St. Alban's Episcopal Church Waco, Texas
A Brief History
The first official action for the establishment of St. Alban's Episcopal Church was taken by the Vestry of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Waco Texas, on May 1, 1944. They gave their support in establishing a new mission in the growing community of Waco "north of Austin Avenue and west of the Brazos river." On January 18, 1945 the Rev. Robert R. Brown, rector of St. Paul's Church, called a meeting of interested communicants willing to move to the new mission. A petition by these communicants was presented to the Bishop, Rt. Rev. Clinton S. Quin, asking that a mission be established in Waco and dedicated to the memory of St. Alban.
St. Alban's First Building - Parish House (1946)
The 97th Council of the Diocese of Texas accepted the new mission in January 1946. In September 1946, the Diocese of Texas purchased two lots at the northeast corner of Columbus Avenue and 30th Street for the sum of $2,750.00 to house the new mission. The Rev. Charles Higgins accepted the appointment as Priest in Charge December 8, 1945 and moved with his family to Waco on March 8, 1946.
On April 21, 1946, St. Alban's first service was held at Hamilton House, while preparations for permanent facilities were drawn up. A contract for $22,500.00 was let for a parish house at a time when there were less than 50 adult communicants on the mission roster. The building was completed at the end of 1946 with the generous support not only St. Alban's communicants, but also with support from St. Paul's.
First Half of Church Building is Constructed (1950)
It was not long, however, until the need for additional land and facilities was realized, and three additional lots were purchased. A three room frame building was completed in September 1947, just in time for the opening of St. Alban's Day School. After two years of offering pre-school, the School opened a first grade in September of 1949. Also in 1949, the first part of the church was constructed, at a cost of $37,000.00. An impressive dedication service for the new building was conducted on January 22, 1950.
St. Alban's became a self-supporting parish when accepted by the 102nd Council of the Diocese on January 28, 1951. Another major addition to the St. Alban's complex was to house the growing number of students; the new St. Alban's Memorial School opened adjacent to the Church in September of 1951, at a cost of $25,000.00. In November of 1952, the cornerstone for the church's Narthex and tower was laid as a part of a $87,000.00 expansion of the church and parish house. Installed in the tower in 1953 was a carillon of 36 bronze bells imported from the Netherlands. The bells range in weight from 22 pounds to 6 tons. A two story addition was added to the school in 1953.
A new parish hall was constructed between the church and the original parish hall in 1976. A $300,000 renovation of the worship space was completed in September 1996. A new altar window and renovation of the organ were part of this work. A major addition and renovation of the school was carried out in 1997 at a cost of $1.2 million. New offices for both church and school physically joined the two buildings into one contiguous structure by eliminating an alley. Children no longer have to trek through inclement weather to attend chapel and other activities in the previously separate building. The latest addition to the property is a combination parking lot / school playground completed in February 2000.
For a list of Rectors serving St. Alban's Episcopal Church through the years click here.
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