Our history

History of St. Antony of Egypt Episcopal Church

In 1983-4 a mission development committee from local Episcopal churches found a need for a church presence in Silverdale. In August 1985 the Diocese of Olympia purchased nearly 5 acres for a new church in Silverdale Washington. On September 22, 1985, 150 people attended an open house to give thanks and view the new property which included a single family residence. Subsequently, on October 6th, an organizational meeting was held. Twenty families pledged to support the new congregation and a Bishop’s Committee was elected. At the next business meeting on October 27th, the name St. Antony of Egypt was chosen for our church.

Initially, services were held in the basement of the home, and our first Eucharist was celebrated on October 27th by The Reverend Stephen Wendfeldt, the new Priest-in-Charge. Ultimately, the garage was converted into a chapel and consecrated by the Diocesan Bishop, The Right Reverend Robert Cochran, in April 1986.

In October 1986 our first Vicar, The Venerable John B. Winn, arrived and in November of the same year we received our charter at the Diocesan Convention. Over the succeeding few years, a Planning and Design Committee and Building Committee worked on improving the facilities and a Capital Campaign was initiated.

In October 1993 The Reverend Richard Scott became our Deacon-in-Charge, who subsequently was ordained to the Priesthood in January 1994. We celebrated our 10th anniversary in 1995 with a new and expanded church. Our 20th Anniversary was celebrated in 2005 with a banquet attended by The Rt. Reverend Vincent Warner, Bishop of Olympia.

In April 2007 Father Scott retired and the Reverend Bob Bethea became our interim priest while the congregation went through the discernment process and searched for a new vicar. In May of 2008, after a successful search, The Rev. Bill Fulton became our priest.

In 2012, we began looking for new property to buy. we found a parcel on Old Frontier Road about a mile north of our current property and began negotiations to buy it. In March, 2014, we obtained a conditional use permit and closed on the property. In the fall of 2014 we conducted a successful capital campaign for the construction of a new church. We selected the firm of Rice Fergus Miller as our architect. The building was completed in June of 2019. and was consecrated on November 12, 2019, by the Rt. Rev. Greg Rickel, Bishop of Olympia.

In October, 2021, Father Fulton retired. The Reverend Craig Vocelka served as the interim during the time of transition.
Reverend Hillary Kimsey now serves as our new vicar.