The little stone church on the corner 

By Sandi Danskin

St. Andrew's began with the dream of several families who lived in Seward but had to travel to either Lincoln or York to attend an Episcopal Church.

That dream of an Episcopal church in Seward began to take shape in the early 1940s. By 1946, these four founding families had begun Sunday services in the chapel at Woods Mortuary with the Rev. Harold Gosnell as the founding vicar.

By 1947, the construction of the church had begun on land donated by founding member, Dr. E. E. Cummins. The undercroft was designed to serve the basic needs of the growing parish while plans were moving forward to complete the upper story, nave and church office.  

The photo at right of Acolyte Tommy Engler was taken in 1949 when the congregation met in the undercroft and the upper storyr was still a dream.

On September 26, 1950, the cornerstone for the nave was laid and construction began on the upper story of the church. When the parish celebrated Easter Sunday of 1952, it also celebrated another milestone. That afternoon, the nave was consecrated by Bishop Brinker. On consecration Sunday, the church was debt-free. 

During the following years, the little parish on the corner of Sixth and Hillcrest continued to hold fast to the dream. Although the parish has sometimes been small in number, it has never closed its doors. St. David's and Holy Trinity Episcopal churches in Lincoln provided encouragement and support throughout the years.

Now, after more than 50 years, the little parish is growing again, is active in the community, and has a parish hall with classrooms and office space.

St. Andrew's has been known from its earliest days as a parish that welcomes visitors and strives to integrate new members into the life of the church. Come, join the dream. There is room for you at St. Andrew's.