradition is the number of generations our members have been part of the St. Andrew's family. This photo represents the second, third and fourth generations of one of our families.

We also have many families who invite their friends to join us and those who have become close with each other after meeting at St. Andrew's.

This Celtic Cross, on the Central Avenue side of our church, displays our connection to Anglican traditions.

We are fortunate to have three altars that add to the beauty and meaning of our liturgies.

Our main altar is graced with a marble crucifix. In keeping with our belief in His resurrection, Jesus is shown as the risen Lord, ascending into Heaven.

Holy Rood Chapel was our main worship space until 1958. Worship takes place here every Sunday at 8:00 a.m., at weekday services, and for some weddings and funerals.

Our small Chapel of the Consoling Christ is a wonderful place for personal prayer and reflection. It is graced with several stained-glass windows. It also contains a columbarium — niches for the ashes of departed loved ones.

The stained-glass rose window and banner are at the rear of our main worship space. The window shows the Jerusalem cross (five crosses), and the banner depicts the apostles.