About Us
Welcome to St. Francis in the Fields! Learn more about who we are, what we do, and our passion for the Good News of Jesus Christ.
What We Believe
Grounded in the Gospel
We never tire of hearing about the good news of what God has done for the world in Jesus. Our worship is steeped in Holy Scripture, and we encounter God’s Word in the prayers we pray, in the songs we sing, and in our preaching. Every week, we hear about the burdens of the world, the love of God in Jesus, and the promise of mercy and forgiveness.
Focused on Formation
At the end of every service we are sent out with a blessing that prays that the “peace of God” will “keep our hearts and minds in the knowledge and Love of God.” We take that promise very seriously and endeavor to challenge both the heart and the mind with the good news of God in Christ. We seek to equip people so they can not only deepen their faith, but bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ into their homes, schools, and workplaces. Engagement of the heart and mind lies at the core of what we do here and is integrated into our programs and teaching for all ages.
Embracing our Anglican Heritage
St. Francis in the Fields is part of the worldwide Anglican Communion. We are committed to the “faith once delivered to all the saints” (Jude 4), which we share with Anglicans around the world:
We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the revealed Word of God.
We believe that The Nicene Creed is the sufficient statement of the Christian Faith.
We believe in the centrality of the two Sacraments instituted by Christ: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
We believe in the leadership of bishops, who lead our churches in the lineage of the Apostles.
Meet our
Clergy & Staff
Vestry
The St. Francis in the Fields vestry serves as the “board of directors” for our parish, and is made up exclusively of lay leaders. The vestry oversees the day-to-day operations of the parish executed by clergy and staff and engages in long-range planning to achieve our vision. Vestry members are elected to a three-year term at our Annual Parish Meeting, and they are expected to be regular, pledging members of St. Francis and to demonstrate a commitment to the well-being of the parish and their personal faith. The proceedings of vestry meetings are open to anyone in the parish and meeting minutes are available upon request.
VESTRY NOMINATIONS FOR 2026 ARE NOW OPEN! Submit your nomination(s) by completing the first form linked below and returning to the front office or emailing to Senior Warden Andrew Booker. Nominees will need to complete the second linked form.
Current Vestry Members
Term ending 2026: Blair Bell, Andrew Booker (Senior Warden), Robert Cregor, Joanna Panning, Vicki Receveur
Term ending 2027: Joe Cross, David Laird, Amber Picklesimer, Matt Price, Mitzi Root
Term ending 2028: Sam Ellington, Mark Eriks, Caroline Lussky, Tanya Marquardt, Lauren Theobald
Appointees: George Vieth (Treasurer), Bill Receveur (Properties Committee), Katie Booker (Parish Life Committee)
St. Francis in the Fields
Our History
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 1946. 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, 1946. 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.
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.
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 a school grounds in Goshen and later a high school in downtown Louisville.
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.
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.
St. Francis in the Fields
Our STrategic Plan
For 80 years, St. Francis in the Fields has worked to make and grow disciples of Jesus Christ, adapting to the changing needs of our people and the world. The St. Francis Strategic Plan will guide us as we embark on the next decades of ministry—building on what we have accomplished, and reaching to new areas of growth, in order to become the best place to engage deeply with the richness of Great Tradition Christianity.
Job Openings
Director of Children's Ministry
Do you have a heart for the Gospel and a love for the smallest souls in the pews? Do you believe children deserve the tools to live their own lives of discipleship? Do you love liturgy and the Great Tradition? Can you make scripture fun and exciting while also keeping your cool in a room full of kids with an Easter candy sugar high? If so, you might be our next Director of Children’s Ministry!
We are currently accepting applications for this important position, beginning the first half of 2026. Interested? Email Mthr. Barbara at barbaraw@sfitf.org for more information, or to apply.
Focused on Formation
At the end of every service we are sent out with a blessing that prays that the “peace of God” will “keep our hearts and minds in the knowledge and Love of God.” We take that promise very seriously and endeavor to challenge both the heart and the mind with the good news of God in Christ. We seek to equip people so they can not only deepen their faith, but bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ into their homes, schools, and workplaces. Engagement of the heart and mind lies at the core of what we do here and is integrated into our programs and teaching for all ages.
