St. Paul's Episcopal Church
3706 W. St. Paul Ave.
McHenry
815-385-0390
www.stpaulmchenry.com
Crystal Lake Chamber Member since July 2009

St. Paul Episcopal Church originated in 1955, when a small group of area Episcopalians petitioned the Bishop of Chicago to start a mission in the city of McHenry. The request was granted and the first service of St. Paul Episcopal Church was held on January 15, 1956 in a small schoolhouse on Waukegan Road. Officiating was Rev. W. C Klein. In its early years, the church met in local schools and members’ homes.

In 1957, the Diocese purchased 5-1/2 acres in a growing area on the south side of McHenry. A two-story building was erected and ultimately dedicated on April 16, 1958. The ground floor contained a Sanctuary seating 110 people, while the upper floor had classrooms, a kitchen and an organ and choir loft.
In 1975, the congregation decided to expand the church by building a 130-seat Sanctuary immediately adjacent and joined to the existing church building. At that time, two acres were sold to help finance the construction. The new Sanctuary was dedicated in 1976.

In 1982, St. Paul Church was one of the first churches in the Chicago Diocese to implement the “Search and Call” process. In addition, when Marion Mailey was called as our rector in 1983, she became the first female rector in the Diocese of Chicago.

In 1983, a Columbarium was built immediately to the north of the current Sanctuary. Its beautiful garden setting provides a contemplative environment for remembering loved ones.

At the annual congregational meeting in 1983, church members decided to petition the Bishop for parish status. This was granted at the Annual Diocesan Convention in 1983.

As the church continued to grow, further expansion was needed. In 1996, the congregation began work on a 3,000 sq. ft. Fellowship Hall and kitchen, as well as an administration wing. Once again, the addition was contiguous to the existing facilities.

Our current facilities include the original church building, which has offices and classroom on the ground floor and a large meeting room on the upper floor (referred to as the Upper Room). We do not have a rectory. Our excellent physical plant provides a strong base from which to build our church as we continue to seek ways to reach out to those around us and draw them to the love of Jesus Christ our Lord.

In an Episcopal Parish, the lay men and women who make up the governing Officers of the church are known, collectively, as the Vestry. Together with the Rector and the Peoples and Rectors Wardens (also lay men and women) they make up the corporate entity of the Parish: The Rector, Wardens, and Vestrymen of St. Paul Episcopal Church.

Under the Episcopal system, the Rector has charge of all spiritual matters of the Parish, while the Wardens and Vestry have responsibility for all temporal matters of the Congregation. However, in reality, both Rector, Wardens and Vestrymen share many of the responsibilities in the leadership of the Parish as they try to follow Christ?s will in our corporate life of the Parish.

Below are listed the elected lay leaders of our Parish Family.

* Dean Marcott, Senior Warden
* Jim Lukas , Jr. Warden
* Claudia Swarthout & Deb Lang, Worship Liaison
* Fabiola Sass, Membership Growth Liaison
* Maija Steele, Community Outreach Liaison
* Bill Lang & Jean McDaniel, Buildings and Grounds Liaison
* Ed McDaniel, Green Committee Liaison
* Debbie Van de Merkt, Christian Community Liaison
* Jill Harrison & Deb Lang, Christian Formation Liaison
* Beth Lukas, Little Cherubs Preschool
* Mike Bell, Diaper Bank

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