The Episcopal Church is the American branch of the Anglican Communion.
Although the Anglican Communion is worldwide in scope, it is centered in Great Britain. There, it has been known as the Church of England, ever since King Henry VIII took his English parishes out of the Catholic Church. This was not a part of the great Protestant Reformation sweeping Europe, however, and hence the Anglican/Episcopal church was neither Catholic nor Protestant. The spiritual head of the worldwide Anglican communion is the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Before the American Revolution, Anglicans who were living in the colonies had no problem being affiliated with the “church back home.” This became awkward after 1776, however, and shortly after independence the American Anglicans established an independent structure and took the name Episcopal, meaning we are governed by bishops. Although we are led by our own Presiding Bishop, we still maintain spiritual ties with our Old World brothers and sisters.
St Hilary’s is still a new parish, so we are designated a mission, and our priest’s title is Vicar.
THE REVEREND ELIZABETH A. STINGLEY
Vicar Liz
The Reverend Elizabeth Anne STINGLEY (nee Jones) was born in Los Angeles and grew up on the west side of the city. She married Patrick STINGLEY, a career Marine, and “moved around” until his retirement in Mechanicsburg, PA in 1976. She received her B.S. Degree in Music Education from Lebanon Valley College, Annville, PA, and taught music in Pennsylvania schools. She also served as organist, hand bell, and choir director for churches and synagogues. In 1986, the family moved to Lancaster, CA, where Pat was employed at Edwards Air Force Base.
The Reverend STINGLEY earned her M.Div. from The Church Divinity School of the Pacific, Berkeley, CA. She was ordained in 1991 at St. Mark’s, Glendale, CA and served at St. Paul’s, Lancaster until November, 1992, when she became our Vicar.
“Father Liz,” as she is known to parishioners, brings St. Hilary’s a commitment to Christian service and maturity through contemplative worship and study. Her ministry is characterized by personal dedication, compassion, enthusiasm and scholarship.
The Los Angeles Diocese
St. Hilary’s is a member of the Diocese of Los Angeles.
Our Diocesan Bishop is Jon Bruno.
History
Our church, named for St. Hilary of Poitiers was created in Hesperia in 1988. We first met in the offices of Dr. Tibble, a dentist, on Fifth Avenue and Walnut Street.
In 1992, we moved to a
residential property next to our present location. It had a large garage,
which we remodeled and worshipped in until the new church was built.
Our present church was
dedicated in December, 2001 by then Bishop Borsch, and the congregation
continues to grow.
.
The New Altar and Tabernacle - from Columba to Bernard to Hilary
The altar and tabernacle is made of English oak and hand carved by craftsman who were brought from England specifically for this task. It was the personal altar of the Right Reverend Joseph Horstfel Johnson, first bishop of the Los Angeles Diocese (1896-1928). When the Saint Columba chapel was built in 1934 as an addition to Cathedral of Saint Paul, Bishop Johnson donated the altar to the new chapel. It remained there until, after severe earthquake damage, the cathedral was razed in February, 1980.
The altar was then moved to temporary quarters in the diocesan offices on fourth Street in Los Angeles. It was left sitting in the hallway. The Reverend Canon Harold G. Hultgren, upon hearing the remark, "I wish we could get this piece of junk out of the hallway", appeared with his truck the very next day. He loaded the altar and took it to his desert home in Lucerne Valley, California. It was placed in his Oratory by permission of then Bishop Robert Claffin Rusak (1974-1986) and dedicated to Saint Bernard of Clarvaux in 1980. The altar remained there until March, 2005.
Canon Hultgren and his wife, Margaret, moved to the Kensington Episcopal Home in Alhamba, California in the 1990's, making periodic trips back to Lucerne Valley. Eventually, health becoming an issue, it was apparent to the Hultgrens that their home and Oratory would have to be closed. He offered the altar and all of the contents of the Oratory to Saint Hilary's, in nearby Hesperia, California. Saint Bernard's Oratory was secularized and the altar, initially built against an east wall, was sent to a furniture restorer. They refinished it, added a back, and made it freestanding. The matching tabernacle, once part of the retable, also became freestanding. Both altar and tabernacle were installed at Saint Hilary's during the summer of 2005.
The altar and tabernacle was rededicated on Sunday, October 16, 2005 - this time to Hilary of Poiters. Also dedicated at that time were four new stained glass windows: Noah, King David, Gethsemane, and Saint Hilary's Shield, by Bishop Suffragan of Los Angeles, the Right Reverend Chester L. Talton.
1. Cathedral of Saint Paul, the oldest non-Catholic church in Los Angeles
2. Saint Columba chapel, erected in 1934
3. The altar and tabernacle in the chapel of Saint Columba
4. Saint Bernard Altar in the Oratory
