OUR CHURCH

The Mission of St Andrew's was organized at Millican, Texas in August 1866 by Bishop Alexander Gregg. Services were held at the local school house. There was no clergyman, but by the license of the Bishop services were read by lay persons. Traveling clergy did stop by, to preach and baptize, sometimes staying a week. The Mission moved from Millican the following year. A yellow fever epidemic reduced the population of Millican from 600 to 300 and the railroad from Houston was extended to Bryan. The first Episcopal services in Bryan were held on the 10th of November, 1867 by the visiting priest A.J. Yeater. The parish was organized at a meeting held on December 10, 1867 in the office of George D. Haswell.

The first rector was the Rev. Robert Jupe, from the Diocese of Alabama. He oversaw the building of the first church, at what is now 25th and Parker streets. This first church was built of rough, whitewashed boards and seated 300 persons. On March 22, 1868 Bishop Gregg consecrated the church.

In the period 1868 to 1878 there were eight rectors. The town of Bryan, and the church, suffered a temporary setback when the railroad was extended to Calvert. But as the rich lands of the Brazos Valley attracted to the vicinity planters and their families from the older southern states, the town and the church had a resurgence.
   
In 1875 the wooden structure was replaced by a brick chapel, also at 25th and Parker. This chapel was the building affectionately called the "Old Church" by the communicants and the residents of Bryan who remember it. In the courtyard was a cemetery. When the "Old Church" was sold and the congregation moved to a new building in 1914, the church received permission from the city to move the graves to the Bryan City Cemetery. In 1876 the vestry begin seeking to buy a bell. Twin bells were sent from Troy, N.Y. The church bell is still used today, and its twin is in the courthouse.

Plans for a new building were begun in 1907. The site chosen was the highest rise in the city, at the corner of West 26th Street and Parker Avenue. The Rev. William Daup was rector during the time of planning and building. The cornerstone was laid in 1912 and the congregation moved into the new building in 1914. The first service was held on Palm Sunday of that year and the rector at that time was the Rev. Randolph Ray. The building was consecrated by the Rt. Rev. George Kinsolving, Bishop of Texas, on May 3, 1914. The building, still in current use by the parish, is Gothic. Its distinctive features are its memorial stained glass windows and its exterior woodwork. The present organ dates from 1926 and was originally a three manual, 17 rank Pilcher. An extensive renovation of the organ was completed in 1982 and the organ was expanded to 31 ranks. The Rev. Nicholas R. D. Dyke served as rector from May 1, 1988 to January 31, 2004. A major renovation of the parish hall, Sunday School rooms, and offices was begun in 1990 and the renovated building was dedicated by Bishop Benitez on May 20, 1990.

A much more complete history of St Andrew's than this short summary is St Andrew's Bryan: The First 125 Years written in 1992 by parishioner Kathleen Davis, with research assistance from fellow parishioners Alice Nixon and Catherine Chatham. This history in turn made use of a brief early history written in 1967 by Hazel Richardson for the congregation's centennial celebration. The Davis history contains many wonderful anecdotes and reminiscences of long-time parishioners and much more historical detail than this brief summary. It also describes the development of the parish from its founding up until the present.