St Andrew's Episcopal Church — Local services in Jacksonville

Went to this church from age 5-32. I am now 39. This review is written on the past and is about people that have gone there.

My first grade teacher was an actress. This is when there was a school at this church. She messed up my self-esteem for life even more than a preschool did when I was three. She wrote a note home to my parents every two or three days out of a five day week, telling me how horrible my behaviors were and that I was doing things on purpose. She said I was crying to get out of being in trouble. I can not make myself cry. Then in the fourth grade, I had an actress as a teacher that had known me my entire life. Because of the behaviors I exhibited during her class, she thought I was sneaking my mother’s alcohol. Only problem is her alcohol was at the top cabinet and I am extremely clumsy so have I been doing as she thought I would’ve been going to the ER for broken bones because I have very brittle bones. When I was four and had a low impact broken bone, I broke both bones before my elbow and my left arm, and my muscles were damaged so severely they had to take out my thumb muscle. I sweat profusely in the heat I stumble. I’m very clumsy. I get extremely angry and I fall asleep. All of this looks like an addiction issue. She went to this church too and knew me since I was a few days old she should have known better.

The former priest there named Mark, I asked him for money one time to help pay my electric bill. He said no because the previous priest bankrupted the church. How could that happen when the church is full of elites and famous people that does not make sense I think he was trying to punish me. I think he thought I was an addict and refusing to help. After my mother died, I asked for counseling and help he said no because I was not a member. I am the one who had my parents switch churches from St. Luke’s to this one and he’s saying I am not a member. He said if I was a member, I need to show up at church. Only problem is church is extremely stimulating for me because of sensory issues. I have significant brain damage and heart failure, and church is too overstimulating. He had a speaker that had his voice amplified and there was always someone with a child so I could not focus. The lights are fake and fluorescent so I see the flicker because of my sensory issue. I can see the flicker and it’s like being in a nightclub at church. Shaking hands of people passing the peace is overstimulating for me and I don’t like it, but it has to be done at church when it is done when I am overstimulated I feel an electric pulse throughout my entire body and it hurts. I do not like going to church and there needs to be accommodations for people like me. The lights are way too bright and they flicker. The children are too loud and distracting cannot focus on what the sermon is. But because I could not go to church on a regular basis, I was told I was not a member of the church and because I could not tithe. I was in poverty making 25,000 a year while my ex-husband stayed at home. 1 1/2 years total with having small jobs here and there while I worked out of the six years we were together I supported him I needed help from the church. They refused, thinking I was an addict when I was sober.

Please make this church accessible to me again please do not have father Mark come back. Please also make an accommodation to where I do not have to shake peoples hands when we say peace. Please also change the lighting. I cannot take the lighting. But I want to go back. I want to be a member, but father Mark ruined it. So did the other parishioners. My mom‘s best friend was my fourth grade teacher, and she should’ve known better than thinking. I was sneaking alcohol. I’ve had a heart condition and significant brain damage since I was a fetus and she took it out on me. Most people at that church took it out on me at one point in time or another. I cannot control my behaviors and need accommodating. This church did not accommodate me they punished....

This church is a safe space for ALL. I attended as a child and then began attending again last year as my own child was interested in religion. I honestly had reservations about organized religion because of how I've seen people use it to hurt others- but that is not St. Andrews at all. They have accepted us with open arms, as I've seen them do so with other new members as well. The priest Mother Lisa preaches about Jesus and how we should try to love our neighbors AND enemies like he did. She does not weaponize religion or make you feel unworthy, but helps you dig deeper into your own biases and how we, despite our flaws and sins, can do the work of Jesus in our lives and our communities. While the service structure is traditional, the congregation welcomes you like family and the sermon will leave you feeling like you want to go out and be a better person. Not to mention the church is incredibly beautiful with old stained glass and exposed wood beams. If you're on the fence, try listening to one of the sermons on Youtube, and you'll see how Mother Lisa is really trying to help us be the change and light that the...

St.Andrew"s church is a another wonderful place to worship and meet new friends with a frjendly atmosphere. They also have classes for the young ones...