History of St. Augustine's In-The-Woods Episcopal Parish
Fifty years ago St. Augustine's in-the-Woods was created as one of two missions undertaken by Trinity Church in Everett to bring the Episcopal Church into being on the 52-mile long island just to the west. This was in response to a request by a small group of local Episcopalians.
Although we are a young parish, we do have traditions. The foremost is participation. The hard labor, creative talents and resources of parishioners have been applied at every stage of parish development.
As the first parish building went up in the early 1960's, churchwomen purchased the steeple with money
earned from a bake sale in Bayview, a hot dog sale in Freeland, and serving dinners at Chamber of
Commerce meetings. A gift of stock paid for the pews. Bulletins were printed on a donated duplicating
machine. Traditions begun at that time, notably the Trash and Treasure Sale, have continued to this day.
The first church building was dedicated by Bishop William Lewis on August 11, 1963. Within a few
years, however, the congregation, then a mission, outgrew its worship space. By 1977, plans took shape for
a new church. Ground was broken on May 4, 1978. A church choir officially came into existence early
in 1979. Even as it was building a new church, the parish found resources to sponsor several
Vietnamese refugee families.
St. Augustine's in-the-Woods officially became a parish in the fall of 1981, calling Fr. William M.
Burnett as Rector. He had been at the mission for twelve years as vicar, so the call didn't have to go
far. At a joyous parish meeting in January 1982, the first vestry was elected.
Over the years, the parish has undergone subtle transformations. The 1970's were turbulent times
during which young people challenged the traditional forms of religion. The Episcopal Church was undergoing
its own upheavals over ordination of women and adoption of a new prayer book. However, St. Augustine's
remained engaged, even though a few members left the parish in protest at liturgical change.
The young families of the early 1970's grew up. Some moved away. A few were lured by fundamentalist
churches. Within a decade St. Augustine's was, to a large extent, a congregation of retirees, people
drawn to a still-pastoral island just a twenty minute ferry ride from the expanding "Pugetopolis".
St. Augustine's in-the-Woods has always been deeply involved in the life of South Whidbey, the churched
and the unchurched. In 1981, Fr. Burnett and a half dozen other clergy formed a proposal for a
telephone ministry using lay people trained in basic counseling. That particular idea never took off, but
out of these discussions arose an organization called Helping Hand, a ministry to individuals and families
in crisis. Several members of St. Augustine's were instrumental in its creation, and Fr. Burnett chaired
the board as Helping Hand struggled to its feet.
The mid-1980's saw a broadening of the parish's outreach. A 1986 sabbatical trip by Fr. Burnett to Russia planted the seeds for our sister parish relationship with St. Nicholas Cathedral, an Orthodox parish in Pavlovsk, near St. Petersburg.
The parish membership has changed again in the 1990's. Several young families have joined, finding the
parish accepting and outgoing. Children once again enliven parish life. St. Augustine's attracts
parishioners from a wide area.
Continuing a long tradition of involvement in diocesan affairs, a member of St. Augustine's
congregation chaired the Diocese of Olympia's capital campaign in 1991. As long ago as 1975, a parishioner
chaired the nominating committee that drew up a list of candidates for the election of a new diocesan bishop.
St. Augustine's has helped foster ecumenical cooperation in the South Whidbey community. The ministers'
weekly Lectionary study group has engaged a clergy spectrum ranging from Roman Catholic to Free
Methodist. The churches of South Whidbey worship together at noon on Good Friday. Several years ago St.
Augustine's instituted a joint Easter Vigil service with Trinity Lutheran. Alternating between the
two churches, the Easter Vigil celebration now embraces Episcopal, Methodist, and two Lutheran congregations.
St. Augustine's in-the-Woods bears some resemblance to a bumblebee (an insect frequently seen
in our gardens), in that the parts may not seem to match perfectly. The communion rail is populated by
couples married a half-century, by young people with toddlers, and young children. Early this year,
Solemn Evensong was celebrated on the same night as a discussion group was dissecting Bishop Spong's latest book.
As a parish, we are together in Christ. With help from the Holy Spirit the parish works, not only as
a place of worship, but in affirming and living the Christian life in a setting that bespeaks the
magnificence of God's creation.
We are still evolving and growing, sometimes disagreeing but striving to do so without rancor.
St. Augustine's in-the-Woods is an optimistic place as we prepare for the 21st Century.
Facilities
Our original building, built in 1962, housed a small worship space and parish hall. The land was
donated, as were many of the materials used to erect the church. When a new building was constructed
in 1978, the "old" space was remodeled by volunteers to accommodate a growing Sunday school
and a Preschool for 3 to 5 year olds. The Parish Hall became office space.
The new building with worship space, and an undercroft with kitchen, more than doubled the former size of the church. Parish craftsmen created many of the interior furnishings. One member, who was a cabinetmaker, designed and built many of the items in the chancel area, including the large Celtic cross and kneeling rails.
Another parishioner made two carved wood pieces depicting St. Augustine of Canterbury, our patron Saint, and
St. Francis of Assisi.
The Song of Creation is depicted in our stained glass windows which were designed especially for St.
Augustine's by Mark Gulsrud, a well-known Washington artist. When the window project was announced in
1995, parish members became so enthusiastic that within two weeks the entire project was funded.
Our custom made Pasi pipe organ was acquired in much the same way with members and their families and friends from the community coming forward to provide the funds. The organ was designed and built for St. Augustine's by Martin Pasi, an Austrian organ builder who lives in Roy,
Washington. A special blessing of the pipes was held on All Saints' Day 1997, with the actual pipes
being brought into the church from the builder's truck by parish members and presented at the altar
before installation began.
Our columbarium, nestled in the woods on the northeast section of
the church grounds, was designed by local artists in the shape of a Celtic cross. The columbarium is a
concrete aggregate form which houses burial niches and a memorial garden with a path constructed of beach
stones. Large old trees and native growth surround the cross and a landscaped garden blends into the
entry of the columbarium. It is a quiet place for reflection for many of our parish members.
The preschool children enjoy a play yard separated from the columbarium by a stand of woods. There are all sorts of swings and climbing toys that the church school children also enjoy on Sundays.
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