Looking Back

Founded in 1897

On a midsummer day in 1897, Monday, July 19 to be precise, a group of earnest Christian people assembled at the corner of Main and Western Avenues, on the western fringe of the city of Albany, N.Y. to witness the laying of the cornerstone of a new church. No doubt many of the people lived nearby and walked to the ceremony from their new homes in this part of the city. Those who came from downtown, (including the Officiant), must have come by horse and buggy, except that the Reverend Mr. Caird, (the principal speaker), surely must have taken the steam cars from Troy to Albany. Quail Street had been thought to be as far out as was reasonable for the location of the new church and here it was a good half mile further out.
     (St. Andrew's Yesterday by Alfred C. Haven)

Starting as a small brick chapel on the outskirts of Albany, St. Andrew's Episcopal Church has never been afraid to be on the cutting edge of ministry.

A Thumbnail History

• 1897 cornerstone laid for "St. Paul's Chapel of St. Andrew"
• 1899 Full parish status as St. Andrew's Church of the City of Albany, New York
• 1930 Ground breaking for the new church, designed based on St. Alban's Church England
• 1931 dedication of the present church
• 1947 mortgage burned, new church consecrated by Bishop Oldham
• 1956 old church, which had been used as a parish hall and Sunday School, demolished to make room for Parish House
• 1957 Parish House dedicated
• 1961 St. Andrew's starts St. Boniface, Guilderland
• 1970 new pipe organ installed
• 1977 Capital Fund Drive, 80th anniversary
• 1975 rectory refurbished
• 1979 start of The Shop and Dinner Theater
• 1989 campaign to remove asbestos from Parish House
• 1992 columbarium completed, building of the Children's Chapel
• 1994 call for building survey and plans for centennial celebration
• 1996 building survey initiated
• 1997 vestry commits to The Campaign for the Next Century
• 1998 campaign successfully completed

The history of a parish is much more than a chronological list of building-related events. In each era, marked by nine rectors, the worship of God has been our primary reason for being. Once considered a "low church" in a "high church" diocese, distinctions over churchmanship have become much less relevant as the entire Episcopal Church has moved toward regular Eucharistic worship. For many years, St. Andrew's has married dignified worship with excellent music, distinctive and engaging preaching, and an open and active congregation representing all age groups.

The Stained Glass Windows

In November 2005 the Senior Warden, James Cameron, prepared these notes (also available in PDF format) for use with a tour of St. Andrew's windows.

The Rectors of St. Andrew's Church

• The Rev. Ralph Birdsall 1897 - 1903
• The Rev. Jacob Morris Coerr 1903 - 1906
• The Rev. Walter M. Gage 1907 - 1916
• The Rt. Rev. Frank W. Creighton 1916 - 1923
• The Rev. Charles W. Findlay 1923 - 1946
• The Rev. R. Lloyd Hackwell 1946 - 1954
• The Rev. Ralph M. Carmichael 1955 - 1975
• The Rev. Bruce A. Gray 1976 - 1987
• The Rev. Andrew C. Hamersley 1988 - 2000
• The Rev. Mary R. White 2002 - present

Original contents © 2005 St. Andrew's Episcopal Church.