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St. Andrew's Episcopal Church St. Andrew's is a parish
of the Episcopal Diocese of Central Pennsylvania |
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About St. Andrew's
WelcomeWelcome to St. Andrew's Episcopal Church. We are a community of faith, seeking to "promote charity, which is the chief of Christian graces," and we welcome all persons, regardless of race, ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, capability or circumstances of life. The Parish of St. Andrew’s is a growing, thriving community with a beautiful liturgy and music that worships together in love and fellowship in the surroundings of a historic church. We have an enriching mixture of the vitality of a growing number of young families, nurtured by the heritage embodied in our older parishioners. In addition to our worship and prayer life, our congregation is committed to the community and the world, and expresses this commitment through outreach programs and environmental concerns. The Christian Education and youth ministries are particularly strong emphases of the parish. Situated in a college town, with proximity to Penn State University, the congregation of St. Andrew’s is a diverse group of people of all backgrounds and areas of interest, that bring a variety of talents and skills to our activities. Our average Sunday attendance in 2006 was 416. If you area visiting or new to St. Andrew’s, do not hesitate to join us in our worship. If you care to do so, please make yourself known to the ushers or clergy and complete a welcome card. You will find red Prayer Books and blue hymnals in the pews. If you are unfamiliar with the services, these are essential in participating in the liturgy. With some exceptions, congregational participation in the worship of the Church is expressed in actions such as kneeling for prayer, sitting for instruction, standing for praise, bowing as a act of reverence, and making the sign of the cross. The best rule, if the service is unfamiliar, is to follow the congregation. St. Andrew’s is a parish in the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania. The diocesan headquarters and St. Stephen’s Cathedral are located in Harrisburg. Our Bishop is the Rt. Reverend Nathan Baxter. The Diocese is part of Province III of the Episcopal Church. The Presiding Bishop of the American Episcopal Church is the Most Reverend Katharine Jefferts Schori. About the Episcopal ChurchSaint Andrew’s is part of the worldwide Anglican (Communion) Church which is under the spiritual leadership of The Most Reverend and Right Honorable Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury. There are approximately three million Anglicans (Episcopalians) in the United States, and seventy million Anglicans throughout the world. The Episcopal Church is an Apostolic Church. That is, it traces the consecration of its Bishops back to the apostles. It is an Anglican church. That is, it originated in England during the Reformation. Essential elements of the Episcopal Church are the Liturgy, as found in the Book of Common Prayer, and Scripture, Tradition, and Reason. The approach of the Episcopal Church to each of these elements is tempered and supported by the other two. The Episcopal Church has three Orders of the Ordained Clergy: Bishops, Priests and Deacons. Bishop Nathan Baxter presides over the diocese of Central Pennsylvania. The Priest who heads a parish is usually a Rector, and by Canon Law is the ultimate authority in all matters concerning worship, education and the use of the parish buildings. Perpetual or Permanent Deacons are secularly employed and serve the Church in a variety of capacities assigned by the Bishop and Rector. Typically, deacons call on parishioners, visit the sick at home and hospitals, teach classes, take Communion to the sick and shut-ins, and assist in the worship services of the Church. They are addressed as Deacon or Mr./Mrs. orally, and as “The Reverend” in writing, as they are Ordained Clergy. St. Andrew’s has one permanent Deacon, Joseph DeLauter. History of St. Andrew’sSt. Andrew's was founded as a mission church in 1911, an outgrowth of students and faculty from Penn State who had been meeting on campus for Evening Prayer and fellowship since 1857. The priest from St. John’s in Bellefonte came monthly to celebrate the Eucharist. The church building was consecrated in 1928, and parish status was attained in 1953. The parish house next to the church was modified and expanded in 1972 in the construction of our present Parish Life Center, which is used regularly by community groups as well as by the parish. In 2001, the property behind the church building at 313 South Burrowes Street was purchased and named "Trinity House." It provides a comfortable area for small parish meetings, as well as extra parking for the parish. Architecture and WindowsSt. Andrew's is a Romanesque church with a classic Englsh Norman look. It contains some of the best classic stained glass windows designed producd and installed by the famous Willet Studos of Phiadelphia. The origiator of the studio, William Willet, began making a name for himself when he won the prestigious competition for the Sanctuary Windows of the Cadet Chapel at West Point over his closest competitor, Tiffany Studios. Willet had worked briefly for Tiffany. He later became one of a small group of window designers striving to revive the mmedieval window-making technique which included the use of pure transluscent glass. This style had been largely abandoned in favor of the milky opalescent glass used by Willet's predecessors. Please Check the Windows pages for photos and descriptions of many of our Willet windows. The NaveThe vaulted ceiling of the nave is intended to resemble an up-turned boat, and the term "nave " is derived from the Latin "navis" or boat. In classic Norman architecture, the nave would be flanked by two side aisles, separated from the main space of the nave by arches. 
The High Altar
The Side Altar in the Right TranseptDuring the time when Fr. Peabody was priest of St. Andrew's, he also served as the chaplin to the University, and to Rockview State Prison. After the death of his infant daughter, the prisoners of his Rockview Ministry built and donated the side altar as a memorial to his child. 
The Mary Bas Relief in the left Transept
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