Saratoga News

Style

Strasburger returns to St. Andrew's for golden anniversary celebration

By Michele Tjin

The parishioners of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church took a trip down memory lane as they revisited their past 50 years. They saw how far they've come along as they celebrated their church's golden anniversary on June 24.

At a special Sunday service, St. Andrew's founding rector, the Rev. Roy Strasburger, came out of retirement to give the sermon.

"It was the highlight of the event," said parishioner Marian Abbott, who helped organize the day's festivities. "It was a moving homily, and he talked about how the church began in Saratoga."

In 1957, Saratoga residents interested in starting an Episcopal church in their city rented a room from the International Order of Odd Fellows Hall on Oak Street to use as their first meeting place. Two years later, they moved to Saratoga Avenue, the site of their current church, built on what was once a prune orchard.

At the June celebration, the 50th anniversary provided plenty of nostalgia, Abbott said. Not only did the congregation hear from Strasburger, it also received a visit from Warren Heid, a Saratoga architect who designed St. Andrew's. Ernest Cockrell, the former rector who retired in April, also attended.

There was a special rededication of the church building, and the sanctuary was decorated with red and gold. Inside the sanctuary, there was a timeline that listed local church events along with national events that were happening simultaneously.

"I've been there for 43 years. I've been there for a long time," Abbott said. "It's good to see how much we began and be humbled."

The festivities also included a barbecue. Children were entertained with a slide and a bounce house, while the adults grooved to the sounds of the 1950s.

As the congregation reflected on its history, it is also looking ahead. It has been taking part in a strategic plan that addresses the next five years, and the plan will partly be about what the role of the church is in Saratoga.

"One part of the vision is that we want to be a vibrant centerpiece for the community," Abbott said.