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In the late sixth century when Gregory I was pope, he passed the slave market in Rome. What he saw there amazed him, for he had never seen people who were so fair-haired and fair-skinned. He inquired from where they came. The answer came back that they were "Anglos." The Pope remarked: "They are indeed Angels." From that moment he resolved to send a missionary delegation to the Land of the Anglos to convert this people to Christ. We know that place today as England. In 596, Augustine landed in Canterbury in England to begin what he though would be a long and arduous conversion process. To his surprise, he found that the people were largely Christian, dating their faith experience back for centuries. Tradition holds that it was Joseph of Arimathaea who first brought knowledge of Christ to England and with it the Holy Grail -- the cup which Jesus used at the Last Supper which he ate with his followers before the crucifixion. The story is unsubstantiated. The more likely explanation is that Christianity came with the Roman occupation of England which extended into the third century of the Common Era. The important point in this is that English Christianity predates its affiliation with Rome. Augustine was successful in persuading the local Church establishment to join the Roman Catholic Church -- a union which endured until the time of the Protestant Reformation in the 1500's. At that time, England joined the many groups who split from Rome, taking the entire country as one into the fold of their new Denomination. Seeking neither to be completely "catholic" or completely "protestant" in their liturgical forms and doctrinal positions, the ANGLICANS instead chose to craft a via media, a middle way, in between the two. The Anglican Church remains in this position to this day. The Episcopal Church is the Anglican affiliate in the
United States, tracing its origin to Colonial Times in the British Colonies and,
then, separating and becoming a distinct national church at the time of the
Revolutionary War. The Episcopal Church is part of the world wide Anglican
Communion which has churches on six continents. The Church in this country sees
a million people worship each week using the Book of Common Prayer -- the
worship book of the church. If you would like to learn more about the
Anglican Church, you can visit the U.S. Episcopal website at
http://ecusa.anglican.org. ABOUT ST. LUKE'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Today's congregation carries much of the stamp of those who went before them. Fiercely individual and strongly family oriented, the current community lives out its commitment to God through Jesus Christ by quietly serving one another and the community at large. Characterized as a denomination as one that intentionally walks the path between the Protestant and Catholic approach to Christianity, St. Luke's is a place where theological questioning is welcomed and people do not need to "check their brains at the door when entering." When asking some of the newer families who have young children why they have chosen to stay at St. Luke's, the answer comes back almost universally: "there is an intangible feeling of God's presence which reinforces my relationship with God." Others voice appreciation for sermons "that help keep me on track in my professional life." Still others remark: "the availability of weekly communion gives me a sense of being connected to God and others in the community." St. Luke's building is a classic carpenter gothic building reminiscent of the pioneer days of our state and our town. Many visitors have commented that it reminds them of the church in which they grew up. The sanctuary is rosewood and is adorned with stained glass windows depicting moments in the life of Christ and remembering various saints. Over the years, the congregation has been committed to supporting the larger community, particularly those in need. Contributing to Community Pantry through an annual food drive, holding yard sales with the intention of making merchandise available to those who are economically disadvantaged, giving the proceeds to the special fund at our county's Child Protective Services or providing a scholarship for a needy pre-schooler to the Children's House (a Montessori pre-school which is housed here), this congregation has a commitment to reaching out to those in need in the community. This reflects the St. Luke's Community commitment to ministry to the children of our county. While maintaining clear connection to our historical Christian roots, the current community at St. Luke's church enthusiastically enjoys the present and looks with hope and excitement toward the future which God will reveal. We invite all who are looking for a place to come to know God in a warm and friendly place, to join us on Sunday morning at either 8 a.m. or 10 a.m. |
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A HISTORY OF THE
The
present congregation of St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Hollister owes much to
those who came before them. Founded in 1876, when the town of Hollister was
itself in its infancy, those early members contributed both a vision for the
future and a rootedness in the legacy provided by the world wide Anglican
Church. The rootedness continues to this day.