About
St. Francis is a place
for everyone.
Located on 15.4 wooded acres in Piney Point Village, St. Francis is a community composed of two principal entities—the Church and the Day School. Also included within this community are the St. Francis Sports Association and the St. Francis Scouting program.
It is our desire, whether you are a lifelong Episcopalian, new to the faith or a seasoned follower of Jesus, that you find a place here. We strive to be a welcoming community, focusing on growing in our relationships with God through faith in Jesus Christ, helping those around us who are less fortunate, while enjoying fun and fellowship in dynamic atmosphere.
These two additional missions of the church span the church/school community, offering unique opportunities for our parish to reach out to those families searching for a church home.
Our rector is The Rev. Stuart A. Bates who joined the parish in 2007.
St. Francis is a warm and welcoming parish and offers four worship services on Sunday as well as a Wednesday evening service.
St. Francis Episcopal Church is a church in the Episcopal (Anglican) tradition and a parish of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas.
Our Mission
Within the Body of Christ, the St. Francis community is committed to nurturing the spiritual, educational, and physical development of all God's people.
Worship Times
Sundays
8 a.m. (Rite II) - Contemplative spoken liturgy in the Chapel.
9 a.m. (Rite II) — This is our family service which includes a Children’s Message from Father Wismer. This service is designed for families with children of all ages and is similar to our Day School chapels. Children and youth are encouraged to be service participants.
11 a.m. (Rite I) — This beautiful service is accompanied by the Assisi Choir under the direction of Richard Keith, and often accompanied by wonderful musicians.
5 p.m. (Rite II) - Contemplative spoken liturgy in the Chapel.
Wednesdays
6 p.m. Wednesday Dinner and Evening Eucharist - programs vary according to liturgical season.
Our Clergy
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Rev. Stuart Bates
RECTOR
Fr. Stuart Bates has led St. Francis as Rector since 2007, and under his leadership it has become one of the fastest-growing parishes in the Episcopal Diocese of Texas, more than doubling in size. Fr. Bates believes that, “One of our missions as a church is to provide accessible and relevant ways for busy people to deepen their relationship with Christ.” To do this he has implemented additional worship services, expanded discipleship and Christian formation programs, and substantially increased outreach ministry.
Fr. Bates grew up in Dallas and then attended the University of Texas at Austin where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Ancient Greek with a minor in Classical Civilizations. He graduated from the Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest in 1996 with Masters’ degrees in Biblical Studies and Divinity. Before coming to St. Francis, he served at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Houston as the Director of Family Ministries and, later, as Director of Discipleship. Before his ordination he spent time working in the music business, the Texas Senate, and as a sales representative for Dell Computer Corporation.
He is married to Lisa, who is an interior designer, and they have six beautiful children: Alexandra, Georgia, Samantha, Lily, Harrison, and Emma. After almost ten years leading the parish, Fr. Bates declares, “I am blessed to work with dedicated, hard-working, fun-loving people here at St. Francis… I love my job!”
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Rev. David Price
ASSOCIATE RECTOR
Fr. Price joined St. Francis as Assistant Rector in September 2016. He says, “I am eager to be part of St. Francis’ efforts to work, pray, and give.” Fr. Price just completed a 10 year pastorate as Rector of Grace Church, Alvin and celebrated his 32nd anniversary of ordained ministry. Originally from Tucson, Arizona, a graduate of the University of Arizona, he completed his theological training at the Seminary of the Southwest in Austin in 1984. He served on parish staffs in Midland, Lubbock, and Palestine, before becoming Rector of St. Mark's Episcopal Church and School, Houston in 1994.
Fr. Price loves the variety of parish ministry: learning, worshiping, serving, and discovering things in small group fellowship. He recognizes the strength and health of St. Francis Church. He is convinced that in parish work, “God draws people in, builds them up and sends them out to be ambassadors of reconciliation in the world”. He has been married to Jennifer for 35 years. Jennifer, a cardiac nurse, works at CHI St. Luke's Health in the Medical Center. They are proud parents of three adult children: daughters, Emily Hatzel and Hannah Loyd, and son, Andrew Price. They are excited that they recently became grandparents. Fr. Price and Jennifer are both interested in improving their personal health through nutrition and physical activity. He has finished several marathons, half-marathons and triathlons in the last few years.
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Rev. Robert Wismer
ASSISTANT RECTOR AND SENIOR CHAPLAIN AT ST. FRANCIS SCHOOL
Fr. Wismer came to St. Francis in May, 2002, as the chaplain of St. Francis Episcopal Day School. In 2007, he was also appointed as Associate Rector of the church. He tries to “be a bridge between these two aspects of our community” and to do what he can to keep the “members of this community cared for and connected to each other, and to their Lord!”
Fr. Wismer was born in Toronto, Canada, began his family in Montreal, and later lived in Vancouver. Fr. Wismer also spent two “wonderful” years in London, England, working for John Stott. He received his BA from McMaster University, and a Masters of Divinity from Regent College, and an MA from McGill University in Montreal. Fr. Wismer continues his education by keeping up with scholarship, especially with biblical languages. He has a wife, Jennifer Wismer, and they are parents to four great kids: Jacob, Sam, Peter, and Bronwyn. As a family they like being active outside and going to the movies. The people of St. Francis are what Fr. Wismer appreciates most: “they make it great; they are caring, creative and welcoming.”
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Rev. Katie Gould
ASSISTANT CHAPLAIN AT ST. FRANCIS SCHOOL
The Rev. Katie Gould brings an entrepreneurial spirit with her as St. Francis's Middle School Chaplain and religion teacher. Before entering ordained ministry, Rev. Gould owned and operated an upscale children's boutique and co-owned an industrial construction company, among many other positions, from make-up artist to optician. Her wide-ranging interests and background help her achieve her desire to make religion attractive and fun and to design a chapel program and religion curriculum that students and families from a variety of backgrounds find both relevant and deeply meaningful. In all that she endeavors, her love of people and her prayer for them to be well cared for and loved is the foundation of her ministry—the same remains true where the community of St. Francis is concerned. She brings alongside her in ministry her 11-year-old daughter, Izzy, and her 7-year-old son, Reagan, who will be proud Wolves beginning this Fall. She is excited about joining the St. Francis family and providing a place where she and her children can be spiritually nourished and grow in Christ.
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Rev. Emily Hylden
ASSISTANT CHAPLAIN AT ST. FRANCIS SCHOOL
Mother Emily Hylden, upper school chaplain, fell in love with school ministry as All School Chaplain at Ascension in Lafayette, Louisiana, after a decade in parish ministry throughout the south. She met her husband, Fr. Jordan (currently at St. Martin's), at Duke Divinity School in their M.Div. program; she majored in religion at Duke University as an undergraduate. Mtr. Emily loves to bake and do yoga as well as adventuring with Jordan and their three boys, all of whom will attend St Francis Episcopal School: Charles (7), Donnie (5), and Jacob (2). “Leading worship is my very favorite thing to do,” Mtr. Hylden said. “I love to connect where people are in their daily lives with the stories of scripture and to communicate and teach ways of bringing ourselves and our struggles—as well as our joys—to God in prayer and worship.”
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OUR STAFF
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Allison Devlin
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Ellen Bachmann
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Sally Jo Flores
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Robbie Matteson
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Julie Lowery
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Cindy Huteson
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Carol Katrana
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Juan Pablo Castro
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