History

Through the effort and financial commitment of good people with faith and missionary foresight, St. Paul Episcopal Church began serving God and the community in 1876. Our founders recognized the need for an Episcopal Church in the community of Waxahachie, Texas; this place of worship was in answer to the Great Commission to "Go forth into the World" to build up the Kingdom of God.

The church building was erected in the heart of Waxahachie; the cornerstone of the building was laid on April 16, 1887, with the church consisting of 12 registered communicants. (Along with family, friends, and the interested public, attendance at services averaged 55.) As reported by the Waxahachie Enterprise on April 22, 1887, "According to previous appointment, the cornerstone of the new Protestant Episcopal Church was laid at 5:50 last Saturday afternoon by Bishop Garrett, the Rev. Edwin Wickens, and C.H.S. Hartman of Cleburne. A mason put the stone in place and Bishop Garrett, striking it three times with a hammer, said, 'In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen.' The church building was large enough to seat approximately 70 people.

Under the guidance of Fr. Jerry Hill, the congregation of St. Paul grew steadily and the seats were filled with people of all ages, including many young families with children. More often than not, the main service was standing room only and the congregation became one of the most active and vibrant Episcopal congregations in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. By 1997 the congregation had grown to the point that attendance was greater than capacity and the process of building a new worship space had begun.

On January 4, 2003, the new church building was dedicated by Rt. Rev. James Monte Stanton, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas. Bishop Stanton repeated the actions of Bishop Garrett, knocking at the door three times and proclaiming the church open, "in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost." Architect Bill Hidell of Hidell Associates in Carrollton, Texas, designed the new church to "look like it's been there for as many years as the church has been in existence."The design of the new church is based on the rich heritage and traditions of the Episcopal Church, interpreted for growth in the new era.

St. Paul Episcopal Church is an old church, founded in 1876. Now it is a new church, dedicated in 2003.

Liturgy

We are part of the Protestant Episcopal Church, U.S.A., and members of the Anglican Communion Network and the American Anglican Council. We are called "Protestant" because we broke away from the Roman Catholic Church in the 16th Century. We are called "Episcopal" because we have bishops, and maintain the "Historic Episcopate", which refers to our tradition that the office of Bishop provides continuity from age to age in the church. We are derived from the Church of England, which was founded in the 1530s during the reign of Henry VIII. Between 1547 and 1553 the Church of England produced both the English language Bible and the Book of Common Prayer. Our prayer tradition and celebrations are based on those taught by Jesus, as recorded in the Bible.

The Book of Common Prayer makes it possible for us to understand our identity through participation in corporate worship. The first Book of Common Prayer was produced by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer in 1549. Each church in the Anglican Communion has its own adaptation of the Book of Common Prayer. The first Prayer Book for the American Episcopal Church was approved in 1789. The Prayer Book revised in 1979 is currently in use. The Book of Common Prayer is essential to the character of the Episcopal Church because its use holds together congregations with very different styles of worship and emphasis within the broader traditions of Christian belief and practice.

The worship liturgy in the Book of Common Prayer is derived from the Bible. "Liturgy" means "work of the people" and it is the public prayer and worship of the people of God gathered in community.

Our services are meant to worship God. They are divided into distinct parts. The Liturgy of the Word is the part of the service during which Biblical passages are read and a sermon, based on the Bible readings of the day, is delivered. It is also the time when we say the Nicene Creed, make our confession and share the Peace of God with our neighbors. The Liturgy of the Eucharist is the time when we celebrate Holy Communion, or the Lord's Supper. We have Communion during most of our services, and always on Sunday morning. We do this because Jesus told us to, when he instituted the practice during The Last Supper.

st.paul@ectisp.net
972-938-2126
624 Ovilla Road, Waxahachie, Texas 75167

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