843.785.4711
St. Andrew By-The-Sea

Our Campus

Our campus is on the south end of beautiful Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. The only United Methodist Church on the Island, St. Andrew is conveniently located near Hilton Head’s resorts, the beach, and the Island’s gated communities. We are approximately fifteen minutes from Bluffton, South Carolina, and one hour from Savannah, Georgia. Our campus is comprised of four buildings: the Administrative/Church Office, the Celebration Center, Epworth Children’s Home Office, and the Sanctuary. Starbucks is conveniently located next door.

Sunday services at 9:00 am (traditional), and 11:09 am (modern).

Our Purpose & Mission

Purpose

To grow a welcoming community where people of all ages and stages on their faith journey can come to experience the love, grace, and compassion of Jesus Christ. Provide various worship and other spiritual growth opportunities communicating the Gospel to inspire and encourage a deeper understanding of God while developing relationships with each other, leading to service locally and beyond.

Mission

St. Andrew By-The-Sea United Methodist Church is an open, nurturing body of Christian believers seeking God’s guidance as we minister to others.

Leadership & Staff

Rev. Jonathan Tompkins
Senior Pastor
Rev. Frank Lybrand
Associate Pastor
Lois Chandler
Director of Administration
Connie Borgianini
Director of Christian Education
Bruce Gale
Director of Music
Paula Refice
Financial Administrator
Diane Bollerman
Nursery Coordinator
Bryan Dobbs
Streaming and Technical Coordinator
Luis Solis
Site Superintendent

2024 Church Council + Key Leaders

Sarah Coffin, Church Council Chair
Norm Argast, Church Council Vice-Chair
Andi Argast, Council Recording Secretary
Joe Kerr + Melissa Wagner, Lay Leaders
Connie Borgianini, Nurture
Rebecca Jones, Outreach
Kathy Wilcox, Witness
Kim Likins, SPPRC Chair
Bob Dietz, Finance Chair
Jeff Herriman, Treasurer
Bruce Siebold, Endowment Chair
Floyd McKeag + Michael Tucker, Trustee Chair/Vice-Chair
Lorena Best, Communications Chair
Wendi Klahr, Christian Ed/Formation Committee Chair
Tom Sharp, Soup Kitchen Coordinator
Toney Mathews, Scholarship Committee Chair
Bryan Dobbs, Tech Coordinator

Communications Committee: Julie Chalpan, Lesley Kyle, Lois Chandler
Endowment Committee: Bruce Siebold, (Endowment chair), Bob Dietz (Finance chair), Sarah Coffin (Church Council chair), Michael Tucker, Karen Kirby, Sherry Conrad
Finance Committee: Jeff Herriman (Treasurer), Norm Argast, Craig Christensen, Melinda Tunner
Nominations + Leadership Development Committee: Tricia Rawls, BeJe Anderson, Bob Williams, Nick Mihelic, Lee Polhill
Scholarship Committee: Joyce Flowers, Dale Conrad, Karen Bostian, Jody Levitt
SPPRC Committee: Clark Sprang, Chris McKeag, Rick Coffin, Lynda Castle, Dave Peterson, Maddie Tucker
Stephen Ministry Leaders: Bill Putnam, David Peterson, Nancy Biel, Merryl Dietz
Stephen Ministers: Kathy Wilcox, Joe Kerr, Karen Bostian, Cathy Grove, Pam Denlinger, Lesley Kyle, Brenda Armstrong
Tech Team: Jim Phillips, Kerry Tilden, Edward Tompkins, Tripp Nicol, Nick Nicholson
Trustee Committee: Graham Silcox, Kerry Alexander, Bob Gentzler, Toney Mathews, Bob Oetjen, Kerry Tilden

Our History

A complete history of the church has been compiled in loose-leaf binders housed in the Boyd Library in the Admin/Education Building.

Click the arrows to scroll through our history.

1969

The congregation gathered at the site for the proposed church on land donated on Pope Avenue by Charles Fraser of the Sea Pines Company with the condition that a church worth at least $50,000 be built within three years.

1971

The church building was begun after much fund-raising including shrimp dinners, oyster roasts, and even plane rides. It was slated for completion that same year. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on March 7, 1971. It was completed in October and the first service was on October 24.

1973

The United Methodist Women was organized in November and established in January ‘74.

1976

Dr. John Wood Robison became the second minister: The Carolinda Robison Sunday School Class was named in honor of his wife.

Island artist Wayne Edwards was retained to design a stained glass cross for the sanctuary as well as a communion table and other chancel appointments. The first VBS was held in the summer and the first pictorial directory was published.

The Rev. M. Cooper Stonestreet became the third minister and the first Fall Festival was held.

1980

Groundbreaking ceremony for new education building was held May 4.

1981

Two octaves of handbells were donated to create the first handbell choir.

1983

The Outstanding Church Woman of the Year award was established by the UMW.

1984

St. Andrew celebrates the Bicentennial of the Methodist church & creates a quilt under the direction of member Peggy Eaton.

The Rev. Harold P. Lewis becomes the fourth minister. A parsonage is built at 16 Crooked Pond Drive in Hilton Head Plantation. “Islanders Cook for Company” cookbook published by the UMW.

1986

A charge conference was held to select a building committee that would make recommendations for a new sanctuary, modify the existing sanctuary into a fellowship hall, and change the administrative offices and Sunday School areas.

1987

Groundbreaking for the new sanctuary was held on July 19. Approximately $934,000 was pledged for a capital campaign.

1988

June 12 – Consecration Day for the new sanctuary. A charge conference was held regarding a proposal to purchase 1.6 acres including a 3000 sq. ft. building adjacent to our parking lot. The old sanctuary becomes the Fellowship Hall. The Rev. Michael Baughman becomes the Associate Pastor.

1991

Library reactivated by Dot Boyd, Chairperson. (The library was later renamed the Boyd Library).

The Rev. Douglas A. Bowling was appointed as the fifth minister.

1993

25th Anniversary celebrated.

1994

A Stephen Ministry program is begun with 11 Stephen Ministers & leaders commissioned. The stained glass cross is moved to the current Sanctuary. The St. Andrew By-The-Sea Endowment is chartered in August.

1995

Needlepoint Altar Cushions were dedicated in June after 7000 hours of work by 25 women.

1996

St. Andrew By-The-Sea Counseling Center is created. The center’s mission is provide to counseling, support, and educational opportunities in the caring environment of a Christian church. St. Andrew adopts a new church “logo”.

1997

Second UMW cookbook was published called Islanders Cook for Company Again. Ruehling Prayer Garden was dedicated in July.

1998

English as a Second Language classes have begun to assist the island’s new Hispanic population.

1999

A Parish Nurse program is initiated as the congregation focuses on mind & body.

St. Andrew purchases land at Cherry Point in conjunction with the SC Annual Conference for the new Church of the Palms in Okatie. St. Andrew sponsors the first Community Thanksgiving meal at Hudson’s restaurant. Our church buildings are used by four different congregations.

2000

Dr. E. David Du Bois was named as a part-time Associate Pastor. A building committee is approved at a special charge conference to act on recommendations of a long-range planning committee to expand our educational, administrative, and fellowship facilities. The UMYF receives a first-place award at YAC for raising the most money for the Youth Service Fund with their Flamingo infestation. New Chrismon Tree adorned Sanctuary. St. Andrew earned the Bishop’s 5-Star Award for Excellence in Evangelism Ministry.

2001

The Rev. Willie S. Teague was appointed as the sixth minister. The congregation approved the construction of the Celebration Center, not to exceed 2.4 million dollars. A youth mission team sailed to Andros Island in the Bahamas for our first International Mission trip. Upward Basketball begins with David Boudolf as the first leader.

2002

Groundbreaking ceremony for the Celebration Center was held February 10, 2002. On October 25, 2002, a stained-glass window designed by Lou Ellen Beckman of Greenville was installed in Christ Chapel, and other appointments were added including banners, paintings, and pottery. A Prayer Quilt Ministry was introduced. The Teagues participated in a Pastor Exchange by going to England and we host The Mann family.

2003

Three new octaves of handbells were dedicated on February 15. A Consecration Service and brunch with 500 in attendance were held on March 23, 2003, for the Celebration Center. On June 28, St. Andrew dedicated its first Habitat House at 4 Quinn Court in Bluffton. The church offers Upward sports programs to our congregation and community.

2004

The Rev. A. Clark Jenkins was appointed pastor in June following the Rev. Willie Teague who was appointed the Director of Connectional Ministries of the Annual Conference.

2005

The church enacted a lease of the former Youth Center allowing it to birth The Sandbox: an Interactive Children’s Museum. Stained glass windows, in memory of the Boyds, are installed in the library. Adult Mission team goes to Billy White Belize and another responds to Hurricane Katrina on the Gulf Coast. The Rev. Jimmie A. Morrison was hired as Associate Pastor in December.

2006

A UMW member is named to a national Women’s Division mission team to Zimbabwe. Relational Ministries and lay visitor teams are organized.

2007

Estill Middle School is adopted in response to the Bishop’s call to be part of the solution in the “Corridor of Shame.” The Rev. Neil M. Yongue Jr. is appointed in June as the 8th pastor of St. Andrew.

2008

On June 29, the congregation celebrates the 40th Anniversary of the church with a single service at 10 am and a brunch for 360 people in the Celebration Center. The founding pastor, Milton McGuirt, preached and the Bowlings, Teagues, Carolinda Robison, and DuBois families traveled to be with us.

2012

On May 27, 2012, 500+ pipes, a Zimbelstern, and 4 wind chests are added to our digital organ and dedicated in memory of Patricia Graves, mother of our organist Debby Graves. The pipes are purchased from a California dealer and trucked across the country.

2014

After several years of planning by our congregation and the SC Annual Conference, and following the appointment of The Rev. Daniel Burbage to St. Andrew By-The-Sea in June of 2012, St. Andrew launched a multi-site campus, with the first weekly meeting held at the University of South Carolina’s Bluffton location on February 9, 2014. Preview services leading up to the launch included “Christmas Eve under the Stars” in 2012 and 2013. 
St. Andrew is the first church in the conference to launch a multi-site extension. In June, the church purchases 10.01 acres on Buckwalter Parkway for a future campus. In addition, the Pope Avenue sanctuary chancel is remodeled.

2016

A vacated bar at 39 Persimmon Street #203 is transformed into the new Bluffton Worship and Ministry Center to serve the “Bluffton Campus” until we can build on our land at Buckwalter. Rev Daniel Burbage commissions Charlie Hannah to make a cross from one of the bars that is removed. Dedication Sunday is February 28.

2019

Easter Sunday, April 21 at 7:00 am, St. Andrew By-The-Sea marked its 50th sunrise service at Coligny Beach. Rev. Milton McGuirt officiated at the first service on the beach in 1969. Several thousand now attend each year. The Church Council unanimously resolves to name a new speaker series sponsored by the Missions Committee and Bridge Builders leaders in honor of Dr. Julius Scott, Pastor Emeritus of St. Andrew By-The-Sea. This semi-annual program shall be known as the Dr. Julius Scott Lecture Series. The Bluffton Campus begins live streams in August. Rev. Dr. Robin Dease is appointed as 9th minister to St. Andrew. Rev. Frank Lybrand (ret.) joins the pastoral staff part time as an associate pastor.

2020

In March, streaming begins at the Hilton Head Campus just one week before worship goes entirely online amid the Covid-19 pandemic. No in-person services are held.

2022

The Bluffton Campus congregation separates from St. Andrew and the Methodist Conference. Rev. Burbage remains as pastor of the new independent church now called The New Bluffton Worship.

2023

Rev. Jonathan Tompkins is appointed as the 10th minister. This following the months when associate pastor Rev. Frank Lybrand stepped in as interim senior pastor to fill the gap when Rev. Dr. Robin Dease was unexpectedly elected Bishop to the North George Conference in 2022. The building formerly rented by the Sandbox Children's Museum, is now occupied by Epworth Children's Home Foster Care Program and embraced as a ministry of St. Andrew. A new church logo is adopted. A parsonage at 11 Persimmon Place on Hilton Head is purchased.

2024

A new modern style service is initiated at 11:09 am on Sundays; the 9:00 am service remains in a traditional format. St. Andrew welcomes 18 confirmands in April. The property on Buckwalter Pkwy in Bluffton is sold to Beaufort County and the Town of Bluffton. The website is updated with a fresh new look.

Directions

Care to visit our church? Worship with us!

Use the interactive Google map on the left to explore our location or see our address and phone number below.

Address: 20 Pope Ave., Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
Phone Number: 843.785.4711