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About St. Andrew's

A welcoming, multicultural Anglican community serving the north shore of Lake Chapala since 1954.

LEADERSHIP

Our clergy

St. Andrew's is part of the Diocese of Occidente of the Anglican Church of Mexico, under the leadership of our Bishop and served by our dedicated clergy.

BISHOP
The Most Revd Alba Sally Sue Hernández García

Bishop, Diocese of Occidente, Anglican Church of Mexico

RECTOR & PASTOR
The Rev. Sarah A. Shirley

Rector and Pastor of St. Andrew's Anglican Church

ASSOCIATE RECTOR
The Rev. Dr. Betty Creamer

Associate Rector for Theological Education

OUR HISTORY

From a lakeside apartment to a thriving community

In 1947, two groups of English-speaking Episcopalians in Mexico gathered to worship with the Rev. Melchor and Catherine Saucedo in Guadalajara and Lakeside.

The group in Guadalajara became Christ Church and later St. Mark's. The small group who had met in a Lakeside apartment on Fridays moved to the Little Chapel, which it outgrew to become St. Andrew's — named for the patron saint of fishermen.

Today, St. Andrew's is a multigenerational, multicultural community that turns faith into tangible action. We fund local charities and food programs, support scholarships, and welcome everyone — regardless of background, nationality, sexuality, or walk of life.

SERVING NEIGHBOR

The St. Andrew's Outreach Committee is dedicated to using its time, talents and resources to help our disadvantaged community neighbors. We are people created in the image of God, and we have a need to reach out beyond ourselves, just as God reaches out to us.

20+
Years serving others
9
Years running Todo Bueno
3.3M+
MXN in grants to charity

Radically welcoming. Joyfully imperfect.

We're a place where expats and Mexican neighbors share community. Where the beloved backwards 'YOJ' stained-glass window reminds us that belonging matters more than correctness. Where outreach is at the heart of everything we do.

COMMUNITY LIFE

Respectful Communication Guidelines

We're a diverse, multicultural community — and we want our conversations to be a place of care, clarity, and trust.

R
RESPONSIBILITY

Take RESPONSIBILITY for what you say and feel without blaming others.

E
EMPATHETIC listening

Use EMPATHETIC listening.

S
SENSITIVE

Be SENSITIVE to differences in communication styles.

P
PONDER

PONDER what you hear and feel before you speak.

E
EXAMINE

EXAMINE your own assumptions and perceptions.

C
CONFIDENTIALITY

Keep CONFIDENTIALITY.

T
TRUST

TRUST ambiguity because we are not here to debate who is right or wrong.

SOURCE
kscopeinstitute.org/kitoolkit

Shared here as a helpful resource for our community conversations.

St. Andrew'sStained glassChurch communityTodo Bueno