Our Story

The Adkinson family moved back to Athens from Texas with a calling and vision to plant a new Anglican Church in the strategic city of Athens, GA. Several other families joined as we began the work in 2016 as a “parachute” church plant beginning out of their home. St. Thomas spent several early years praying, building community, studying the Scriptures, and gathering on Sunday nights. In 2018 we held a “grand opening” and began Sunday morning services.

Since that time, we have been overwhelmed by the prayers, support, and progress of this work. We have grown from a mission into a member parish of the Anglican Diocese of the South. Now we are a young, growing church that still has a heart for church planting - for seeing new people reached, new churches started, and raising up new leaders for this work. It is clear that God is at work orchestrating a Gospel movement in the heart of Athens.

During our time together we have worshipped in many different borrowed churches, chapels, and other locations. In 2025 God opened the door for us to move into our new church home at 105 Timothy Pl Athens, GA 30606, which was home to Edwards Chapel Baptist Church for over 100 years. The remaining members of Edwards Chapel had a remarkable vision to reconstitute as a mercy ministry and rent the church out to the right partner. Our members and supporters gave generously and sacrificially to our Sanctuary Fund in a remarkable way for us to be able to take this big step. We have spent the last 1-2 years raising money, doing projects, renovating and getting this wonderful old property ready for this new work.

Right now our rent supports the wonderful mercy ministry of City on the Hill Missions and we are in talks about acquiring the property long-term. We also rent a historic home that we call The Parish House near the University of Georgia Campus. This houses our offices, contains a prayer chapel, and hosts many events for us each week. It is located at 395 S. Church St. Athens, GA 30605.

Church Planting & Leadership Development

Our Rector did not grow up Anglican. His earliest ministry experience was with Young Life and in Baptist / Evangelical Churches. He became interested in the Great Tradition and was introduced to Anglican Spirituality & Worship while studying at Dallas Theological Seminary. He joined the staff of Christ Church in Plano, TX and was ordained in 2009. From the beginning of his ordained ministry, he was involved with church planting as the first Executive Director of Anglican 1000 - an initiative of the Anglican Church in North America. He spent several years equipping leaders, organizing strategic events, and casting the vision to make church planting normal and expected for Anglicans. He worked alongside the Rev. Canon David Roseberry and also gained experience on the staff of Christ Church Plano as Vicar responsible for all day to day operations of a large, multi-staff Anglican parish before moving to Athens to plant St. Thomas.

Over the last decade St. Thomas has attracted many ministry leaders and mature Christians. This has allowed us to partner with different local organizations and ministries. We have also been able to walk many through the Anglican ordination process with some of them still serving at St. Thomas and others being sent out. Those currently serving at St. Thomas are Deacon Tex Bagley and Deacon Chris Sieggen. Those who have been sent out and are serving at other Anglican Churches include the Rev. Josiah Trombley who serves as an Assisting Priest at Christ Our King in New Braunfels, TX and the Rev. Dr. Bill Stanford who serves as the Associate Rector at Trinity Communion Church near Rochester, NY. We have several individuals at St. Thomas currently going through the ordination process and training via distance at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and Trinity Anglican Seminary.

Currently, we are offering financial partnership and leadership support to two new works - St. Philip’s Anglican Church in Tuscaloosa, AL and a new work just getting started near Columbus, GA in Pine Mountain. Our Rector also serves in church planting leadership within our Diocese and nationally for Always Forward. If you are interested in learning more about ordination or church planting, please reach out to him directly via e-mail - daniel@stacathen.org.