HISTORY & CAMPUS

Sixty years in Sabino Canyon.

A Spanish mission-style sanctuary designed by Tucson architect Bernard Friedman serves a community that grew from 80 charter members to a parish home for thousands.

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Silhouettes of cacti in the foreground with a mountain range and colorful sunset sky in the background.
Aerial view of a building labeled 'St. Albert's Episcopal Church' in a suburban area with trees, parking lot, and mountains in the background.

Our Historic Campus

St. Alban's campus features a Spanish-style church, choir room, parish hall, offices, and a preschool with eight classrooms. Our church, designed by renowned Tucson architect Bernard Friedman, has been part of our campus since 1982. From here, you can enjoy beautiful views of the Santa Catalina Mountains and find peaceful moments for prayer among the desert landscape.

Wooden statue of a bearded man holding animals, with a cactus and a tree in the desert background under a blue sky with clouds.
Desert landscape with tall cacti, low shrubs, and mountains in the background under a partly cloudy blue sky.
A desert courtyard with several cacti, agave plants, and other drought-tolerant plants, with white stucco walls and a clear blue sky overhead.
Colorful mosaic table on ornate white stone base in an outdoor patio area with terracotta tile flooring, surrounded by potted plants and trees with desert vegetation in the background under a partly cloudy sky.
Front entrance of a church with an arched wooden roof, surrounded by trees and desert landscaping.
Sign for St. Alban's Episcopal Church and Preschool with a blue sky and clouds in the background. The sign indicates that the preschool is hiring assistants, full and part-time, and provides a contact phone number.
A detailed floor plan of a church with labeled rooms, outdoor garden spaces, and indoor areas including a parish hall, library, preschool office, music room, and various other rooms.

History of St. Alban’s Campus

  • A sign announcing the construction of St. Alban's Episcopal Church, a chapel of St. Philip's in the Hills Parish, with service details and a crest at the top, set against a blue sky and green foliage.

    1964

    Ten acres of land were purchased in September as the future home of St. Alban's Chapel. This visionary acquisition laid the foundation for our parish's long-term presence in the Sabino Canyon area.

  • Empty auditorium with a stage, red curtains, a flag on the left, and a hanging banner in the center.

    1972

    St. Alban's held its first service on February 13th in the Fruchthendler Elementary School cafeteria. Eighty St. Philip's parishioners attended this inaugural service, with 35 continuing as charter members of the new mission.

  • A group of clergy, dressed in white robes with red and black accents, standing outdoors during a religious ceremony with a scenic mountain landscape in the background.

    1973

    Ground was broken for construction of our first sanctuary and west wing. This milestone marked the beginning of St. Alban's physical presence on our current property.

  • Outdoor religious ceremony with clergy and children wearing white and red robes, in front of a modern brick wall with a cross-shaped window showing mountains and blue sky.

    1974

    Our Spanish mission-style chapel was completed, featuring the iconic cross window. In just six months after opening, attendance grew to 205 at a single service, demonstrating remarkable growth for the new chapel.

  • A group of children in choir robes holding open books, standing outdoors with two adults, autumn trees in the background.

    1976

    St. Alban's achieved financial self-sufficiency, becoming fully self-supporting. This important milestone paved the way for full parish status just three years later.

  • A white stucco church with a blue door, surrounded by a lush garden with colorful flowers and trees, mountain in the background, clear blue sky.

    1979

    St. Alban's Episcopal Church was officially dedicated as a parish. The Reverend Robert Swift, previously Vicar, was installed as the first Rector of the new parish.

  • Cross window #2

    1980

    The congregation launched plans for a new 3,800 square foot sanctuary north of the chapel. The design incorporated a second cross window, continuing our tradition of meaningful sacred architecture.

  • A woman with glasses smiling, wearing a sweatshirt with a knight on a horse, standing in front of a wooden cross-shaped decoration and some plants.

    1981

    St. Alban's made Arizona Episcopal history by appointing the Reverend Margaret Babcock as assistant priest. She became the first woman priest to serve in this capacity within the Diocese of Arizona.

  • Two women standing inside a partially constructed building with a wooden roof frame and a window revealing mountains in the background.

    1982

    Construction of our new sanctuary and education wing began in January. The building was completed in just eight months, with the first service held in August of the same year.

  • Three children playing in sandbox with toy buckets and shovels.

    1985

    St. Alban's established its preschool ministry to serve both parish families and the wider Tucson community. This education ministry continues to thrive as a cornerstone of our outreach.

  • White letter tiles spelling out the word 'MORTGAGE' on a wooden surface.

    1987

    The parish demonstrated remarkable stewardship by paying off its mortgage loan in full, just five years after construction. This financial achievement freed resources for expanded ministry.

  • Three children playing at a playground. Two kids sit in a red wagon, while another child pulls it with a handle. Playground equipment includes a yellow slide and a sandbox area.

    1990-1998

    St. Alban's experienced significant growth, adding kindergarten (1990), four classrooms with a playground (1991), and a kitchen with parish offices (1998). The enclosed courtyard transformed our campus appearance.

  • Aerial view of a building with solar panels on the roof surrounding a central courtyard with trees and grass.

    2019

    The parish embraced environmental stewardship by installing 176 solar panels. This green initiative reduced our annual utility costs by approximately $18,000 while decreasing our carbon footprint.

  • A church building with a tall white steeple and a red cross on top, flanked by green leafy trees and a clear blue sky.

    2021

    Our distinctive sign was installed, establishing a clear presence on Sabino Canyon Road. Uniquely designed as a cell tower, it provides a steady income stream to support parish ministries.

  • A group of choir singers wearing maroon robes and face masks, holding sheet music, standing in a church near an organ, with a conductor directing them.

    2022

    St. Alban's celebrated its 50th anniversary on February 13th with more than 200 parishioners gathering to honor our history and look toward our future together.

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