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We
are a diverse community of faith called to love and worship . . .
St. Andrew’s was established in 1949 when two seminarians
came to Newfane to survey the area for the need of an Episcopal
Church. Our first
service was held in the Newfane Town Hall on June 19, 1949.
Soon, a need was felt for more permanent quarters and “the
Burt School House” along the bank of Eighteen Mile Creek was
purchased. The first
service was held in the new chapel in February 1950 through the
tireless efforts of members of the new and growing congregation.
St. Andrew’s was admitted to the Diocese of Western New
York as an organized mission at the 1950 Diocesan Convention.
On July 5th 1953 the first Vicar was called.
St. Andrew’s growth soon made it necessary to build onto
the brick schoolhouse. The
new church was built to integrate with the existing building and the
cornerstone was laid on April 14, 1955.
A celebration dedicating the new church took place on
November 25, 1956. November
1974 marked the celebration of our 25th Anniversary and
the burning of our mortgage. Our
congregation applied for parish status in 1986, which was granted a
year later. This was the fulfillment of a long-time vision.
We renovated the undercroft in 1994, creating two Sunday
school classrooms. This
space provided us with distinct worship areas that allow our
children to sing, pray, and learn.
In 1998 we remodeled our rear entrance, making our building
handicapped accessible. This
was an effort that was made possible through fundraising and a
generous bequest. Presently,
we have a Covenant Agreement with St. John’s Episcopal Church in
Wilson to share our pastor. This
provides both parishes with a greater availability of pastoral
services, additional fellowship, and educational resources.
We are actively involved in ecumenical activities and are
committed to representing the Episcopal Church in central Niagara
County. Our annual Fish
Fry dinners began in 1989, and we now serve over 2,000 dinners
during the six weeks of Lent. On
the last Sunday of each month we welcome about 100 people to our
Community Lunch, free of charge.
Our annual Bazaar in November brings together over 200 people
to shop for crafts, homemade foods, and to share a chicken and
biscuit lunch; half the proceeds from the Bazaar are given to local
community organizations. We
share leadership in an ecumenical services for Thanksgiving and Good
Friday, and every July we host an ecumenical service of prayers and
hymns—the Loaves and Fishes Community Gathering—to benefit the
community Food Pantry.
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