History of St

St. Andrew's Episcopal Church

During the spring of 1894, a small group, who were members of St. Paul’s Cathedral, met in the home of Mrs. Katie Easton on Kenyon Avenue to discuss the possibility of organizing a Mission for black people. After several meetings, the Venerable George Edwards, then Archdeacon, met with this group and gave assistance in the formation of St. Andrew’s Mission. St. Andrew’s was admitted into union with the Convention of the Diocese of Southern Ohio on February 8, 1895. Under the leadership of the Rt. Rev. Boyd Vincent, Bishop of Southern Ohio; the Rev. George Alexander McGuire was calle to be the first Minister-in-Charge of St. Andrew’s Mission, arriving October 11, 1895. The acquisition of a place of worship was the greatest problem confronting this new venture.

The first home was in the Chapel of the Mason’s Hall at George and John streets. The Rev. McGuire tendered his resignation January 30, 1899, to become the rector of St. Phillips in Richmond, Virginia. As the months passed, the Rev. George Bundy was appointed Priest-in-Charge, and a permanent home for the congregation was secured on the northeast corner of Eighth and Mound streets. The Rev. Bundy remained until 1908. On August 1, 1908, the Rev. Roger C. James became Priest-in-Charge, and remained until 1910. In October 1912, the Rev. Edmund H. Oxley, became the new Priest-in-Charge and he remained at St. Andrew’s until his retirement in 1956. Under his leadership, a new church building was erected. On Whitsunday 1915, the cornerstone was laid for the semi-gothic structure accommodating 550 people.

In 1937, St. Andrew’s was admitted as a parish into union with the Convention of the diocese of Southern Ohio, and the Rev. Edmund H. Oxley became its first Rector. Father Oxley’s words described our parish as “schooled in our churchmanship and loyal to Christ, dispassionate, calm…reformative without being revolutionary (aiming for) constant enlightenment and understanding, a ceaseless challenge to the Church.”

In January 1958, the Rev. St. Julian A. Simpkins became the second Rector of St. Andrew’s. He came during a period of transition when the church was relocated due to the City’s urban renewal and expressway program.

The parish with Diocesan guidance, purchased the present building from the Evanston Baptist Church where we moved in the Fall of 1960. On October 21, 1963 the building was dedicated to the service of God. In June 1964, St. Andrew’s rector resigned to become Canon for Inner City Work in the Diocese of Rochester. On December 1, 1964, the Rev. Richard L. Hicks, Jr., became the Rector and remained until May 1967, at which time he resigned to become the Rector of St. Phillips, San Antonio, Texas. The Rev. Charles Miller became the new Rector of St. Andrew’s Parish on January 1, 1968, and resigned in September 1970, to become a full-time Chaplain at Bethesda Hospital in Cincinnati. He continued to serve as a Supply Priest until January 1973. On February 1, 1973, the Rev. Wilson H. Willard, Jr., became the fifth Rector of St. Andrew’s and served until September 1991 when he was appointed Canon for Ministry of the Diocese of Southern Ohio. The Rev. Andrew MacAoidh Jergens was called to be interim rector and served until September 1993. We owe much to these men for their stability, integrity and continuity they brought to our parish.

On December 15, 1993, the Rev. Wendell N. Gibbs, Jr., became the sixth Rector of St. Andrew’s. His leadership conserved, informed and sustained – through worship, organization and social action – our special heritage as custodians and interpreters of the Black experience in the Episcopal Church. In October 1999, the people of the Diocese of Michigan recognized the dynamic potential of Rev. Gibbs and elected him to become their tenth bishop.

The seventh rector of St. Andrew’s, Rev. Gerald Collins was installed in 2003 and remained until February 2005. On December 3, 2006, the Rev. Stockard Wulsin was installed as St. Andrew’s eighth rector.

As the new millennium continues, St. Andrew’s gives thanks for all of our blessings and prays for our work to love and serve God will lead us to a more enduring and meaningful relationship with our community, each other and the Lord.