Our Beginnings

In June 1979, a group of thirteen Traditional Anglicans began meeting for Sunday morning worship services in the living room of the home of Doris and Oz Keller, near Piedmont Park in Atlanta. For several weeks, they met in each other's homes on a rotating basis, and a fellowship developed among them which began to form the nucleus for a small parish to be called Saint Barnabas Anglican Church.

The name Saint Barnabas was selected because the first meeting was held near the traditional Saint Barnabas Day - June 11. The Bible ascribes to the Apostle Saint Barnabas, “an encourager, a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith; and a generous man both in heart and hand.” These qualities exemplified those characteristics they aspired to promote both in themselves and in the parish.

As a young congregation, they didn’t know what future the Lord had for them, but they made it their motto, “All we have to do is stay faithful.”

Our History

It became evident that a priest was required to provide more fully for spiritual needs. In August 1979, The Reverend Robert C. Harvey, Rector of Saint Timothy's Parish in Charleston, South Carolina, offered his services on a part-time basis. Arriving on a Sunday afternoon once a month, Father Harvey preached and celebrated the Holy Eucharist. A lay reader, usually John Crown, led Morning Prayer and read a sermon on the other Sundays. 

They began meeting in a community room of a bank in the Toco Hills area of Atlanta. They called that location the “Coca-Cola Church” because of the distracting noises spewed by a large Coke machine that they either unplugged or ignored. They met each week, assembling and disassembling the Altar, bringing in Prayer Books, hymnals, coffee pots, kneelers, vestments, and altar items.

In the spring of 1980, Father Harvey was elected Bishop of the Diocese of the Southwest. They were at a loss to know where to acquire another priest. Preaching at Bishop Harvey's Consecration Service was The Venerable Doctor Carroll E. Simcox, former editor of The Living Church. The group approached him about ministering to them, and he agreed. Twice a month for eleven years, Doctor Simcox flew down from his home in Hendersonville, North Carolina to minister to them through moves from the bank, to a hotel, to the LaVista Women's Club, and finally to the present home in Dunwoody.

In 1990, parish member William R. Weston was first ordained as a Deacon, and later, priest. He was named priest-in-charge until he was called to be Rector after Doctor Simcox permanently retired in 1991. That year, Saint Barnabas acquired its current building. The first service in the building was held on Labor Day weekend. By Christmas, the attendance at services had doubled.

Anglicans from other countries also found welcome at the church. In 1987, Bertram Ibekwe, a native of Nigeria, saw Saint Barnabas Anglican mentioned in the newspaper and began attending. Taking the bulletins from church, he would put them on people’s cars so they would know there was an Anglican church in Atlanta. New families began to join the church. 

With more members, God also provided more clergy staff.  Reverend Robert E. Burgreen became Assistant Rector in 1993; Bishop Harvey, widowed in 1994, married Marguerite Pendleton in 1995, moved back to Atlanta and joined the staff. The fourth member was the Right Reverend Peter Brewer, who joined in 1998.

In 2006, the building was dramatically expanded to house a new narthex, nave, chapel, and sanctuary. In 2007, in response to the continued growth of the parish, the Reverend Canon Chandler (Chad) Holder Jones, SSC, became Curate of the parish. In 2009, after nearly 20 years of service, Canon Weston announced his retirement as Rector and was succeeded by Father Chad. Not long after becoming Rector, Father Chad was elected and consecrated Bishop Suffragan of the Diocese of the Eastern United States (DEUS) of the Anglican Province of American (APA) in 2010. He was followed as Curate of the Parish by Father Paul Rivard from 2010 to 2012 and Father Matthew Harlow from 2012 to 2015. 

Saint Barnabas welcomed Bishop Daren Williams, retired from the Anglican Church in America, came to be organist and choirmaster in 2015. That same year, the Reverend Canon Robert Bader, SSC became Assisting Priest. Ably completing the clergy staff were Deacon Richard (Dick) Hitchcock and Deacon William (Bill) Johnston.

As new clergymen came to Saint Barnabas, other revered clergymen entered life eternal: in 2014, Bishop Robert Harvey; then eighteen months later, in October 2015, Rector Emeritus William Weston; in 2021 Deacon Richard Hitchcock. Other clergy staff left Saint Barnabas when God moved them to other parishes or roles.

Bishop Chad was elected Bishop Coadjutor in 2019. He was consecrated as Bishop Ordinary of DEUS of the APA in July 2021 and as Presiding Bishop that same month. During this time, Bishop Chad served as Rector of Saint Barnabas until December 31, 2021. His clergy staff included Canon Robert Bader (Assisting Priest 2015-2021), Father Creighton McElveen (Curate 2020-2021), and Deacon Bill Wall (2020-2022). On January 1, 2022, Father Daniel Trout became the fifth and current rector of Saint Barnabas and the Dean of Saint Barnabas Anglican Cathedral. The building continues to undergo changes as a classroom wing was added in 2023 to have dedicated space for members of all ages to be more fully educated in the faith.

Our Ministries

Now in its 45th year, Saint Barnabas Anglican Cathedral has grown from her original thirteen churchmen to a diverse congregation of over 665 members united by our orthodox faith as expressed in the Holy Bible, the Book of Common Prayer, and Holy Tradition. We are evangelical, catholic, sacramental, traditional, and liturgical Christians.

Saint Barnabas is actively involved in community activities and lends its support to numerous outreach programs. Within our membership, several groups organize and meet to assist in our ministry and worship. The international community at the church has grown considerably. Each fall the parish hosts International Day to bring everyone together to celebrate unity as the family of God. The vision of the original founders that Saint Barnabas provides a faithful witness to the world continues. It is our prayer that the parish continues to grow, both spiritually and in number, for the greater glory to God.