Who We Are
On May 16, 1965, at Cabrillo College, St. Andrew Presbyterian Church was chartered by the Presbytery of San Jose, with 96 charter members. The organizing pastor, Dr. Robert Thomas, also became the first called pastor. As a congregation, we give thanks for our special family of God.
We are a church whose members form a warm and supportive Christian fellowship. We care about the individuals and families of our congregation as well as members of the surrounding community. We have an active prayer chain and offer Deacon and Pastoral visits for those who are ill or in need. We invite everyone who is able to join one of our supper clusters: we meet in different homes or at a restaurant or event once a month. These groups are realigned each year to expand our outreach to each other.
Our Mission
St. Andrew Presbyterian Church welcomes all to join our church community.
We see the Christian faith as a journey, not a possession, and as an adventure, not a dogma.
We seek to connect to Jesus Christ and to each other in God’s nurture and transforming love.
Together we joyfully worship our God, share the sacraments, and study God’s Word.
We celebrate God’s presence among us through prayer, praise, and worship.
We strive to share our faith in God with the world around us.
Our prayer is to make a difference, both in our own community as well as throughout the world, by promoting peace, justice, and understanding through the love and wisdom of God.
We invite you to share this journey and this adventure with us.
The Early History of Saint Andrew Presbyterian Church of Aptos
By The Reverend Robert S. Thomas, D.D., Organizing Pastor
St. Andrew Presbyterian Church at Valencia Hall
The fulfillment of almost three years of planning and hoping involving a number of Presbyterians who, living in the Mid-County of Santa Cruz County, had desired that a church of their denomination be established here, was reached when the St. Andrew United Presbyterian church was chartered as a congregation by the Presbytery of San Jose meeting at Cabrillo College on the evening of Sunday, May 16, 1965, at eight o’clock. Organizing work had begun the previous September of 1964, and after the first worship service held at the old Valencia Hall on the first Sunday in Advent of 1964, interest had grown and 97 charter members formed the new congregation.
During June of 1965, the congregation leased a temporary facility at 6790 Soquel Drive, across from Cabrillo College, and held all its services and church school activities there until May of 1968 when it moved into its present buildings at 9850 Monroe Avenue Extension, its permanent site. Its membership represents people who have been attracted by the general style, expressed mission and purpose, and quality of fellowship and action evident in the congregation.
St. Andrew Church received its name from the Missionary Apostle, the disciple Andrew known for his evangelical zeal, enthusiasm and persistence shown in the first century.