Our History

From 30 neighbors gathered at a creek in 1945 to one of Kentucky’s largest Episcopal congregations — a story of faith, community, and eight decades of faithful growth.

Four people look through the panes of a window in a historic photograph.

1945–1948

Community Roots

St. Francis in the Fields Episcopal Church was founded by a group of 30 neighbors, friends, and relatives gathered at the foot of Harrods Creek just outside of Louisville, Kentucky, in 1945. They were in search of a place to worship God and a Christian environment in which to raise their children. They rented a small Baptist church, where they and their 31 children attended their first service on Christmas Eve, 1945. The Rev. Robert Clingman was called to serve as the first rector. Sunday School classes were held at Walter Bader’s grocery store, and adult confirmation classes took place at the Chick Inn.

The church under construction, with scaffolding, parked cars, and two people outside.

1948–1953

Coming Home

By 1948, the congregation had outgrown the small Baptist chapel. They purchased seven and a half acres of wooded land on Wolf Pen Branch Road and built a beautiful Georgian sanctuary and rectory there. They started a primary day school, and the church soon became a center of community activity, offering baby care, tuberculosis clinics, and other community services.

Children and two adult women pose together in a classroom.

1953–1982

Legacy of Service

In 1953, the Rev. Stephen R. Davenport was called as rector, a role he would fill for nearly 30 years. The church became known for its strong music program, a legacy we uphold to this day. In 1954, the church added a new education wing and fellowship hall to support the growing community. The day school became St. Francis School, with school grounds in Goshen and later a high school in downtown Louisville.

Five adults wearing hard hats pose with ceremonial shovels at a groundbreaking.

1982–2014

New Fruit

The parish continued to grow throughout the 1960s and 1970s. The children of the founders brought their own children to church, where they were joined by families from the growing neighborhood. In 1982, the Rev. Robert T. Jennings was called as rector. By the 1980s, St. Francis was the largest Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Kentucky. The church grew so much that in the early 1990s, it outgrew the worship space and services were held in the fellowship hall. In 1995, we moved into our current worship space, which offers more room for worship while staying true to the lovely design of the original church.

A woman in white vestments holds a tablet reading ‘The King Who Comes!’ while speaking to seated children.

2014–Present

Forward in Faith

The Rev. Robert T. Jennings retired in 2014 and The Rev. Dr. John D. Koch, Jr. became the fourth rector at St. Francis in the Fields. In February of 2020, The Rev. Clint Wilson joined as the fifth rector. We’ve continued to adapt to the changing needs of our community and world while staying true to the vision of our founders: beautiful worship, robust Christian formation, and energetic mission in our community and around the world.

Meet Our Clergy