Anglican congregation reopens door in West Endicott

9:37 PM, Sep. 14, 2012 

In the file photo, the Rev. Anthony Seel stands outside St. Andrew's Anglican Church on West Wendell Street in Endicott. / CASEY STAFF / File Photo

Written by

William Moyer

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WEST ENDICOTT — Without its own building for five years after leaving the Episcopal denomination, St. Andrew’s Anglican Church will reopen the door Sunday of a long-time empty sanctuary in West Endicott.

When the congregation holds its first worship service at 10 a.m. with communion, the building on West Wendell Street will be recycled with another name on its welcome mat.

Seventh-day Adventists halted worship at the building about five years ago after purchasing the property for $100,000 in the early 2000s from St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, which closed.

St. Andrew’s paid $75,000 for the corner property, according to the Rev. Anthony Seel, pastor.

“I’m pleased to see that it’s been painted, looks good and welcome them to the neighborhood,” said the Rev. Joyce Allen, a one-time St. Paul’s member who’s pastor at Ogden Hillcrest United Methodist Church.

In November 2007, St. Andrew’s vestry relinquished the keys to its church and community center on Mirador Drive after withdrawing from the Episcopal denomination.

The decision — which Seel called galvanizing in terms of what congregants believed — drew national attention in a denominational dispute over the consecration of a homosexual bishop in New Hampshire.

Seel said the opening worship service will mark a new chapter in the congregational life.

“We are only looking forward — a new beginning at a new lcoation with a new role in the neighborhood,” said Seel.

St. Andrew’s 60 parishioners had worshiped at Memorial Park Baptist Church in Vestal until last Sunday. Seel said an official consecration of the building on West Wendell is planned for November with Bishop Julian Dobbs.