History of St. Augustine's 
Our Story. Our Roots. Our Heritage.
In 1910, the Negro Episcopalians in the Bay Area were scattered, attending white Episcopal churches. In 1910, The Rev. E. F. Gee, Rector of St. John's at 8th and Grove Streets, Oakland, worked with Negro members of his congregation to form the nucleus of a mission.
The Rt. Rev. William Ford Nichols, Bishop, preached at a meeting of Negro Episcopalians assembled from the entire Bay Area. On the last Sunday in July, 1910, St. Augustine's was formally established as a mission of the St. John's Parish. Services were held regularly thereafter at 6:00 pm on Sunday. Members of the new mission continued to organize and St. Monnica's Guild was eventually formed among the women.
After almost a year, The Rev. David R. Wallace was called from Chicago as Vicar. On August 4, 1911, he met with St. Monnica's Guild and on August 6, he celebrated Holy Communion. Under his leadership, Sunday School and the Men's Club were organized. At this time, St. John's was still assisting in meeting the vicar's salary and expenses.
In 1913, Archdeacon Emery assumed oversight of St. Augustine's, and it became a diocesan mission. The lot and a cottage at of 27th and West Streets were brought for $3,000. The cottage was remodeled and the first service was held on May 4, 1913. During Fr. Wallace's time as rector, a building fund was accumulated. The cornerstone was laid by Bishop Nichols and the new St. Augustine's was opened on November 14, 1920 by Bishop Parsons. Fr. Wallace served for thirty five years and retired in 1946.
On October 1, 1946, The Rev. Lewis Austin Baskervill became vicar. Under his leadership, youth programs flourished and the church continued to grow. Parish status was reached in 1948. In 1957 it was incorporated as an independent and self-supporting parish. Fr. Baskervill served as rector until 1961. In December, 1961, The Rev. Richard Younge was called and ably served until 1966, at which time he left to become Chaplain at San Jose State College (now University).
During the next year, the Vestry and lay leaders of the congregation ministered to the spiritual and material needs of the parish while the entire membership prayerfully considered the role the church in the social upheaval and the Civil Rights Movement. With profound insight motivated by a genuine desire to expand its Christian witness, St. Augustine's decided that its ministry should emphasize innovative community involvement. Such involvement would include listening to the community and becoming active participants in selected community efforts.
On this note, The Rev. Earl A. Neil began his ministry as rector of St. Augustine's in July, 1967. During his tenure, St. Augustine's ministry of witness focused on community involvement: celebration and affirmation of its African-American heritage and contributions to spirituality; appreciation of the early African-American community in the Bay Area--many of whom were founders and members of St. Augustine's; and a deep pastoral care and concern for the congregation.
One of the highlights of Fr. Neil's ministry lay in the fact that St. Augustine's served as the primary meeting place for the Black Panther Party (BPP). Fr. Neil was the spiritual advisor for the group. In January 1969, members of St. Augustine's and BPP initiated the first Free Breakfast Program for School Children of any kind in the nation. Toward the end of Fr. Neil's tenure, a merger was forged with Trinity Church, an historic parish at 29th Street and Telegraph Avenue. In May 1974, however, Fr. Neil accepted a position on the staff of the Presiding Bishop at the national headquarters of the Episcopal Church in New York City.
Upon Fr. Neil's departure, The Rev. Richard York began the work of merging the two congregations in the location. St. Augustine's name was retained since they were losing their home. Fr. York served for approximately five years before he resigned.
Upon Fr. York's resignation, The Rev. Arthur Boone became the interim rector and served until The Rev. Charles Elton Carter, a priest from Panama become the rector.
Fr. Carter's leadership yielded such accomplishments as the restoration of the church by the Preservation Committee, establishment of the church as a local historic landmark, Youth Sunday, and the advent of birthday and anniversary acknowledgements with appropriate music and prayer. Fr. Carter promoted more lay participation in the services and designed the second Sunday of the month as "Healing Sunday". It was during his tenure that the Food Pantry, Tutorial Program (now called The Learning Center) and Drug Support Groups came into being.
When Fr. Carter retired in December of 1994, The Rev. Arthur Boone returned as interim rector, a position he served in until July 1996.
In 1996, The Rev. Dr. Katherine L. Ward was called to become rector. She was instituted in September of 1996 at a service which was truly "A Feast of Fellowship." The first Black woman to become a rector in the Diocese of California, she has called the congregation to continue its calling to community service while remembering its Christian calling to pray, break bread together, study the Word of God and to fellowship one with another. Under her leadership, St. Augustine's has added many innovative programs, among which are the First Friday Live Music/Arts Ministry, Adopt-a Family, Christmas in April, Travel Club, Sister Church (St. John's Montclair), Tap Dance Class, and Health Ministry which includes regular blood pressure screening and a lecture series. Education and Evangelism are being stressed. In addition, the lingering note on the property at 27th and West was collected and the purchase of the property adjacent to the church office was initiated. Rev. Ward was instrumental in the enrollment of St. Augustine's with the Oakland Coalition of Congregations, an organization which is dedicated to making Oakland a safer and more satisfying place in which to live.
Eight years later, Rev. Ward retired and St. Augustine's was again found without a rector. Associate priest, Rev. Anne Cox-Bailey, stepped in as an interim rector, however, it was for only a short time. In the nick of time, the Rev. Arthur Boone was brought on for an unprecedented third term as interim rector for St. Augustine's.
With a search process taking nearly three years, in September 2006, the church was blessed and thankful to receive its current rector, The Rev. Dr. Monrelle T. Williams.
St. Augustine's is on a continual journey toward spiritual maturity. It has, as Robert Frost says, "many promises to keep and miles to go before (it) sleep(s)."
Rectors & Interims at St. Augustine's
- Rev. David R. Wallace
- 1910-1946
- Rev. Lewis Austin Baskervill
- 1946-1961
- Rev. Richard Younge
- 1961-1966
- Rev. Earl A. Neil
- 1967-1970
- Rev. Richard York
- 1971-1981
- Rev. Arthur R. Boone
- (Interim) 1982-1983
- Rev. Charles Elton Carter
- 1983-1995
- Rev. Arthur R. Boone
- (Interim) 1995-1996
- Rev. Dr. Katherine L. Ward
- 1996-2004
- Rev. Anne Cox-Bailey
- (Interim) 2004-2005
- Rev. Arthur R. Boone
- (Interim) 2005-2006
- Rev. Dr. Monrelle T. Williams
- 2006-present
