HISTORY
The history of St. Christopher is rich in tradition and fellowship, with various leaders over the years and
campus changes. Our parish has been blessed with an involved congregation and community that
continues to thrive in ministry and outreach.
1950's
On January 10th, 1955, some twenty people, headed by the Rev. David McBride, rector of Holy Trinity Church, Dickinson, met at the home of Mr. & Mrs. Ed Breslin to organize an Episcopal mission in League City. St. Christopher Mission was recognized by Bishop Quin at the Diocesan Council meeting in Houston, January 1955. Soon after, a confirmation class was held at Holy Trinity, Dickinson, where several members of St. Christopher were confirmed.
The first services of the Mission were held in the League City Coffee Shop, located on Highway 3 and FM518. The Rev. Mr. McBride continued to divide his time between Holy Trinity and St. Christopher. The Rev. Lionel T. DeForest served the congregation from May through November, 1955. At the same time, 10 ½ acres on Kemah Cut Off Road (present site of the church) was purchased for $1,000 an acre and the original meeting building was purchased from the Coffee Shop and moved onto the property. The first confirmation was held on August 29, 1955.
In November, 1955, The Rev. Mark A. Boesser and his family arrived as the first new vicar and resident priest. During those early years some of the activities the congregation pursued included an acolyte development program, Sunday School, a teenage club, junior choir, a gun club, and the church was Little League Team sponsors. The adults enjoyed numerous fellowship activities like silver teas and barbeques. A junior posse called the St. Christopher Saddelite was formed and participated in horse shows and local parades. The women opened a very successful thrift shop in old downtown League City which continues to thrive and serve charitable causes.
Ground was broken for the new church, May 10th, 1956, and the first service was held on Thanksgiving of that same year. That original building now serves as the administrative wing of our facilities. In December, 1959, Rev. Boesser accepted a call to Juneau, Alaska. St. Christopher Mission had grown to a membership of 279 and, without a rector, was brought to Parish status.
1960's
In the 1960s, the Rev. James C. Buckner arrived along with many newcomers from the NASA Boom. Over the years, several astronauts have been members of our congregation along with countless NASA employees. The growing congregation needed a larger worship space and as a result, the current traditional worship space was built and completed by the fall of 1964.
1970's
During the 70s, St. Christopher was led by the Rev. Laurens Hall and later the Rev. Roland Timberlake. Both these rectors led with a spirit of evangelism which enlivened the congregation. The members were introduced to a Faith Alive weekend which generated a small group movement in the congregation. St. Christopher members began participating in morning and evening prayer groups and family week-end retreats at Camp Allen and Laity Lodge. One of the most memorable events of that decade was when St. Christopher member and astronaut, David Scott, left a bible he had been given by the congregation on the Moon! His Apollo 15 flight was the first to transport and maneuver a lunar rover vehicle. On Aug. 2, 1971, just before returning to Earth, Scott placed that bible on the lunar rover’s control panel where it remains to this day. He walked to a nearby hollow, where he placed a memorial plaque and statuette honoring the astronauts who had died during their missions, and then he returned to the lunar module. (This was kept secret until the post-mission press conference.) It could be said that St. Christopher’s effort to evangelize were out of this world!
1980's and 1990's
Our next long-term rector, The Rev. Walter L. Ellis accepted the call to St. Christopher in the summer of 1982. Rev. Ellis and his family had been members of the St. Christopher congregation prior to him entering seminary.
Hurricane Alicia in 1983 moved along a much needed building program. This included a new Christian Education wing, a library, an Activity Center with a large kitchen, a chapel, the nursery wing, and renovations to the Narthex and Administrative wing.
In the 1980s and 90s several new ministries and programs were started including the Bethel Bible Series, the Stephen Ministry, Small Group Ministries, and our Mother’s Day Out program. In addition, St. Christopher was among the founding churches for the Samaritan Center for Counseling and Education and the Interfaith Caring Ministries.
2000's
March of 2001, Rev. Ellis accepted a call to Ascension Church in Houston and St. Christopher was led by Interim Rector, the Rev. Jim Smalley. In July 2002, The Rev. Dr. Tom Day arrived. Some of the new ministries established during his tenure included the Discovery Series, the reorganization of growth groups, foreign mission trips, and an annual community BBQ and auction. Father Tom was also instrumental in adding a new contemporary worship service to our Sunday morning schedule which continues to enrich our worship options. Spatial modifications during his time at St. Christopher included the following:
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the Library became a “Living Room” for small classes and meeting space
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the Chapel transformed to a Welcome Center for fellowship and gatherings
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the Activity Center became Buckner Hall where Sunday contemporary worship services are held, as well as holy in-gatherings, community events, receptions, and meetings
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totally renovated restrooms
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upgrades and expansion of Buckner Hall with multi-media equipment and balcony media center
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choir loft renovation with the installation of a 1940’s Schantz pipe organ
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Administration wing flat roof replacement and foundation repair
In the spring of 2014, a major storm water flood occurred during the initial phase of the flat roof replacement. The administration wing was structurally compromised, the existing phone system destroyed, and numerous furnishings and files were either damaged or ruined. Following inspections, engineering assessments, and insurance response, a Restoration Committee was formed to undertake steps necessary to identify, evaluate and implement possible alternatives. The current configuration of the administration wing was re-occupied on October 14, 2015, as the result of those efforts. That same year our rector retired and the parish entered into the search process for a new rector.
2016-2025
In July, 2016, the Rev. Brian W. Cannaday, accepted the call to serve as the 7th rector of St. Christopher, beginning a new season of life and ministry in the church. Fr. Brian and his family moved from the Diocese of West Texas to League City. As rector, he fostered a spirit of abiding love for Christ, respect for each other and a sense of joyful community in worship, mission, ministry and celebration.
During his tenure, many campus improvements were completed, including a new children's playground, hospitality center, welcome center, courtyard, columbarium, and monument sign. In addition, the church nave and sanctuary underwent a “facelift”. Fr. Brian added a full-time associate priest and a family minister to the staff.
In 2025 the St Christopher Legacy Fund, a multi-million-dollar endowment funded by the estate of a long-time parishioner, was established. A new campus master plan was developed and presented to the congregation (the first in our history) at St. Christopher's Platinum Jubilee, celebrated in November, 2025, laying the foundation for a new season of ministry.
Fr. Brian accepted the call to become Canon to the Ordinary, Diocese of Dallas, in February, 2026.
AND BEYOND
St. Christopher has been blessed through the years with faithful, dedicated staff members. We have had curates, associate clergy, youth directors, parish administrators, bookkeepers, music directors, and lay ministry coordinators who have all contributed in huge ways to serve our community. We would not be here today without their tireless work and commitment to serve God through St. Christopher.
Over the years, a spiritual character has developed at St. Christopher that expresses itself in a living community of faith travelers. There has been a core membership which has been the thread that runs from the past to the present. Many individuals and families have come for a while and then moved on as their lives and careers have led them. Everyone who has come has been welcomed by the current members and offered a place in the life and ministry of the parish. Visitors and newcomers discover a welcoming church that has enjoyed expressing its faith in the midst of physical and spiritual growth. St. Christopher is rooted in a growing part of Texas and looks forward to what God has in store for our future.
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