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St. Thomas Episcopal Church

St. Thomas Episcopal Church

Faith. Hope. Love. Unity.

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Timeline

A narrative history by Kristin Munday and the Rev. Wendy Smith, Ph.D.Download

Our Journey

As you travel backwards in time along the timeline, we hope you gain a sense of St. Thomas’ story from now to our beginnings in 1911.  In addition, we hope you will see how St. Thomas has been impacted by and has responded to major events in the world, the US, and our local area, and thereby gain a sense of what motivates our mission and ministry.   Finally, we hope you see your story as it connects with our story.  How did you get here?  Where could we go together?  The story continues.

A highly infectious novel coronavirus strikes the globe.  California goes into shelter-in-place, in March 2020.  St. Thomas moves online as a response to the COVID pandemic.  Since then, our church has grown in intimacy while on Zoom, truly experiencing that the church is the people, not the building.

Church Moves Online

2020

A highly infectious novel coronavirus strikes the globe.  California goes into shelter-in-place, in March 2020.  St. Thomas moves online as a response to the COVID pandemic.  Since then, our church has grown in intimacy while on Zoom, truly experiencing that the church is the people, not the building.

We celebrated a eucharist with everyone in their cars in the parking lot, after 7 months without communion.

Eucharist in the Parking Lot

We celebrated a eucharist with everyone in their cars in the parking lot, after 7 months without communion.

Deacon Bertram Nagarajah celebrated his first Sunday at St. Thomas on June 3, 2018.

Deacon Bertram Joins St. Thomas

June 2018

Deacon Bertram Nagarajah celebrated his first Sunday at St. Thomas on June 3, 2018.

The local housing crisis makes it difficult for new members to stay, constricting our pledge income.  The Financial Sustainability Committee seeks a mission-based income source for the parish. 

Financial Sustainability Committee Seeks Mission Based Income

2018- Present

The local housing crisis makes it difficult for new members to stay, constricting our pledge income.  The Financial Sustainability Committee seeks a mission-based income source for the parish. 

The church reflects and prays about its mission for the current times and the vestry crafts a new mission statement after a year-long study called the Dream Project.

New Mission Statement

2017

The church reflects and prays about its mission for the current times and the vestry crafts a new mission statement after a year-long study called the Dream Project.

The housing crisis in our area and racial and immigration issues in our nation make us aware of justice matters.  The Justice and Peace Committee is formed.

Justice and Peace Committee

2016

The housing crisis in our area and racial and immigration issues in our nation make us aware of justice matters.  The Justice and Peace Committee is formed.

The Rev. Salying Wong Called as 4th Rector

2015

Rev. Wendy Smith Retired

2013

Year-long celebration of St. Thomas’ 100th anniversary of its founding.

Centennial Celebration

2011

Year-long celebration of St. Thomas’ 100th anniversary of its founding.

Playground is installed to serve our Children’s Ministry.

Playground Installed

2010

Playground is installed to serve our Children’s Ministry.

In 2003 our labyrinth was installed in the courtyard.

Labyrinth Installed

2003

In 2003 our labyrinth was installed in the courtyard.

Renovations to Cowans Hall completed and Education building added.

Renovations

2001-2003

Renovations to Cowans Hall completed and Education building added.

September 11, terrorists strike the Twin Towers and the Pentagon, killing almost 3000 people.  All around the US, many sought solace.  St. Thomas holds prayer services and memorial services in response to this tragic event.

September 11

2001

September 11, terrorists strike the Twin Towers and the Pentagon, killing almost 3000 people.  All around the US, many sought solace.  St. Thomas holds prayer services and memorial services in response to this tragic event.

The Rev Wendy Smith, PhD called as 3rd Rector

1996

The Rev William Cowans Retires

1994

Chapel of the Resurrection Opened

1985

A national recession causes many to lose their jobs and go hungry.  Our Daily Bread hot lunch program opens in response to the growing number of hungry people.

Our Daily Bread continues to serve during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our Daily Bread Mission Opened

1983

A national recession causes many to lose their jobs and go hungry.  Our Daily Bread hot lunch program opens in response to the growing number of hungry people.

Our Daily Bread continues to serve during the COVID-19 pandemic.

St. Thomas New Worship Center Consecrated

1981

In the CA, Prop 13 impacts Californian education and housing.  Eventually, housing issues will become more and more of a problem, as people move to Sunnyvale for high-tech jobs, but the number of homes built do not keep up with demand.  This will contribute to a housing crisis and develop justice issues.  See 2016 and 2020 for St. Thomas’ response to these troubling regional issues.

Prop 13 impacts education and housing

1978

In the CA, Prop 13 impacts Californian education and housing.  Eventually, housing issues will become more and more of a problem, as people move to Sunnyvale for high-tech jobs, but the number of homes built do not keep up with demand.  This will contribute to a housing crisis and develop justice issues.  See 2016 and 2020 for St. Thomas’ response to these troubling regional issues.

The end of the Vietnam War

1975

The Rev. William Cowans called as 2nd Rector

1974

Current Church Building Completed

1966

Like many mainline churches, our church attendance dives steeply after ‘65 into the ‘70s–falling from over 300 to an average of 100.  This is where we have remained to today.

Church Attendance

1965

Like many mainline churches, our church attendance dives steeply after ‘65 into the ‘70s–falling from over 300 to an average of 100.  This is where we have remained to today.

The Rev. Warren Debenham becomes first rector. Boomers begin to fill the church.

The Rev. Warren Debenham called as First Rector

1965

The Rev. Warren Debenham becomes first rector. Boomers begin to fill the church.

The Rev. Warren Debenham Called as Fourth Vicar

1960

The Rev. Allan McMahan called as Third Vicar

1957

New church on Sunset (now Cowans Hall) held first worship service.

New Church on Sunset Held First Worship

1957

New church on Sunset (now Cowans Hall) held first worship service.

The Rev. Richard Byfield Called as Second Vicar

1953

The Rev. Kenneth Eade Appointed Vicar

1951

Bishop Block accepted St. Thomas as a regularly organized mission of the Diocese.

St. Thomas Accepted as Regularly Organized Mission

1947

Bishop Block accepted St. Thomas as a regularly organized mission of the Diocese.

The Rev. David Gilmore Served as Vicar

1947

In the US: With the return of the vets and the help of the GI Bill, the Boomers are born.  (73 million births in 18 years).  Our current worship center was built to accommodate the Boomer birth rate.

Baby Boom

1946 – 1964

In the US: With the return of the vets and the help of the GI Bill, the Boomers are born.  (73 million births in 18 years).  Our current worship center was built to accommodate the Boomer birth rate.

The Rev. Col. Sutherland Served as Part-time Vicar for 7 Months

1946

In the world: WWII September 1939-September 1945.  The whole town of Sunnyvale rallied around the war effort; many worked at Hendy Ironworks building ships.  The US Naval Air Station was located at Moffett Field.  It is noteworthy that the attendance at St. Thomas was below 25 till sometime after the war.

World War II

1939-1945

In the world: WWII September 1939-September 1945.  The whole town of Sunnyvale rallied around the war effort; many worked at Hendy Ironworks building ships.  The US Naval Air Station was located at Moffett Field.  It is noteworthy that the attendance at St. Thomas was below 25 till sometime after the war.



The Rev. Albert Olson, Vicar of Christ Church Appointed to Hold Sunday Services at St. Thomas

1938



In the US: The Great Depression devastates the US economy and lives.  Our church attendance hovers around 25.

The Great Depression

1929-1933

In the US: The Great Depression devastates the US economy and lives.  Our church attendance hovers around 25.

The Rev Britton D. Weigle Assigned to Serve Both St. Thomas and Christ Church Los Altos

1933



The Rev. E. H. Maloney of Trinity Menlo Park presided at the 7:30PM Service

1926






The Rev. Mark Rifenbark Served as the Mission Priest

1926







The Flu Pandemic

1918-1919







The Rev. A.W.N. Porter Served as the Mission Priest

1918




The first church building consecrated on November 26th.


First Church Building Consecrated

1916

The first church building consecrated on November 26th.


The original lot was traded for a lot on the corner of Sunnyvale and McKinley.

Original Lot Traded

1915

The original lot was traded for a lot on the corner of Sunnyvale and McKinley.


World War I

1914-1918


Lot at N. Murphy purchased for first St. Thomas Building.

Lot Purchased

1912

Lot at N. Murphy purchased for first St. Thomas Building.

Mission St. Thomas is opened with 50+ people with Clarence Urmy as founder.

Mission St. Thomas Opened

1911

Mission St. Thomas is opened with 50+ people with Clarence Urmy as founder.

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Saint Thomas Episcopal Church
231 Sunset Avenue Sunnyvale, CA 94086
Tel: (408) 736-4155 | Fax: (408) 736-8655

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