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.

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 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 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.

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. 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 built 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. In November of 1952, the cornerstone for the church's narthex and tower was laid as a part of a $87,000 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 rose window over the altar 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. The parking lot was completed in February 2000. Extensive renovations to the office foyer, the Godly Play Room and the Music Room were completed in November 2008; the Parish Hall was renovated in August 2009.

Due to declining enrollment, St. Alban's Memorial School was closed on December 20, 2006. In September of 2007, the school building was renamed as the St. Alban's Outreach Center. In the St. Alban's Outreach Center, we now partner with the Central Texas String Academy, Waco Children's Theatre, and Camp Fire USA, as well as 12-Step Programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).

In September of 2009, we welcomed Avance in our Outreach Center, an educational program for Hispanic/Latino families with pre-school children, preparing children and parents for success in their later education.

As of the end of 2010, St. Alban's has experienced five consecutive years of growth. Our average Sunday attendance has increased by 60% since 2006. We are an exciting and growing community; please join us!

Rectors of St. Alban's Episcopal Church:

Charles A. Higgins Wayne W. Mahan Grover C. McElyea Fred W. Kneipp Graham Cliff Everett H. Cain Karl M. Choate (interim) Paul E. Taft, Jr. Douglas J. Tucker Janne A. Osborne Rommily "Cotton" Timmins (interim) Jeff W. Fisher

1946-1956 1957-1962 1962-1967 1968-1972 1972-1974 1974-1978 1978-1979 1979-1992 1993-2001 2002-2005 2005-2006 2006-Present