Question: Did you know that the story of Christ Episcopal Church actually starts with a different name?
Let’s step back in time to the 1870s. A group of Black Episcopalians gathered. They wanted to form a new church. With the help of Rev. Fr. Peter William Cassey, they formed Christ Mission. Services were held in Youngmen’s Hall. It was on Pacific Street.
But, Christ Mission closed 30 years later.
Remaining members and their families wanted to renew their quest for a church. Rev. Fr. David Wallace and Oakland’s St. Augustine’s Church helped. The families started a San Francisco Guild.
The Panama Canal’s completion in 1914 brought laborers to San Francisco. Many were Anglicans from the West Indies. They met African American Episcopalians. They joined forces. Their goal was a church of their own.
During the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition, the congregation held services on Sundays at St. Paul’s Church. In 1922, they moved their worship to the Chapel of Grace at Grace Cathedral.
A committee formed. It would discuss plans for a Black Episcopal church. The Rt. Rev. Edward Lamb Parsons, Bishop of California, approved. A vestry was elected. The new church was named St. Cyprian’s.
The first formal service at St. Cyprian’s Church happened in the Grace Chapel on April 8, 1923. St. Cyprian’s Guild began raising funds for a church building. The congregation moved several times. First, they moved to St. Stephen’s on May 23, 1923. Then, they moved to the Church of the Advent in 1926. St. Cyprian’s became a mission with the Church of the Advent.
The Society of St. John the Evangelist staffed the Church of the Advent. They were a monastic order from Cambridge, Massachusetts. St. Cyprian’s was under their charge until 1934. Then, the Rev. Fr. Robert Humphrey became full-time vicar of St. Cyprian’s Mission.
Fr. Humphrey and church members wanted a permanent location for St. Cyprian’s. They bought a building on the corner of Sutter and Lyon Streets. Bishop Parsons conducted the first service at this new location on December 22, 1935. But, regular worship did not take place until Christmas Eve 1937. The building needed construction and repair.
St. Cyprian’s had several priests lead the congregation from 1938 until 1947. Then, the Rev. Elmer McLaughlin became vicar. In February 1953, St. Cyprian’s gained parish status. Bishop Karl Morgan Block decided to replace the church building. A new church building was constructed at Turk and Lyon Streets. That is where it stands today. The first service was held on December 18, 1960. Rev. McLaughlin worked hard for the church’s growth. He retired in 1966.
Since St. Cyprian’s arrival at Turk and Lyon, the community and neighborhood changed greatly. The St. Cyprian’s community reached out with passion and courage. They started a job training program for youth in the late 1960s. They organized theater productions in the 1980s. They initiated a needle exchange program in the 1990s. Numerous clergy and lay leaders helped.
Today, St. Cyprian’s, now known as Christ Episcopal Church, is a thriving community space. It is a growing multicultural congregation. All are welcome here. Everyone can find their place. The diversity of race and orientation is part of who we are.
Christ Episcopal Church has a rich history. It overcame many challenges. It has evolved with its community. It remains a beacon of faith, action, and community. Remember the journey of this church. It embodies resilience, unity, and unwavering dedication to its mission.