St. Andrew’s Orthodox Church marks five years of growth

In September 2012, St. Andrew Orthodox Mission moved into its home on Mackenzie Way in Lewes. It quickly began to experience rapid growth as seniors and young families sought to strengthen their Orthodox faith through the church. The church soon realized tit was quickly outgrowing its new space.

A Building Expansion Campaign began in July 2015, with a commitment to the parish membership that expansion plans would proceed only at the pace that funds would be raised to support it, and that no funds would be borrowed to complete the project. A former model home near the church property was purchased, and in October 2015, St. Andrew’s moved in. Construction and renovations to both the new building and the existing space began immediately. Having completed fundraising and construction in a little over two years, Bishop Thomas Joseph blessed and dedicated the new space in memory of beloved Archpriest Boniface Black, founder of St. Andrew, Oct. 15.

The new 7,200-square-foot facility boasts a new covered front entry, sanctuary seating for 162 parishioners and guests, a choir loft, four partitioned Sunday School classrooms, four bathrooms, a larger kitchen, a Great Hall with seating to accommodate 100 people for social hours and small events, multipurpose storage areas and centrally controlled, state-of-the-art fire alarm and security systems.

Having recently moved from the designation Mission to that of Church, St. Andrew is the only Orthodox Church in the state of Delaware outside of Wilmington, and the only Orthodox Church in Sussex County. Access to the additional new space didn't come a moment too soon, as membership in this warm and welcoming church community has more than doubled in the past five years.

Father Herman Acker welcomes all who are interested to attend Liturgy at 10 a.m. every Sunday. For more information visit www.orthodoxdelmar.org or contact Father Herman directly at 215-527-8571.

The Eastern Orthodox Community of Saint Andrew welcomes everyone to its annual Fall Festival, Friday and Saturday, November 3-4, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Featured are basket auction, ethnic foods and a bake sale, complete with a variety of Greek pastries. The Church is located at 33384 MacKenzie Way, off Plantation Road, in Lewes. For more information, call 302-945-5197 or visit the church website: www.orthodoxdelmar.org.