Welcome to the website of St. Joseph Anglican Church, located in Branson, Missouri.

We are a member of the rapidly growing United Episcopal Church of North America, (UCENA), an affiliation of parishes and missions that have become disenchanted, and yes, disappointed with the direction that the American Episcopal churches have taken by embracing a brand of dogma which clearly has no biblical foundation.

St. Joseph is a liturgical, sacramental church, using the 1928 Book of Common Prayer. Our weekly sermon, based upon that Sunday's Gospel reading, is, while short in duration, most profound as a teaching tool, and serves as a prelude to the Mass, after a heavenly and spiritual manner partaking of the most precious body and blood of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

While you are now at our web site, please take some time viewing other pages, and feel the excitement of a growing, vibrant, and loving congregation, and also learn about our beautiful community.

Even though our service is "formal" by all standards, you are most likely on holiday which has brought you to Branson, and so it's "come as you are" to one and all.





The Old Stone Church Celebrates it's 100th Anniversary in 2007!

In 1907, Branson had three general merchandise stores, a meat market, two hotels, a barber shop, photography gallery, two doctors, a livery stable, a blacksmith shop, a newspaper, and a planned school, but no church.

One of the two doctors circulated a petition that would establish a Sunday school in the new school building. So successful was this, that attendance rapidly overflowed the small community school, so townspeople began looking into constructing the town's first church.

About this same time, a delegation of Presbyterians, who were in the vicinity to establish a school (now the College of the Ozarks), learned of the need for a church in Branson, so they traveled by rail to discuss the need with those interested citizens.

Eventually, Reverend Beatie, a Presbyterian, spent enormous amounts of time evangelizing, preaching, and promoting the establishment of a church in Branson. The seed had now been planted - and the dream of a church took root.



Church Building Begins

The Branson Townsite Company donated land for a new church to be built. A St. Louis architect was hired to design and draw the plans for a stately Gothic Revival style church, and work began on the building in early March, 1907.

The hand-cut limestone blocks were hauled a mile uphill from the railroad by horse-drawn wagons. The etched frosted glass windows, heavy solid wood doors, and perfect narrow planked hardwood floors, all specially made, were installed by local craftsmen and volunteers.

There were ice cream socials, pie suppers, taffy pulls, and fund raising by civic clubs, and finally, the Presbyterian Church Society was formed. In spite of financial setbacks and cost overruns, the church was completed and dedicated April 2, 1911.



The Old Stone Church Continues to Serve the Community




A half century before Pope John XXIII introduced his ecumenical doctrine to the Christian world, the Presbyterian Church of Branson, who owned the church building, opened it to the community, including other churches that might need a worship space.

For many years, the building also served as a community center.




Today, it continues that tradition. A new Anglican mission, St. Joseph's, holds services there. (You're at our website!)

The Branson Arts Council also uses the facility as a venue for musical recitals, both vocal and instrumental, as well as to promote other programs sponsored by the Council.