History
1947: Started as a mission
In October of 1947, a group of 28 Episcopalians gathered to talk about starting a new mission in north Forth Worth. Saint Anne's Episcopal Mission held our first meeting on November 2, 1947. We met briefly in the Rockwood Golf Course Club House and then met in the chapel at Oakwood Cemetery for a number of years.
1953: Property/structure purchased
With 250 members, we outgrew our previous location and purchased the land and structure at 3204 Roberts Cut Off Road in Fort Worth.
1965: Built our current building
As St. Anne's continued to grow, we purchased our four-acre property at 6055 Azle Avenue in 1962 for $14,000. Construction of our church building began in March of 1965, and our first worship service took place here on September 12, 1965.
1978: Memorial Bell Tower was built
To celebrate our 30-year anniversary, our Memorial Bell Tower was constructed. The three bronze bells were cast in the Netherlands.
1981: Parish Life Center added to building
We added our Parish Hall, kitchen, classrooms, Atrium and All Souls Chapel.
1985: Pipe organ installed
Our tracker action organ, built on North European principles, has 18 ranks, 16 stops and 14 voices.
Our Brass Rubbings
A gift from Father Norman Hollen and his wife Sylvia
You may have noticed that we have newly framed art throughout our building. Father Norman Hollen was our rector from 1958 till 1988. He and his wife Sylvia enjoyed traveling to England and Europe. They visited many of the famous cathedrals and churches in their travels and began collecting brass rubbings.
Memorial or monumental brasses are one of the most common forms to have come down to us from the Middle Ages. Generally found on the floors of churches and cathedrals, they are flat brass sheets inlaid into the stone as monuments. They memorialize individuals from wealthy and important families, portraying an image of the deceased, a cross or other appropriate subject. When visiting these churches, you could purchase heavy black paper, wax crayons, and tape to trace the images from the floor.
After collecting the brass rubbings they made over the years, Father Hollen and Sylvia donated the rolls of rubbings to St. Anne's during the 1980s. At that time, the Women of St. Anne's raised the money to have the pictures framed and hung throughout our church. During the last 30 years, many of the framed rubbings have wrinkled or the frames needed repairing, so the Vestry voted to fund the restorations of these beautiful and significant gifts from the Hollens.
~ Diane Barber
The diocese and the denomination
From Dallas to Ft. Worth ~ From Episcopal to Anglican
- Saint Anne's Episcopal Mission was started by the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas in 1947.
- We were granted parish status at the annual Diocesan Convention in 1956.
- After our mortgage was paid in full, Bishop Donald Davies (pictured at right) conducted a ceremony for the burning of the mortgage at the Diocesan Convention in 1975.
- Later in 1975, Bishop Davies consecrated St. Anne's Church -- dedicating it to the Lord Jesus.
- At a special convention in 1982, the Diocese of Dallas was divided and the Diocese of Fort Worth was formed.
- St. Anne's, along with the Diocese of Fort Worth, left the Episcopal Church and re-affiliated with the Anglican Church.
- In 2009, our diocese joined the Anglican Church in North America.
