In the summer of 1899, T.B. Marshall of St. Illa Vineyard near Willacoochee researched the possibility of establishing a mission or church in Douglas. His anticipation of approximately fifteen members along with his persistence are thought to have made his dream a reality.
A meeting was held August 14, 1899, for the purpose of organizing an Episcopal Church in Douglas. The Rev. J.W. Turner was elected chairman and J. W. Quincy secretary. A building committee was also appointed at that meeting. The first service of The Episcopal Church in Douglas was held on September 11, 1899.
The first service in St. Andrew’s own building was held on Easter Day, April 7, 1901. The first marriage in the church, June 5, 1901, was that of Evelyn Gertrude Dart to John Land Shelton. The first baptism was that of Mrs. Mattie Lee Comas on December 1, 1901.
On January 7, 1903, there were nine stained glass windows in the church. The other windows were closed with canvas cloths, but so imperfectly that in the absence of heating arrangements the congregation suffered from the cold. St. Andrew’s lack of funds and the cold days of winter combined to create fortunate good will in the community; the remaining windows were shortly in place. In fact, the community’s good will was amplified by the generosity of both the Methodist and Baptist Church; each presented a window as a gift to St. Andrew’s.
On December 29, 1993, a disastrous fire destroyed the church and the parish hall. The church was rebuilt and in doing so, all of the worship areas were enlarged to accommodate future growth. Fortunately all the stained glass windows were salvaged and reused in the new building. The cross pictured above was also salvaged from the fire and hangs in the Parish Hall.
The pipe organ was destroyed in the fire. Mr. and Mrs. Rowan B. Evans gave St. Andrew’s the present organ made by the Austin Organ Company of Hartford, Connecticut. The instrument was designed for the new building with two manuals, twelve ranks and 1,200 pipes.
