Culture and Community:
No matter who you are or where you are on the spiritual journey, you are welcome and honored here. Our communion table and hearts are open to all who come because we believe that there are no outsiders in God's commonwealth of justice and compassion.
At St. Ann's we experience Christ risen among us through sharing one another's joys and burdens and living the Good News of unconditional love for all. We go forth from this place nourished for the journey and ready to bear this love for the healing of the world.
Contact: The Rev. Patricia A. Conley, Rector
Where Tradition Meets Real Life:
St. Ann’s Parish is rooted in the ancient Anglican tradition. We see our experience in the light of those who have gone before and with an eye on those who are yet to come.
This is a place where questioning is welcome, where you are not required to abandon your intellect or your doubts. As we value the beauty and richness of our Anglican heritage of music, liturgy, poetry, and prayer, we seek fresh ways of bringing new life to that tradition.
We are proud to be a part of the world-wide Anglican Communion, representing over 80 million Christians throughout the world, the majority of whom are now in Africa. Our origins are in the Church of England, reformed in the period of Henry VIII in the 16th century, yet retaining the liturgy and spiritual traditions of the ancient Christian church.
This is a remarkably flexible and open tradition, including elements of both Protestantism and Catholicism, as well as one that takes an honest approach to the pursuit of truth. In many ways this is a poetic spiritual path that encourages questioning and allows for considerable "room to breathe."
Contact: The Rev. Patricia A. Conley, Rector
Welcome for All:
St. Ann’s Parish prides itself on welcoming all who come to us—young and old, families and singles, couples, and people of all backgrounds and racial and ethnic groups. Children are celebrated at the heart of our life together.
Contact: The Rev. Patricia A. Conley, Rector
Our Heart for Outreach: At St. Ann’s you will find a long tradition of practical community involvement in response to the needs of others.
Outreach Quotes . . . from St. Ann’s parishioners:
• “We come to St. Ann’s for - - the opportunity to help our community with the outreach programs.”
• “I love that our outreach programs touch the community, the Diocese and the world.”
Click here to see our outreach opportunities.
The St. Ann’s Vision
We affirm a Gospel of the universal, unconditional, inclusive love of God in Christ. This understanding of the Gospel calls us to welcome all who seek Christ into our communion and our community, and to honor them for who they are. It also reminds us to keep reaching out to those who are not yet with us.
We embrace the priesthood of all believers. Our goal of growing the church has led us to encourage lay ministry within worship, within program leadership and service, and as we pastor each other.
We treasure children and youth in the life of this church. This commitment recognizes that children and youth, as much as adults, are the Body of Christ today.
We make our liturgy fresh, vital, and inclusive. We support both the faithful use of traditional forms and the inclusion of formal, informal, and new liturgies to celebrate God's love.
Contact: The Rev. Patricia A. Conley, Rector
SENIOR WARDEN’S REPORT – 2008
2008 was a banner year at St. Ann’s. Our faith community, led by our rector The Rev. Patricia A. Conley, worked hand-in-hand to provide the best church for spiritual and congregational growth and success. With the economic challenges of 2008, as well as those we face in the future, who would have predicted the ten percent increase in 2009 pledges and climbing numbers in Sunday attendance! For those of us at St. Ann’s, it comes as no surprise!
Worship at St. Ann’s for children, teens and adults, continued to be inspired with our beautiful liturgy, amazing choir, excellent homilies, and engaging religious formations.
Fellowship opportunities ranged from Sunday brunches and parish picnics to fish fries and Easter Vigil feasts. Year-round committees, such as the Green Group, needlepoint guild and lay weeders offered other fellowship and service opportunities.
FUN-raising with our traditional lobster fest was so successful, new projects emerged including the plant and yard sale, weight-loss challenge, wine tasting and pie baking.
Parish participation in outreach ministry, including WACM and the Apple and Angel Tree, exceeded expectations, helping many more needy families in our community. And, Rev. Conley’s commitment and support of Iraqi school children and the troops brought a global outreach program to St. Ann’s.
Staying connected to our parish family was made easier with enhanced on-line communications such as an up-to-date web site, Rev. Conley's “Sunday Reflections,” “St. Ann’s Life” newsletter, and weekly event updates. Using the internet, parishioners and the community could keep up with St. Ann’s by the minute!
All aspects of St. Ann’s life are connected by our mutual love of Christ and respect for each other. The visionary leadership of our rector and the dedication of both the vestry and every parishioner allowed St. Ann’s to grow and thrive in 2008. I have no doubt 2009 will be even better! Nancy Philips, Senior Warden 2008
What is the Episcopal Church?
The Episcopal Church is the Church of England as it developed in the United States. During the American revolution, The Church of England present in the Colonies began to administer itself, although it remained in communication -- in Communion -- with the mother Church in England itself. For this reason, it is said to be part of the Anglican (that is, of England ) Communion. The Church of England is a Christian church founded on Jesus' teachings and example of loving God and one another.
The church is the place where the people gather for public worship, prayer, singing and celebration of sacraments (certain rites and symbols indicating God's gracious presence among us) together; it is also the people themselves, participating in worship, praying, singing and celebrating.
On a technical level, Episcopal means that our church is governed or "overseen" by bishops (from the Greek episcopos, over-seer). Each individual church (or "parish") belongs to a larger governing area called a "diocese," which is overseen by an elected bishop. All the dioceses across the whole country are overseen by a specially elected bishop, called the Presiding Bishop. However, all of the people of the church participate in the running of the business of the church family.
History of St. Ann's Episcopal Church Property
The Episcopal Church in Woodstock began in 1907 when a small group of Episcopalians started holding services in the Woodstock city council chambers located in the Opera House. Called the Mission of St. John's, unfortunately it closed in 1911.
In 1933 twelve local Episcopalians worked to re-establish an Episcopal Church presence in Woodstock. In January of that year the Mission of St. Ann's was opened. Originally, services were held in private homes, at the office of the Alemite Die-Casting Co., in an apartment at 467 West Jackson St., and in two rural schoolhouses.
In 1949, using the mission's building fund and a $1,000 contribution from the Diocese of Chicago, the mission purchased the lot at 503 W. Jackson Street. After a successful ten-day building fund drive, and an anonymous donation of $35,000, ground was broken for the new church building on September 22, 1951. It was dedicated on June 8, 1952.
In January 1963, St. Ann's purchased the 2-acre property to the east of the church. The house that stood on it was used for Sunday school classes and for other meetings. The Episcopal Church Women operated a thrift shop, named the "Pennywise Shop" in its basement. In 1966, that building became the rectory.
St. Ann's achieved parish status in 1984. The parish continued to grow and classrooms along with an enlarged parish hall were added in 1987. In 1990, the rectory was sold and the proceeds were used toward the costs of the addition.
Continued growth during the 1990's created the need to enlarge our worship space and a building fund campaign was begun in April, 1998. The groundbreaking for the new space was held October, 1999 and on Easter Sunday, 2000, the first service took place in the newly constructed worship space.
