A New Anglican Church in the San Francisco Bay Area

Ancient faith. Fresh encounters.

The Mission

The San Francisco Bay Area has always been one of the most secular, atheistic, and counter-Christian regions in the United States. It faces challenges as it undergoes transformation. The area is struggling to adjust economically to telecommuting, rising crime and homelessness, and a cost-of-living crisis, all while continuing to become even more diverse. The people who live here desperately need Jesus, community, and hope.

But things are changing. Vanity Fair recently proclaimed that "Christianity was borderline illegal in Silicon Valley. Now it’s the New Religion." The rise of artificial intelligence has the people who created it asking existential questions that technology cannot answer. California has always been a place of spiritual openness. Today, that curiosity is looking to Christ.

The Anglican church has an appealing answer those questions, because it looks forward to innovation while staying rooted in historical Christian doctrine and tradition. And yet, the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) has only two churches in the San Francisco Metropolitan Statistical Area for a population of over 4.6 million residents. That gives San Francisco the second lowest number of ACNA churches per capita in the entire United States.

Map of the San Francisco East Bay Area showing Dublin, Pleasanton, and Livermore California

At the center of the East Bay region is the city of Dublin, right between Pleasanton, Livermore, and San Ramon. Dublin is one of the fastest growing cities in the Bay Area. It sits at a crossroads with two BART stations and the freeway interchange connecting San Francisco and San Jose to the growing regions of the Central Valley. The closest ACNA churches in the region are a 30 to 60 minute drive in every direction.

The Bay Area is searching for Jesus. The opportunity for the ACNA to start a church in the East Bay is rich, and the need is severe. So that's what we're doing.

Imagine…

...a church that connects with ancient spirituality. Instead of searching for meaning in yoga, crystals, or astrology, this is a place where we find purpose in Jesus Christ. For those who want worship to go deeper than cultural trendiness and motivational talks, liturgical worship is rooted in theology and spirituality representing 2000 years of Christian tradition. Christ is present in sacrament, and people are participants, not spectators.

...a church that values creative beauty. Liturgical worship need not be rigid and stubborn. Instead, it serves as a solid frame that holds a canvas of artistic freedom. We are still creating new ways of praising God. Contemporary worship music can compliment liturgy perfectly. Solemn mass can be celebrated with a joyful and lively disposition. We seek to be a modern expression of an ancient tradition.

...a church that believes in faithful power. We believe that we are saved by God's grace and not by good deeds. At the same time, faith means that we live in sanctifying obedience to Jesus Christ. When we are faithful to Christ, his supernatural power and spiritual authority work miracles and healing in our lives through His victory over sin and death. In other words, we preach the gospel, and we live the gospel out, because it is good news about the kingdom of heaven on earth.

Someone praying with a hand on another person's shoulder

...a church that practices sacrificial love. People are lonely. Our church is more than a place to go or something to do on Sunday. Our church is a community that we are a part of. It's about relationships, not programs. It's a place to make friends, find love, raise children, and be cared for. It's a place that is hospitable to every generation. Love is not blind affirmation of individualized desire, but an intentional sacrifice of our own desires for the benefit of others.

...a church for empowered service. We seek social justice by serving our community. Our church is a place where we go to give, not just to receive. Ministry is the work of the congregation, not just the clergy. Church members are empowered and entrusted with significant responsibility and much is expected of them. Disciples of Jesus Christ are taught and matured through relationships and hands-on training like an apprentice.

Get Involved

God is at work in the Bay Area. We are excited to answer His call to plant a church. But we can't do it alone. Would you like to join us? There are three ways that you can be a part of what God is doing through this mission: Give, Pray, and Stay Updated.

Give

The Bay Area is one of the most expensive regions in the country. To plant this church, we need financial support. Would you consider making a donation to the cause? Donations made below to the Diocese of San Joaquin are tax deductible and will be used to directly support Nathan Taylor's ministry. The more money we raise, the faster this ministry can begin. Your generous support is truly appreciated. Thank you.

Donate Now

Pray

Can't give financially right now? No problem. We would appreciate your prayers. You can sign up to receive our prayer requests so you can know how to pray for us and our church. Thank you for your prayer support!

Stay Updated

Do you want to stay updated on our progress? Whether you're interested in joining this ministry in the future, or just want to keep in touch with our family, you can sign up to receive updates below. We'll never sell your data and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Our Story So Far

Hi, I'm Nathan. I'm an ordained Anglican Priest and have a Master of Divinity degree from Trinity Anglican Seminary. I also work part-time in marketing at a national senior living company. I have been married to my beautiful wife, Emily, for eight years. Our kids are Zoe and Theo, and we recently had a baby, Lena!

Emily and I met at a ministry training program in Europe and started a journey with God. At the time, Emily lived in the United Kingdom and I lived in Los Angeles and was working as an executive at MGM Studios. My team oversaw several major TV series. But God called me out of Hollywood and into ministry.

Since then, we have been following God’s lead from England, to Los Angeles, Atlanta, San Diego, and Pittsburgh, serving the church in different ways in each place. There have been difficult circumstances along the way, but God has faithfully and miraculously provided everything we needed.

This journey has been preparing us for something big. God is calling us back to the Bay Area where I grew up to start a new church. I have a heart to serve the people of California and we can't wait to arrive next month. But we can’t do it alone and would love your support. So, who's with us?!

In Christ,
Rev. Nathan Taylor