The Episcopal Church

The Episcopal Church, of which St. Thomas is a member, is affiliated with the Church of England (to which King Charles III and his family belong) and the Anglican Communion, a global fellowship of churches in which followers of Christ in over 165 nations are represented. What do we believe?

We believe in one God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We believe the Old and New Testaments to be the revealed Word of God, which teaches us salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, who died for our sins and raises us to eternal life. We baptize and take communion, just as Jesus taught us to do. We also take part in other sacramental rites as revealed to us in Scripture: Confirmation, Holy Matrimony, Ordination, Absolution, and Anointing of the Sick. We believe that God calls bishops, priests, and deacons to lead His holy, catholic, and apostolic Church in following Christ.

The leader of the Anglican Communion is Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Episcopal Church’s leader is Michael Curry, the Presiding Bishop. And the leader of our Diocese (regional body) is George Sumner, the Bishop of Dallas.

The History of St. Thomas

December 20, 1874: Irishman Alexander Charles Garrett is elected Missionary Bishop of Northern Texas, with authority over the northern third of the state. He serves until his death in 1924.

April 18, 1875: Bishop Garrett visits the new town of Ennis and baptizes and confirms several local townspeople. He visits regularly for many years.

August 13, 1888: St. Thomas is founded as an Episcopal mission and its cornerstone is laid at the corner of W. Knox and N. McKinney Streets. The original building and a second one are both destroyed in natural disasters, but the original cornerstone survives.

1930s: In the midst of the Depression, St. Thomas’ new building is constructed at the corner of N. Sherman and W. Tyler Streets, out of wood donated from a local lumberyard. It is in this same building that we worship today!

1960s: St. Thomas becomes a parish under Fr. Dennis Smart. It reverts to a mission in the 1990s with declining attendance and pledges.

1987: St. Thomas moves to 901 Park Street and constructs a new Parish Hall, complete with office, Sunday school rooms, kitchen, and nursery. The church is carefully placed on a truck and moved!

November 4, 2023: St. Thomas regains parish status as attendance begins to improve. Thanks be to God!