St. Benedict's Day

—Nancy Zabel, Sacristan

This photo is Our first Altar, made by Murray Barnes, now used in our chapel.

St. Benedict of Nursia is commemorated in the Episcopal Church calendar on July 11. He is honored as the founder of Western monasticism and the author of the Rule of St. Benedict, which has shaped Christian monastic life for centuries. 

St Benedict’s first service was held August 3, 1980, at Saint Placid Priory, a girls’ school operated by Roman Catholic Benedictine nuns. The Reverend John W. Gibbs, curate at St. John's, became our first vicar.
In less than a year, Saint Benedict outgrew its space at Saint Placid and in June 1981, we began worshiping in the student union building of Saint Martin's College, which is affiliated with the Roman Catholic order of St. Benedict.
On a cold windy Sunday afternoon in December 1986, with members of the Olympia Highlanders bagpipers leading the way, we broke ground for our new church building on Bowker Street.
On August 23, 1987, we began with the ministry of the word in the student union building, carried our prayer books and other belongings across the field to Bowker Street and concluded our Eucharist in our new 13,000 square-foot structure. Bishop Cochrane conducted the dedication September 16, 1987.  Lucy Reuter & Nancy Zabel
 
We celebrate our beginnings between July 11 and August 23rd.  This year our celebration and picnic will be on August 10th. 
 
We will have photos and stories to share.