Sacraments & Life Events

At St. David’s we want to celebrate the joyful events in your life and offer comfort during the difficult ones. From our clergy, who are available to meet with you, to our staff members who are experts in planning and preparation, we are here to help and guide you in these events. 

baptism

In the Episcopal tradition, a person may be baptized at any age. Parents who bring their young children to be baptized make an additional commitment to raise these children in the Christian faith. For infants and children, it is required that at least one parent be an active member of St. David’s. We also welcome adult baptism for St. David’s members.

If you or someone in your family desires baptism, we would love to help make that happen. With the return to in-person worship, baptisms are part of the baptismal feast days of the liturgical calendar, as listed below.

Baptism Dates in 2024

  • November 3, 2024 (All Saints’ Day – observed)

Baptism Dates in 2025

  • January 12, 2025 (First Sunday after Epiphany)
  • April 19, 2025 (Great Vigil of Easter, evening service)
  • June 8, 2025 (Day of Pentecost)
  • November 2, 2025 (All Saints’ Day – observed)

To schedule a baptism: Please fill out our Baptism form and email to

Holy Baptism Information

A Baptism Rehearsal for the candidates, and their parents/godparents/sponsors will take place at 10 a.m. the Saturday prior to the baptism; that morning, for the Easter Vigil. Please make note of this on your calendar. For additional information or questions please contact

Confirmation

Confirmation is a sacramental rite in which those who have been duly prepared make a public affirmation of their faith and a commitment to the responsibilities of Baptism and receive the laying on of hands by the bishop. Confirmation is appropriate for anyone who has been baptized and matured in their faith, would like to renew their baptismal vows, and has not been confirmed before. Questions?

Adults, please contact Director of Newcomer Ministry. Youth, please contact Director of Youth Ministry.

EXPLORING THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Sundays, 10 a.m.
All are welcome to a multi-week interactive course that explains what it means to be a St. David's Episcopalian and how people might fit into the community around us! This class is open to all who are curious about the St. David's community, as well as those who wish to become confirmed in The Episcopal Church. For more information about this class, please reach out to The Rev. Carter Leer

Weddings

St. David’s Episcopal Church is a beautiful place for the Celebration and Blessing of Marriage, with three worship spaces, an outdoor Labyrinth, ample parking, and the option to rent our event facilities for a reception and/or rehearsal dinner.

Membership Requirements
To be married at St David’s one of the following conditions must be met:

  • At least one member of the couple is an active, attending, and pledging member of St. David’s for at least six (6) months prior to submitting the request to be married.
  • Exceptions will be considered for couples living outside of Austin who are active, attending, and pledging members of another Episcopal parish, upon written request from the Rector of their parish to the Rector of St. David’s. In these situations, an additional non-member fee is assessed

Getting Started

  • The first step in your wedding inquiry is to carefully read our Wedding Book to learn about wedding procedures and guidelines at St. David’s. After reading the Wedding Book, you may complete the Request to be Married form on the final page of the booklet. Please submit your request via e-mail to  or call 512.610.3500 to reach the front desk.

Special Considerations

  • The Sacrament of Marriage is available to all couples, regardless of gender.
  • Couples planning to get married at St. David’s must participate in pre-marital counseling. We have a list of recommended pre-marital counselors, or you may discuss alternative options with the priest who will preside at your wedding.
  • If either member of the couple has been previously divorced at any time, specific requirements of the Church must be met. This includes submission of a remarriage submission petition to the Bishop.
  • The minimum cost is $940-$1,000 for St. David’s members and $1,440-$1,500 for non-members, depending on the worship space. Other services will incur additional fees.

Worship Spaces

  • The Historic Church provides a picturesque setting in an ornate and historic worship space, with seating for up to 425 guests. *Currently undergoing renovations through Summer 2023
  • Bethell Hall offers an open space with ample natural light and seating for up to 200 guests.
  • For smaller weddings, Grace Chapel is a lovely space, and accommodates up to 30 guests.
  • Our outdoor Labyrinth, complete with flowers, white lights, and a water feature, provides a beautiful space for portraits and “first look” photos of the couple prior to the ceremony, and wedding ceremonies.

We look forward to making your marriage celebration joyful and sacred!

Pastoral Care and Reconciliation

At the heart of our life as a faith community lies the commitment and responsibility to care for, support, and encourage one another, especially in times of crisis and difficulty.

Know that your clergy are here for you. Reach out to the Rev. Chad McCall or another member of the clergy.

The Rev. Dr. Chuck Treadwell ( )
The Rev. Chad McCall ( )
The Rev. Kristin Braun ( )

Prayer Requests: Click here to submit a prayer request for yourself or a loved one or email  . We have prayer groups who pray for those in need as well as prayers we offer during Sunday morning services.

Prayer Shawls: Prayer Shawls can be given to someone who is struggling physically, spiritually, or emotionally. The prayer shawls are knitted by members of St. Agnes Guild.

Nursing Home Volunteers: St. David’s takes a Holy Communion service once a month to a few retirement communities. We need a musician and an assistant to help with readings, prayers, and distribution (No License required). If you are interested, please contact Pastor Angela (angela.c ). Thank you for your interest in this rewarding ministry!

Reconciliation

Our priests offer the Reconciliation of a Penitent or Sacrament of Reconciliation at any time, but especially during the season of Lent and Advent. Please see page 446 in the Book of Common Prayer for more information about this pastoral office. If you are interested in a private, confidential meeting with a priest to confess your sins and to be assured of God’s absolution, please contact the priest of your choice. You may call the main number 512-610-3500 and leave a message for the priest on call.

Additional Helpful Organizations


To reach the nationwide hotline for mental health emergencies, dial 988 for a universal entry point so that no matter where you live in the U.S., you can easily access 24/7 emotional support.

SAFE:  Stop abuse for everyone
24-hr SAFEline:  512-267-SAFE (7233)
A merger of Austin Children’s Shelter and SafePlace
We are hearing from our professionals that during this time of additional stress not everyone is able to cope well. If you are or know of someone who is a victim of domestic abuse, please don’t wait, call today.

Funerals and Memorial Services

We at St. David’s understand one of the most difficult times in a person’s life is the passing of a loved one; the challenges, difficulties, and loss. During this time, let our staff help you organize and plan a memorial service while our clergy ministers assist you during this difficult and stressful period. No one should face this time alone, and we are here to assist you. Please review our Funeral Planning form created to assist family members in the planning or pre-planning of a memorial service or funeral of a loved one. You can also review suggested readings and hymns.

St. David’s encourages parishioners to pre-plan their funeral arrangements and service by reading through Planning for a Graceful Exit and filling out the Letter of Instructions and Funeral Planning Information on pages 5-10, at a minimum. Your completed planning document can be kept on file at the Church. Other useful planning documents are included for use by anyone who wants to make their exit as graceful as possible.

For more information on any of the above services, contact Catherine Roberts.

Interment in Our Columbarium

Individual and/or their family members often choose to be interred in the St. David’s columbarium as a final resting place. Our columbarium is located on our peaceful labyrinth and is surrounded by plants and flowers kept up by our garden committee. This designated wildlife habitat includes a memorial waterfall and a wrap-around sitting area for rest and reflection. You can learn more about our columbarium, and as well as download and review the columbarium application, which contains pricing.

Please contact our Parish Administrator, Jim Lamm ( for more questions or to submit an application.