On the weekend of October 15–16, 2017, St. Andrew Church in Lewes, Delaware, welcomed Bishop Thomas for his annual visit.
In addition to inducting six new members into the Order of St Ignatius, His Grace blessed and dedicated the newly-expanded church facility in the name of our beloved Archpriest Boniface Black, founding pastor of St. Andrew’s, who reposed in the Lord in August 2016.
After meeting for five years in rented space, St. Andrew’s moved to its new facility in September, 2012, and immediately began to experience a growth in membership--seniors and young families seeking to strengthen their Orthodox faith through the Church. It soon became clear that the new space would need to be expanded.
Building expansion was planned with a commitment that it would proceed only at the pace that funds could be raised to support it, and that no funds would be borrowed to complete the project. A former model home was purchased and moved to the church property in October, 2015. Construction and renovations to both the new building and the existing space began immediately. The fundraising and construction were completed in a little over two years. The expanded facility includes a new covered front entry, expanded nave, new Sunday school classrooms, a larger more-efficient kitchen, a Great Hall, multi-purpose storage areas, and additional restrooms.
Further illumination of the church is being planned, beginning with four new icons on the east wall of the nave.
The faithful of St Andrew Church are grateful to God for continued growth in Christ, individually and as a community.
