St. Andrew’s Church of Mount Pleasant has one of the largest Episcopal congregations in the country, according to the national church’s latest census.
More than 1,300 people attended on any given Sunday last year, making the local church the seventh best-attended Episcopal church nationwide.
It is the only church from the state diocese to receive the recognition.
Most of the other Top 10 most- attended Episcopal churches are in major metropolitan areas, such as Houston, Atlanta, Boston and Seattle.
“It’s a nice recognition,” said the Rev. Steve Wood, senior pastor at St. Andrew’s. “I think it also in some ways increases responsibility that we’ve been entrusted with something precious, and we have a responsibility to be faithful with that trust.”
Wood joined St. Andrew’s about seven years ago. He said he doesn’t think they ever have been listed in the Top 10.
He said the congregation has grown since it submitted figures to the national church late last year for the annual census. They now typically see about 1,400 people each Sunday, he said.
The church has about 2,700 members.
Just curious, is a 50% ASA, or approximate attendance considered “good” this days…???
Gloria
Gloria, I would guess 50% is very good these days when so many people travel for work and/or recreation, so many elderly members just can’t make it anymore, and one need show up only 3 times a year to be in good standing. The largest active memebership is at St. Martin’s, Houston, TX at 7,941. It’s ASA for 2006 was reported as 1,925, a scant 24% of membership. Figures are from the Episcopal Domestic Fast Facts: 2006. Frances
If you only show up 3 times a year, you are not a member. You know this, Christ knows this, and He knows you know it.
Wake up.
bl
The ASA struck me as disappointing as well. Having said that, I have no idea what my parish’s membership and ASA numbers look like.