A Short History of
St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Sunnyvale

St. Thomas Episcopal Church has been a proud part of life in Sunnyvale since 1911. The first service was held on December 17, 1911 and was attended by 55 people. The new congregation was formally declared a Mission as of St. Thomas Day, December 21, 1911. Because some of the congregation doubted their strength sufficient for a viable organization they called their mission St. Thomas in memory of the doubting Thomas of the Apostles.

THE EARLY YEARS

The first St. Thomas Church building was located at the corner of Sunnyvale and McKinley Avenues, and was dedicated on Sunday, November 26, 1916. This remained the site of St. Thomas until the move to the present site at Sunset and McKinley Avenues. In early 1957, what is now Cowans Hall was completed, and served as both sanctuary and parish hall.

The early 1960s, were a time of rapid growth and activity for the church membership. The nursery at the end of the Parish Hall was dedicated. In November 1961, donated pews replaced the folding chairs. In the Parish Hall the six beautiful, colored mosaic panels were dedicated on May 5, 1964. The first panel reads "Blessed are they who have not seen and yet have believed." The second depicts Christ teaching His Disciples. The third and fourth panels together depict St. Thomas’ beholding the Risen Christ with His wounds. The fifth shows the missionary work of St. Thomas in India, and the sixth shows his martyrdom and shield.

By 1963, the industrial growth in the Sunnyvale area and residential expansion had increased church membership to the point of overflowing attendance at Sunday services in the Parish Hall. In the summer of that year, the Bishop’s Committee established a long-range planning committee to undertake an examination of St. Thomas’ future role in the city of Sunnyvale and to develop a building program for consideration.

GRANTED PARISH STATUS

Parish status was achieved in 1965 with the retirement of the Diocesan loan and a revised financial outlook from increased membership contributions. At this time plans were drawn up for the construction of a large permanent church to relieve the over-loaded Parish Hall.

The present Church building makes extensive use of redwood, glass and other woods in creating a Church with an unusual floor plan. The building was completed and dedicated in December of 1966, fifty-five years after the first service. A shallow moat originally surrounded each side of the entrance, giving the church beauty and mystery. Contemporary artist Keith Boyle of Stanford University was commissioned to design the four sets of altar hangings, and the vestments. The wood cross hung above the altar was made by Mr. Rudy Schmidt.

The 1970's brought a recession in the defense-oriented industries in Sunnyvale, and a related decrease in church membership. Membership dropped below the 200 family mark and severe financial problems faced the church. Nevertheless, St. Thomas continued to address the needs of the surrounding community.

OUTREACH PROGRAMS

In January 1967, Sunnyvale Fish was started at St. Thomas’. The church had become aware that many Sunnyvale residents had acute needs that were not being met. Sunnyvale Fish donates food, clothing, appliances, linens, utensils and furniture to those in need.

In early 1970 church members saw a clear need for a Sunnyvale agency to provide information and referrals and emergency assistance to Sunnyvale residents. Sunnyvale Community Services came into being and rented office space at St. Thomas during the summer months of 1970.

Inspired by Matthew 25:35-36, "... I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me." In January of 1981, St. Thomas invited interested members of the congregation to meet on several Sunday evenings to hear various guest speakers address the issues of the Matthew passage. They included representatives of the Salvation Army, the Hospice Movement, Sunnyvale Fish, Sunnyvale Community services, El Camino Hospital Patient Services and the Prison Ministry.

As one result, on March 7, 1983 St. Thomas started serving complete, hot noon meals to whomever wanted one. People from many other churches now join St. Thomas people in the work of Our Daily Bread. The program has met a great need for many people. Our Daily Bread serves over 650 hot lunches a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays without question to all who come.

In support of cross-cultural ministry in 1991, St. Thomas sponsored the founding of a parochial mission named the Chinese Episcopal Church (CEC) which held Anglican services in the Chinese language. CEC services were conducted by Becky Shan, then a Parish Worker, and monthly eucharists were celebrated by either the Rev. Bill Cowans or the Rev. Fred Vegara. The Rev. Becky Shan was ordained as a priest by Bishop Shimpfky in 1993 and later installed to serve as the Vicar for the CEC. Because of facility limitations, CEC services were held in the main sanctuary at 12:00 Noon after regular St. Thomas services. The late time of the services proved inconvenient for families that wanted to enroll their children in the regular Sunday School program which begins at 10:30 AM. Consequently, many families with young children left and joined Chinese churches of other denominations. In an effort to find more suitable facilities to expand their ministry, the CEC elected to move to St. Judes, Cupertino in 1994. They have subsequently changed their name to Holy Light Episcopal Church.

CLERGY

The first service in 1911 was conducted by the Rector of Trinity, San Jose, the Rev. Halsey Worlein, Jr. The first full-time vicar was the Rev. Kenneth Eade who came in 1951. The first rector was the Rev. Warren Debenham, who served from 1960 as vicar, and from 1965 - 1973 as rector. He was followed by the Rev. William Cowans, who began as an Associate Rector in 1974, and served as Rector from 1974 until retirement in 1995, where upon he was declared Rector Emeritus by the Vestry. The present Rector, the Rev. Wendy Smith, came to St. Thomas in 1996. The first ordained woman to serve here was the Rev. Joan Cottrell, who came in 1985. St. Thomas has enjoyed the ministry of a deacon since 1969, the Rev. Robert Williams. Over the years, St. Thomas has raised a total of ten parishioners for Holy Orders. Currently, we have one candidate in the process. We are also fortunate to have the services of the Rev. Edward Wilson, as an Associate, and Susan Allisan-Hatch, as a Semanarian Field Worker.