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| St. Peter's Episcopal Church 9100 East 21st Street ~ Tulsa, OK 74129 ~ (918) 627-2713 |
Brief History of St. Peter’s Tulsa
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church was started as a mission by St. Luke’s of Tulsa in the spring of 1955 on about
four acres of land donated by St. Luke’s. This property continues to be the location for St. Peter's.
The first year, services were held in Memorial Park Chapel and were conducted by a St. Luke’s curate,
visiting priests and on many Sundays, by layreaders. The Charter establishing St. Peter's as a mission was
presented at the Diocesan Convention in Lawton , OK , on January 25, 1956 . Later in 1956, St. Peter's built
its first building. The original structure was built of wood. The building was used for services as well as
social functions and Sunday School classes.
As the congregation grew, the first ECW (known then as the Woman’s Auxillary) was organized in 1959. Also
in 1959 the first formal church building was constructed of brick. The original frame structure became a
Parish Hall and offices. In early 1961, Father Carl Stokes became full time Vicar of the mission. During the
next few years the congregation grew with an an emphasis on Community Service and was busy helping
collect Christmas gifts for needy families, holding bazaars and sponsoring the annual Harvest Day Ball at the
Akdar Shrine Temple to raise funds for the Shriner’s “Joy for Toys” project.
Several Alcoholics Anonymous groups meet at St. Peter's. Boy Scout Troop 149 met here from 1969 to
1989.
In December, 2000, the search committee and vestry of St. Peter’s issued the call for the next Rector to Fr.
Robert Taliaferro. Fr. Bob accepted the call and began serving St. Peter’s February 1, 2001 .
In the summer of 2001, a modular building was moved into place to serve as additional Christian Education
space, until such time as a new Christian Education and administration office is constructed. An inside
Columbarium, The Chapel of the Resurrection, was completed and dedicated on Easter Sunday, 2002, as a
memorial to Father Lashmet.
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church was started as a mission by St. Luke’s of Tulsa in the spring of 1955 on about
four acres of land donated by St. Luke’s. This property continues to be the location for St. Peter's.
The first year, services were held in Memorial Park Chapel and were conducted by a St. Luke’s curate,
visiting priests and on many Sundays, by layreaders. The Charter establishing St. Peter's as a mission was
presented at the Diocesan Convention in Lawton , OK , on January 25, 1956 . Later in 1956, St. Peter's built
its first building. The original structure was built of wood. The building was used for services as well as
social functions and Sunday School classes.
As the congregation grew, the first ECW (known then as the Woman’s Auxillary) was organized in 1959. Also
in 1959 the first formal church building was constructed of brick. The original frame structure became a
Parish Hall and offices. In early 1961, Father Carl Stokes became full time Vicar of the mission. During the
next few years the congregation grew with an an emphasis on Community Service and was busy helping
collect Christmas gifts for needy families, holding bazaars and sponsoring the annual Harvest Day Ball at the
Akdar Shrine Temple to raise funds for the Shriner’s “Joy for Toys” project.
Several Alcoholics Anonymous groups meet at St. Peter's. Boy Scout Troop 149 met here from 1969 to
1989.
In December, 2000, the search committee and vestry of St. Peter’s issued the call for the next Rector to Fr.
Robert Taliaferro. Fr. Bob accepted the call and began serving St. Peter’s February 1, 2001 .
In the summer of 2001, a modular building was moved into place to serve as additional Christian Education
space, until such time as a new Christian Education and administration office is constructed. An inside
Columbarium, The Chapel of the Resurrection, was completed and dedicated on Easter Sunday, 2002, as a
memorial to Father Lashmet.
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In 1963, the Rev. William Powell became Vicar. In 1964 plans were made
for expanding St. Peter’s. The church building was lengthened and an
Education Building was constructed so that Sunday School Classes no
longer needed to meet in the kitchen and the Vicar’s office.
St Peter's was elevated from a mission to a parish in April 1967, and Fr.
Powell was the first rector. In October, 1967, the Rev. Carl Stolley Jr.,
came to St. Peter’s as rector. He was succeded in 1979 by Fr. George
Packard, and in 1982 by Fr. John Norris. Deacon Andrew Palmer came
to St. Peter's in July, 1983 and served the church faithfully until
his retirement in 2002.
for expanding St. Peter’s. The church building was lengthened and an
Education Building was constructed so that Sunday School Classes no
longer needed to meet in the kitchen and the Vicar’s office.
St Peter's was elevated from a mission to a parish in April 1967, and Fr.
Powell was the first rector. In October, 1967, the Rev. Carl Stolley Jr.,
came to St. Peter’s as rector. He was succeded in 1979 by Fr. George
Packard, and in 1982 by Fr. John Norris. Deacon Andrew Palmer came
to St. Peter's in July, 1983 and served the church faithfully until
his retirement in 2002.
As early as 1973, the church building was declared structurally unsound. In fact,
daylight could be seen in several places in the walls and window frames. In 1985, Bolin
Hall, the current Parish Hall, was constructed. It was used for worship services due to the
unsafe condition of the church.
In November of 1986, Fr. J. William Lashmet became the rector of St. Peter’s. Fr. Bill's
tenure was a period of strong growth and activity. The fund raising for the present church
building began in 1991. Construction and completion occurred in 1995. The first church
service in the new building was Thanksgiving, 1995. Fr. Lashmet died November, 13,
1999, of complications from a surgical procedure. The old church building and frame
structures were torn down in 2000.
daylight could be seen in several places in the walls and window frames. In 1985, Bolin
Hall, the current Parish Hall, was constructed. It was used for worship services due to the
unsafe condition of the church.
In November of 1986, Fr. J. William Lashmet became the rector of St. Peter’s. Fr. Bill's
tenure was a period of strong growth and activity. The fund raising for the present church
building began in 1991. Construction and completion occurred in 1995. The first church
service in the new building was Thanksgiving, 1995. Fr. Lashmet died November, 13,
1999, of complications from a surgical procedure. The old church building and frame
structures were torn down in 2000.