St. George Episcopal Church • San Antonio, Texas
About St. George Church
Some Parish History
St. George Church had its beginnings in the fall of 1953 when the Rector of Trinity Episcopal Church, San Antonio, began conducting services in the Northern San Antonio suburb of Castle Hills. This was done at the request of the Department of Missions of the Diocese of West Texas. The first service took place at St. Mark's Methodist Church with 58 people present. On July 4, 1954, the services were moved to a rented log cabin, near the Church's present site on West Avenue in Castle Hills. Lay Readers from Trinity Church continued to serve the small congregation.
On November 15, 1954, with 43 persons present, Bishop Everett H. Jones formally established the new mission as St. George Church. The core of the new mission were 23 parishioners who had transferred from Trinity Church. On January 1, 1955, the Rev. Christian H. Kehl became the Vicar. Ten months later, the congregation held its first service in a new building located at the Church's present site, 6904 West Avenue.
St. George achieved parish status on January 30, 1961. The congregation had grown to more than 500 members with an annual budget of more than $26,000. By 1971, the present Church building was complete.
During its almost 52 years of existence St. George has had six vicars or rectors and a number of assisting clergy. Our current rector is The Rev. Ramiro E. López, Jr. (Fr. Ram), who came to us as an Assistant Rector in 2004 and became the shepherd of our flock in 2005.
Who Was St. George?
A native of Cappadocia in Asia Minor, George was a soldier in the Roman army. He was martyred in Palestine during the Diocletian persecutions in 303 A.D. There are many legends about St. George. He was the gallant knight of God who slew dragons, undertook great journeys, destroyed pagan deities, and converted whole nations to Christianity. He was even said to put armies of demons to flight.
From the Ninth Century on, he was popular throughout Christendom. Kings of the Francs claimed they descended from him. Richard the Lionhearted made George patron saint of the crusaders, and in 1222 was made patron saint of England. His shield is the emblem of the English Flag (see right) and forms the cross of the shield of the Episcopal Church shown in the background of this website.
George is the patron saint of cavalry, horses, smiths, and farmers. His name is from the Greek georgios, which means "farmer." His feast day on the Church calendar is the 23rd of April.