Rev Stanley Gordon Macgirvin

Rev Stanley G Macgirvin

September 2, 1932 - 

December 8, 2008 - Colorado Springs, Colorado

son. John & Marie Inez Ren Macgirvin

m.  Helen Louise Albusche, 1951

m. Carol Jean Crotts, April 25, 1981, Santa Rosa, California

Section 3

Rev. Stanley Gordon Macgirvin was born Sept. 2, 1932 to John Macgirvin and Marie Inez Ren Macgirvin.

As a teenager, Fr. Stan was considered a "bad boy". He got into trouble with the law, and the judge, his godfather, saw some good in the boy. He "sentenced" Stan to serve out a probationary period at St. Francis Boys Home in Salina, KS, under the discipline of Fr. Peter Francis, and Fr. Bob Mize (later Bishop Mize). Stan grew to love the Lord, and became the first Honor Member at St. Francis. He went on to influence and mentor many young men who followed him into the ministry.

Fr. Stan attended schools in Redding, CA, Salina, KS, and Chico, CA, then graduated from the Church Divinity School of the Pacific in 1956. In 1951 he married Helen Louise Albusche, and they had 3 children together: Martha (Marty), born in 1954, Michael, born in 1956, and Mary Jane, born in 1958.

In 1956 he was ordained Deacon at St. Francis Boys Home, Salina, KS, and ordained priest in 1957 in Sacramento, CA.

He served as vicar first in St. Barnabas in Dunsmuir, CA from 1956-1959, then at All Saints in Tacoma, WA from 1959-1966.

Other congregations included: St. Barnabas, Antioch, CA for about 3 years, then later served as a worker priest in several churches including Grace in Martinez, CA and St. Davids in Pittsburg, CA. As a worker priest, he supported his family by being a franchisee of two Winchells Donut Houses, being a substitute teacher (often for troubled teens), he was a manufacturer's rep., and a gift and antique shop owner.

In 1977, he left the Episcopal church to join with the first wave of objectors to the new Episcopal church changes, and started a mission, St. Martin, in Concord, CA. In 1978, He was called to St. Athanasius Anglican Church, Colorado Springs, CO, as the first full-time, paid clergyman to the fledgling new parish and served them for two years. He married Carol Jean Crotts in April 1981, and moved to Santa Rosa, CA where he was a worker priest for several parishes and made his money delivering papers. He later moved to Bend, OR where he served as the priest for St. Pauls Anglican Church until his retirement on April 8, 2007, 50 years to the day of his original ordination. Several months after Carol died, he moved back to Colorado Springs, CO, to be with family and other familiar parishioners.

He is survived by his children, Martha Bryant (Neil Bryant), Michael Macgirvin (Amanda Lawrence), and Mary Jane Thoreson; granddaughters, Louisa Meyers (Devin Meyers), and Isabella Macgirvin-Lawrence; and also three great-grandsons, Jonathan Thoreson, Nicholas Thoreson, and Wyatt Meyers.

There is a Memorial Fund at St. Luke Church. Donations should be marked "Memorial for Fr. Stan Macgirvin" and sent to: St. Luke Church, 2425 N. Chestnut, Colorado Springs, CO 80907

Source:  Bend Bulletin