The St. Barnabas Timeline
About 1899—The earliest prayer book service on the island is conducted at the country club by Rev. Herbert Gowan, rector, Trinity Church, Seattle.
1922—From his summer home on the island, Rev. Gowan conducts classes and officiates at services made possible by renting Eagle Harbor Congregational Church once a month.
1945—Before Rev. Gowen retires, a Building Committee is formed and the congregation is admitted to the diocese as a mission church.
It is reported that Rev. Herbert Gowen suggested that the new congregation be named after St. Barnabas, an island boy from Cyprus, who became one of the early converts and the one who brought Paul to the disciples in Jerusalem.
The Rev. Vincent Gowen (son of Rev. Herbert Gowen) becomes the first vicar of St. Barnabas.
1946—The church opens on November 17, on the site given by Sam Clarke and added to by Leo Black. Founding families are: Jim Hodges, and the Clarks, Blacks, Allens, Goodfellows, and Nickums.
1948—St. Barnabas is consecrated by Bishop Stephen Bayne on June 11.
Two surplus WWII USO buildings are purchased by the congregation and moved to the church property. They are currently used as the offices, parlor with kitchenette, sacristy, and vesting room.
1960—A new parish hall is added to the campus.
1961—The Rev. Vincent Gowen retires and is succeeded by Rev. Fred Avery.
1964—St. Barnabas becomes a parish.
1969—St. Barnabas Day School opens.
1971—Rev. Avery retires and is succeeded by Rev. Thomas Fowler.
1980—The interrium was built on the south side of the church and dedicated May 25.
1983—Rev. Fowler resigns.
Rev. David Heaney is called as rector.
1987—Rev. Heaney resigns.
1988—Rev. Joseph Tiernan is called as rector.
1991—At a special meeting of the vestry in November, Canon 25 is invoked to remove the rector; seven vestry members vote for and five vote against.
1992—Bishop Vincent Warner decides our rector can stay and subsequently—in June—approximately sixty–five leave St. Barnabas and start Grace Church on the island.
1995—Parishioner Jim Hodges’s will gifts $150,000 if church members match. The challenge is met ($162,000 is raised) and the Jim Hodges Endowment Fund is established (which has grown to $1.3 million).
2000—Rev. Tiernan serves on the Bainbridge Island/North Kitsap Interfaith Council that initiates the building of the Japanese American Exclusion Memorial.
2004—Parishioner and choir member Lyle Kahle offers to gift $300,000 toward the purchase of a new pipe organ. Our music director begins the search for a new one.
Rev. Tiernan resigns.
2005—Charles O’Morchoe, a parishioner, plans and funds the expansion of the interrium with the addition of a fountain and an altar.
2006—Parish members pledge an additional $167,000 for the installation of a new Bond organ, blessed by Bishop Warner on October 1.
2007—Rev. Dennis Tierney is called as rector.
2013—A two year project to remodel and upgrade the parish hall kitchen to a commercial kitchen begins.
2016—Rev. Tierney retires.
2017—Rev. Karen Haig is called as rector.
2025—Rev. Haig retires.
2025—The vestry makes a $50,000 donation for Helpline House’s new facility with a matching grant of $25,000 if members of the parish match—$118,552 is given to the organization.
2025—Rev. Dianne Andrews becomes our interim and we begin the process of preparing for our new rector.