During World War II, Bastrop became home to Camp Swift and Calvary’s newly built parish hall was used for USO events. In 1951, Texas bishop John Hines founded Seminary of the Southwest in Austin. An incoming student to the seminary was assigned to serve at Calvary, starting a decades long tradition of having seminary students grow in ministry in our community. 

In 1997, the needs of the growing congregation under The Rev. Ken Kesselus, native son and twenty-sixth Rector of Calvary, and the desire to welcome newcomers while preserving the old church, led to a decision to expand the church building.  The original part of the church became the altar area, and the addition formed the nave. The design won an award for the architects who provided it.  Materials taken out of the old church were used as much as possible, including the stained glass windows in the nave and the old sun-dried bricks, cleaned by the congregation, were used in the projection behind the new altar.  The first services in the completed building were held in 1998.  

With a newly expanded building, Calvary was ready to step into a new millennium in a growing community. Father Matt Zimmerman introduced Saint Francis Fest to offer pet blessings and pet parades down Main Street sidewalks. Calvary also introduced more contemporary music and liturgies from around the world at its 9 AM service. To accommodate its continued growth, Calvary purchased the First National Bank building at the corner of Main & Spring streets in 2006, which continues to serve as its Parish Hall, provide space for children and youth, and house church offices. 

In 2003, the church started a Mother’s Day Out program for pre-schoolers that quickly grew into Calvary Episcopal School. The school became the first accredited private school in Bastrop County and now has students from Pre-K 3 to 6th grade. The school is currently housed on Calvary’s downtown campus and a satellite campus on the other side of the bridge. Calvary Episcopal School has been offered 20 acres of land on Highway 304 to develop a Pre-K to 8th grade campus with space to eventually add a high school. 

In 2010, Calvary called The Rev. Lisa S. Hines as Rector, the first woman to hold this position at Calvary.  The next year, the Calvary community experienced great losses from the Labor Day weekend wildfires of 2011 with 45 parishioners and Mother Lisa losing their homes. The church received $200,000 in donations from across the country and used these generous gifts to help people in the community rebuild their homes and lives. In the 2010s, Calvary started a Family Fun Fellowship, a fun intergenerational gathering on first Fridays and launched a ministry at Argent Court Assisted Living in which volunteers lead a worship service on Fridays for residents. Calvary also helped Pastor Roland Nava start his Open Door ministry that now offers breakfast and lunch to those in need 5 days per week and offers housing for men and families. Calvary continues this cornerstone partnership by preparing meals on Mondays and passing our lunches in front of our sanctuary on Thursdays. 

Soon before the pandemic hit, Father Matt Stone arrived as Calvary’s 29th rector. Calvary embraced online worship services and has experimented with Morning Prayer and adult formation on Zoom. In the summer of 2021, Calvary called Dr. Justin West to be our first Director of Music Ministries, overseeing and leading worship in both contemporary and traditional styles. We are also leaning into our roots as a downtown church with events like our Concerts at Calvary series, Mardi Gras parade & party, and being a presence at downtown festivals and celebrations. Calvary is honored to have been a place to call home for generations and we hope to be a place for you to call home in your next chapter.