History 

The first "Episcopal Guild" was created by a group of Port Angeles residents in 1891.  A small building at Sixth and Chase streets was the first home for St. Andrew's.  This property  was  traded  for  a  lot  at  Second  and  Peabody  Streets  where  a  new church was constructed and dedicated in 1905.  (Current home of the Salvation Army.)

A parish hall was added in 1908 which, although under control of St. Andrew's, was for the use of all in the community.  This enabled the parish to supply, with the help of other  churches  and  service-minded  organizations,  food,  clothing,  fuel  and  other assistance to the needy during the depression of the 1930s.  This caring concern and sharing of our property continues to the present.  In recent years, the parish hall has housed  a  free  clinic  for  those  without  medical  insurance  and  a  safe  place  for  the homeless to spend the night.

St. Andrews reached out early in its history to provide pastoral care to communities on  the  North  Olympic  Peninsula.    Fr.  John  Como,  our  rector  from  1939  until  his untimely death in 1960, helped St. Luke's, Sequim, become a parish in 1959 (having previously been a  mission).   We  continue  to serve  St. Swithin's, our  Forks mission, which was begun under Canon Walter McNeil, our rector for St. Andrews from 1964 until 1971.  This mission work was further expanded to St. Jerome's in Sekiu/Clallam Bay  by  Fr.  David  Storm  who  served  us  as  rector  from  1972  through  1993.    This mission however was not sustainable and was discontinued.

During  Fr.  Storm's  tenure,  St.  Andrews replaced  its  old  organ  with  a  fine  Kenneth Coulter  pipe  organ.    This  quality  instrument  enables  the  parish  to  provide  concerts and  to  open  the  church  to  many  other  musical  experiences  in  partnership  with Peninsula  College and  others.  Also during this period,  the church was  approved to create on its property a memorial garden for the remains of the parish members who wished to make this choice.

As our church grew, a larger site was selected on Park Avenue, our present location and  was  dedicated  in  1971.    Financing  for  the  building  was  provided  by  a  modest capital campaign  which  was  enhanced  by  special gifts  from  memorials  and  others enabling us to burn the mortgage and consecrate the church in January, 1975.

Following  Fr.  Storm,  Fr.  Michael Carr  served  as  our  priest  from  1995  through  April 2007.  Shortly after his term began, it became necessary to add a new parish hall for fellowship  as our  "old"  parish  hall  was  being used  so much for community  services.  This addition proved far  more  costly  than  anticipated  and  challenged  us  financially.  After a  capital campaign,  which later was  supplemented by  large  gifts from  several parishioners, we were able to burn this mortgage in July 5, 2005.

St.  Andrew's  Place,  owned  by Episcopal Retirement  Communities,  opened  in  June 1998 on property owned by St. Andrews, just south of the  church.  This United Way agency serves assisted-living residents.  Members of St. Andrews church participate with pastoral care, social opportunities and other assistance.

We  are  currently  being  served  on  an  interim  basis  by  the  Rev.  Margaret  Bourne- Raiswell who brings us loving pastoral care and meaningful sermons.  Senior Warden Betty Marshall skillfully manages our business as a full-time volunteer.  Our vestry is fully committed to its work.  Together, Maggie, Betty, the vestry and the congregation continue to fully engaged  in our  mission, "To  know Christ  and to  make him known", as it has been over the past 117 years.