Telling Our Story


My sheep hear my voice.  I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life and they will never perish.

​John 10.27-28a

​A "new" church with a 300-year history
​

​Our Beginnings

​​Although Good Shepherd in its current incarnation is relatively young, we trace our roots to two Church of England congregations established in Colonial South Carolina: St. Paul's Parish Church (1708) on the Stono River in Rantowles and St. George's Parish Church (1720) within the Dorchester settlement on the Ashley River. 

Families from these parishes began "summering" inland to escape the mosquitoes and malaria and established St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Summerville in 1830.   By the late 1800's the original Parish churches had all but succumbed to dwindling populations, wars, fires, earthquake damage.

St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Summerville was established from the roots of these two colonial congregations and thrived for 180 years.  After the 2012 schism in the South Carolina Episcopal Church, a remnant congregation of St. Paul's, Summerville reorganized as The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd.

Good Shepherd is a member in Good Standing of The Episcopal Church in SC and The Episcopal Church.

During the years of reorganization, this  congregation has worshipped
in homes, Timrod Library, Wesley United Methodist Church, and now in a beautifully upfit space on W. Luke Street.  
​ 

Above: Historic marker placed on the grounds of Historic Dorchester State Park in Summerville, off Dorchester Road.  St. George's Church, Dorchester was built in 1717 in the colonial village
of Dorchester.

Top Right: Historic marker on the grounds of St. Paul's Church, Stono, one of ten parishes created in South Carolina by the Church Act of 1706. St. Paul's, Stono was built near today town of Meggett, SC
​ on Hwy 162.
​​​​​

​Shield of The Episcopal Church

​​Ruins of bell tower of St. George's Church,
seen today on the grounds of Colonial
​Dorchester State Park.​
​

​The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, Summerville, SC.​


February 21, 2014
​The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, Summerville, a newly reorganized congregation,
was accepted into union with the Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of SC.
Alleluia!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!


July 16, 2019
Good Shepherd, Summerville moved into a beautifully designed rented space on West Luke Street.
ECGS is rich in skilled and trained lay ministers, including architects and construction engineers who drew plans and oversaw construction, even hammering nails themselves. 
Faithful prayers have guided everything Good Shepherd has set about since the Fall of 2012. 
​Great care and integrity of purpose provided the primary foundation plank in this project.  


Good Shepherd Clergy


​The Rev. M. Dow Sanderson

The Rev. Michael P. Szymanowski

The Rev. M. Dow Sanderson became Good Shepherd's Priest-in-Charge in July, 2017.  Fr. Dow retired a month earlier a month earlier having served as rector of The Episcopal Church of the Holy Communion, Charleston, SC.

​

The Rev. Michael P. Szymanowski, joined ECGS staff as Priest Associate in September 2019.  Fr. Mike served in earlier years in many capacities  as a priest in both the South Carolina upstate and lowcountry.
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​
​The Rev. V. Alastair Votaw

The Rev. V. Alastair Votaw, first Priest-in-Charge, served Good Shepherd from October 2013 until July 2017.  During this time  we became a mission congregation of The Episcopal Church in SC.  This photograph was taken in Wesley United Methodist Church where ECGS worshipped for three and a half years. ​​

Our Parish Life

Good Shepherd loves to worship God and loves to learn together in Christian Formation classes for all ages. 
Good Shepherd delights in serving through outreach ministries.
Good Shepherd loves to welcome visitors and newcomers.  

You are invited to Come and see.  Come and worship.  Come and learn.  Come and serve Christ.  


​All are welcome!  All are valued!  All are loved!
Amen and Alleluia!!


​Saints of God

We invite you to watch the video linked below which was created for the Province IV bishops who visited The Episcopal Church in SC in June 2013. Each worshiping community was asked to share the story of our experiences as continuing Episcopal congregations following the 2012 schism in South Carolina. We share the video with you in remembrance of our very own 'earliest' saints, those among us and those who have gone before. Thank you, Lord.


Tom Riley with granddaughter Maddie Ru, at Wesley United Methodist Church, Splring, 2013.
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