History

St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church of Encinitas has more than a century of history in San Diego’s North County.  The congregation began in 1885 in the Leucadia area when the Rev. William Edmond Jacob, recently arrived from Ireland, founded the Mission.  By 1913 the mission congregation had ceased to meet and it was not until Easter Day of 1930 that the Rev. G.G. Gardner again established a preaching station, without a permanent building, in the Encinitas area. 

In 1937 a church was built near Highway 101, but it burned to the ground in 1950 and the congregation made its base in an old building on Orpheus Street in Leucadia.  When, in 1963, termites ravaged the building, the congregation had to move to the Masonic Hall to hold its services.  The present site on Balour Drive was purchased, along with its original farmhouse (The Friendship House), and a cinder block building was built and consecrated in 1965.  Between 1969 and 1976, the Rev. Ralph Haynes restored church membership from 18 active members to 200 members.

The Rev. Paul Camm was called as Rector in 1976 and St. Andrew’s attained the status of a Parish during his 17-year tenure.  A gift from Helen Woodward in 1985 allowed the building of a Parish Hall, which also served as the San Dieguito Senior Center until the Center was moved to a new location in 2002.  In August 1995, The Rev. Wesley B. Hills was called as the second Rector of St. Andrew’s following the retirement of Father Camm in 1994. 

During Fr. Hills’ tenure, church attendance has grown to over 300 persons on any given weekend. The Church attracts many family groups and has a thriving Sunday school and Pre-school.  A major fund-raising campaign in 1998 enabled a new and larger worship space to be built, which was consecrated by the Bishop of San Diego on November 7, 1999.