Church of the Good Shepherd - History

The Church of the Good Shepherd began in the early 1950s as a mission of the established Episcopal parish of St. Peter's, Ladue, the Rev. William Laird, rector.

The chronology of subsequent events is summarized below, but the story of these events is better told in reminiscences of the parish's first rector.

Sept. 20, 1953 - First service held at the Jack & Jill School, Ballas & Clayton Roads.

March 31, 1954 - The mission adopted the name, "Church of the Good Shepherd".

May, 1954 - The Church of the Good Shepherd became a mission of the Diocese of Missouri.

Dec. 5, 1954 - First service held in larger quarters at the old Manchester School on Henry Ave.

Sept. 25, 1955 - The 5 acre plot of land on Mason Road was dedicated for the future church building.

Spring, 1956 - The Rev. Paul Bankston, Associate Priest at St. Peter's Church, Ladue, became the first vicar of the Church of the Good Shepherd

May 13, 1956 - The cornerstone for the first and present building was laid in the Mason Road property, the Rt. Rev. Arthur Lichtenberger officiating.

Oct. 7, 1956 - The first service was held in the new Church of the Good Shepherd building.

Jan. 13, 1957 - The church building was dedicated

Aug. 11, 1958 - The Church of the Good Shepherd became an independent parish of the Diocese, with the Rev. Claudius Miller its first rector.

1959 - The rectory was built.

1962 - The classroom addition was built.

1979-84 - The Rev. Charles Cook, second rector of the church

1983 - The 13-rank pipe organ built by the M.P.Möller Company was installed.

1985-94 -- The Rev. Robert Newyear, third rector of the church, during which time, extensive additions were made to the meeting/education facillities

1995-2004 -- The Rev. Paul Walter, fourth rector of the church

In early 2004, a majority of the congregation voted to join with the Rev. Mr. Walter in leaving the Episcopal Church.   When Walter attempted through court action to appropriate the church property, he was deposed as priest by the Rt. Rev. George Wayne Smith, Bishop of Missouri.   The Diocese of Missouri contested in Circuit Court the appropriation of the property and was supported by the court.

October 2004 -- With the property again securely in the hands of the Diocese, the portion of the congregation which had remained loyal to the Episcopal Church returned to regular services in the building.   Much credit for the resurgence of this parish can be credied to the diligent service of the Rev. William Baker and the
Rev. Richard Baker as interim pastors.

October 2006 -- the Rev. John B. Musgrave (biography), fifth rector of the church.
The Rev. John B. Musgrave serves presently as Pastor and Priest-in-Charge for Congregational Development.