A Welcoming Faith Family on Pomerado Road

St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church sits on five acres of rolling ground on Pomerado Road in north Poway, an inland community in northern San Diego County. The parish has been known in the region for decades for its progressive Christian welcome, its joy-filled worship, its choirs and concert series, and a sweeping outreach program that reaches from Poway to Haiti. A banner stretched along Pomerado Road declares the church's signature message in plain words: All Are Welcome, No Exceptions.

Worshipers who arrive for the first time will find a wide campus with two main worship spaces, a chapel, an education and music building, a multi-purpose room, the parish hall, a columbarium on a hill, and a year-round preschool. The church is one of forty-four parishes in the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, governed locally by a vestry of twelve lay leaders, a youth representative, and the rector. The diocese is overseen by Bishop The Right Reverend Dr. Susan Brown Snook. Globally, the parish belongs to the Anglican Communion through its affiliation with The Episcopal Church.

From a Poway Living Room to a Regional Beacon

St. Bartholomew's traces its origins to a small gathering on May 24, 1959, when a group met in a Poway home to discuss forming an Episcopal church. The first service was held on February 28, 1960, when thirty people gathered for Evening Prayer in the old Poway News building, now the Hamburger Factory, with the Rev. Charles Condor officiating. In 1961, the church called its first vicar and in 1962 rented two storefronts in Old Poway, where a sign out front read, famously, "Liquor, Antiques, The Episcopal Church Welcomes You."

In 1968 the parish received the donation of the five-acre site where it stands today. The first service in the old Parish Hall drew 222 members. A major milestone came on March 17, 1975, when St. Bart's became a self-supporting parish church. The present sanctuary was dedicated five years later, with 601 church members on the rolls. The Susan S. Cashmore Columbarium, on the hill above the Parish Hall, was dedicated in 1993. In June of 2000, the parish broke ground on an education building to house the newly formed St. Bart's Preschool, the music department, the music academy, and conference rooms. The chapel was dedicated in August 2019 as part of a multi-year campus redevelopment. During the pandemic shutdown, Phase Two of that project redesigned the patio, expanded the upper parking area, added a new walkway to the columbarium, and reimagined the sanctuary interior.

Artifacts on the campus come from the early storefront church. The original baptismal font, once used as a planter, is decorated with eight tiles that depict the history of the parish. The altar area is framed by stained glass windows created by the Judson Studios of Los Angeles, renowned ecclesiastical artists since 1897. The windows depict the sacraments and saints of the church, including Elizabeth of Hungary, Augustine of Hippo, St. Bartholomew, and C. S. Lewis. The Christus Rex crucifix over the altar was made in Switzerland, and the bell in the campanile was given by the villagers of Alberto Olviata Mota, Mexico, in gratitude to the youth group and advisers from St. Bart's who drove down every month during the 1970s to deliver food and clothing.

A Campus That Stays Busy Seven Days a Week

St. Bart's describes itself as a 24/7 community gathering center. Weekend and weekday worship services, parish events, concerts, the preschool, two additional church congregations that rent space, community partners, recovery groups, and an all-gender Scout troop all share the campus. From the lower parking lot, visitors can climb the south-side stairs, or board the parish golf cart, affectionately called the Bartmobile, which makes regular Sunday pick-ups and drops passengers at the upper patio near the sanctuary. The upper lot includes fifty parking spaces reserved for disabled parking, visitors, weekday meetings, and preschool drop and pick-up.

The Susan S. Cashmore Columbarium on the hill behind the parish hall holds the remains of many former members. The Multi-Purpose Room, one of two patios, and the Education and Music Building are all available for parish and community events, and the Memorial Reception team hosts post-service gatherings on the campus after funerals.

Worship at the Table

Worship is the center of life at St. Bart's. The parish celebrates the Eucharist every Sunday and on major feast days, and all who come are welcome at the altar. The Book of Common Prayer is used in every service, and a printed invitation is read aloud from the altar rail: "This is the table, not of the Church, but of God. It is made for those who love God, and for those who want to love God more. So, come, those of us who have much faith, and those who have little; those who have been here often, and those who have not been here long; those of us who have tried to follow, and those who have failed. Come, because it is God who invites us."

Three Sunday morning and afternoon services make up the core weekend rhythm. At 8:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary, the congregation gathers for a prayerful and quiet Holy Eucharist with meditative music. At 10:00 a.m., the Sanctuary fills for a joyful and vibrant service with full choir, congregational singing, and Children's Chapel; this service is live-streamed. On the first Sunday of the month at 1:00 p.m., the parish brings Holy Eucharist to Casa de las Campañas, a senior living community on West Bernardo Drive in Rancho Bernardo, and on the second Sunday of the month, clergy and lay volunteers travel to Silvergate Rancho Bernardo on Avenida Venusto. Saturday's 5:00 p.m. Celtic Worship in the Chapel is a traditional Rite II Holy Eucharist inspired by Celtic ritual and music, with choral and instrumental leadership.

The Daily Office of Morning and Evening Prayer shapes the middle of the week. On Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 8:40 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., small groups gather in the Chapel for meditative prayer drawn from the Book of Common Prayer; Tuesday services are also offered on Zoom. On Thursdays at noon, the Chapel hosts a Healing Service, a prayerful worship gathering focused on God's healing presence. The parish provides downloadable daily guides for anyone who wants to pray the Daily Office at home, along with a PDF of the Book of Common Prayer.

Services are highly participatory. Vergers coordinate services and lead the procession; acolytes, lectors, lay Eucharistic ministers, ushers, greeters, the Flower Guild, and the A/V team each play a part. The parish invites newcomers and old hands alike to serve, writing that "whether you've been at St. Bart's for 30 years or 30 minutes, you are invited to explore serving in worship."

Music That Draws People In

Music is one of the parish's best-known gifts. The music ministry is led by Dr. John-Luke Addison, Director of Music and Liturgy, and Tim McLellan, Associate Director of Music, who also directs the Children's Choir School. The team includes Precentor Sean McCormac, Accompanist Dr. Seiran Sohn, section leaders Danielle Evans (alto) and Hannah Arevalo (soprano), and Handbell Director Anna Lettang.

The St. Bart's Music program hosts an annual concert series that has become a draw for music lovers across San Diego. Recent seasons have included large choral works, vocal chamber concerts such as the "Deep Resonance" Men's Voices concert, and a major spring production. The Music Department publishes a separate site at stbartsmusic.org.

The Choir School operates in conjunction with RSCM America, the Royal School of Church Music, offering children aged six to eighteen a well-rounded musical education. Choristers participate in warm-ups, repertoire practice, music theory, and periodic examinations; scholarships to summer chorister camps across the country are available. The Choir School rehearses on Thursdays from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. The parish's Handel's Messiah Sing-Along, presented each Advent in collaboration with the Greater San Diego Music Coterie, has become a holiday tradition for the wider Poway community.

Welcoming Children, Youth, and Young Adults

Children from birth through fifth grade are welcomed into a robust programming year during the school year. Godly Play meets on Sunday mornings from 9:00 to 9:45 a.m. in the Education Building, using the Montessori-based Godly Play storytelling method. At the 10:00 a.m. service, children are invited to Children's Chapel from 10:00 to 10:40 a.m., then return to their families at the Peace to receive Communion together. Parents Night Out, hosted by the Youth CREW with adult volunteers, is offered monthly for children aged three through thirteen; it includes games, dinner, a movie, and themed crafts, with freewill donations supporting the CREW's annual trip.

The Youth CREW (which stands for Continuously Riding the Eternal Wave) is the parish's middle and high school ministry. CREW draws young people from Poway, Rancho Bernardo, 4S Ranch, and Scripps Ranch, and connects them to diocesan programs across southern California. Sunday Youth Forum meets from 9:00 to 9:45 a.m. in the Youth Room with Curate Jacob Robling, using the re:form curriculum from Sparkhouse Publishing to ask hard questions of the Bible. Confirmation is offered over six to twelve months of study, with each youth paired with a sponsor and culminating in a ceremony with the bishop. Other diocesan touchpoints include an annual Camp Stevens Epiphany retreat for grades six through twelve, the High School Mission Trips (a three-year cycle including The Episcopal Youth Event, a Mexico trip, and an abroad trip), the Diocesan Convention youth program, and Nightwatch at St. Paul's Cathedral each March.

Young Adults in their college years, twenties, and thirties find a home in regular gatherings that mix study, service, and social life. The group has built houses in Mexico with project partners, hosted discussion series on current topics, and traveled for service together.

Formation for All Adults

St. Bart's frames Christian formation as "the ongoing process of growing in relationship with God, self, others, and all of creation." The All Adults ministry runs weekly Sunday Forums at 9:00 a.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room, where parishioners and visitors gather between services for coffee and discussion of parish, theology, and contemporary topics. Bible History classes, led by Deacon Bill Zettinger and Bob Capettini, meet on Zoom on Wednesdays from 10:00 a.m. to noon and draw participants from across the diocese, Chicago, and former members now living in England and Washington State; past sessions have covered Islam and the Qur'an, the Triune God and the Nicene Creed, and the historical Jesus.

Sacred Ground is a film- and readings-based dialogue series on race, grounded in faith. Small groups work through an eleven-part curriculum of documentary films and readings focused on Indigenous, Black, Latino, and Asian/Pacific American histories as they intersect with European American histories. Sacred Ground is part of Becoming Beloved Community, the long-term racial healing and reconciliation commitment of The Episcopal Church.

Education for Ministry (EfM) is a four-year program of the School of Theology at the University of the South, offered locally on Monday evenings in a small group with a mentor. Inquirers' Classes prepare adults for baptism, confirmation, reception into the Episcopal Church, or membership, and are also open to those simply curious about the Christian life. Men's and Women's Bible Study, Centering Prayer, Chair Yoga and Meditation, Daughters of the King, and small groups for book study, prayer, and fellowship round out the formation offerings.

An Outreach Footprint from Poway to Haiti

St. Bart's describes its outreach as well-known in the wider community. Working with a long list of partner organizations, the parish focuses on feeding people who are hungry, supporting people who are unhoused, and supporting educational programs for disadvantaged children, youth, and adults. Each Sunday morning, volunteers pick up fresh food from the San Diego Food Bank and Trader Joe's in Poway and deliver it to North Park, where 140 refugee families who have been relocated to San Diego County receive groceries every week. Sandwich Sunday, held on the last Sunday of each month after the 10:00 a.m. service, sends hundreds of sack lunches to Interfaith Community Services. Each Thanksgiving, parishioners fill more than 100 baskets with groceries for traditional Thanksgiving meals, which are delivered in caravan to families in transitional housing in Escondido. On Christmas Eve, the parish prepares and serves lunch to more than 100 unhoused people in City Heights.

For unhoused neighbors, St. Bart's provides partner funding that addresses immediate needs such as mail services, drivers' license applications, rent and car deposits, and access to showers and laundry before job interviews. Twice a year, volunteers team up with a local Lutheran church and Project Mercy leaders to build a house in a day for a family in Tijuana, Mexico.

The parish also supports educational programs with backpacks, school supplies, tutoring, mentoring, computer labs, and job-search training. In Loranette, Haiti, St. Bart's coordinated multiple mission trips, helped build a school through the Epiphanie School, and continues to provide support for feeding children, school uniforms, and teacher salary subsidies. The parish's scholarship programs, including the St. Bartholomew's Scholarship, the Brittany K. Stark Memorial Scholarship, the Lucille C. Heide Memorial Scholarship, and the Evelyn Wyatt Scholarship, provide financial aid to parishioners and community members pursuing higher education and vocational training.

The parish's outreach funding comes from two signature events: the annual St. Bart's Gala, held at the Country Club of Rancho Bernardo, and the annual Rummage Sale, a community event that recalls the energy of the St. Bartholomew's Thrift Shop, which for 53 years operated as a 5,000-square-foot retail store on Poway Road until its closure in 2019. A Free Farmers Market, launched in partnership with Trader Joe's in Poway, distributed 2,900 pounds of food in its first month of operation.

LGBTQ+ Allyship, Veterans, and Inclusion

St. Bart's has long made LGBTQ+ allyship a public commitment. For years the parish has flown its "All Are Welcome, No Exceptions" banner on Pomerado Road. The parish hosts an annual Pride Weekend that begins with Holy Eucharist, sometimes called "Mass in the Streets," before members march in the San Diego Pride Parade with other parishes in the diocese. Pride Worship Services are held each summer to honor and celebrate LGBTQ+ people past, present, and future.

The parish is also a designated Veteran and Military Friendly Congregation through the VMFC program, providing a community of support for veterans and their families and working to be a resource for those who may be hesitant to seek help through traditional avenues.

As a Safeguarding God's People parish, St. Bart's requires all clergy, staff, vestry members, and adults who work with children and youth to complete the Safe Church, Safe Communities training program of The Episcopal Church, renewed at least every three years.

Clergy and Staff

The Rev. Mother Nina Bacas serves as Rector. A third-generation native San Diegan and graduate of UC San Diego, she found her call to the priesthood in her husband Andy's home state of Virginia, where she earned degrees in Christian Formation and Anglican Studies from Virginia Theological Seminary. Before returning to San Diego, she led family ministries in the Diocese of Virginia and served as religion teacher and chaplain at two Episcopal schools. She participated in missions and pilgrimages to Haiti, Tanzania, Ghana, and Israel. She and Andy, who live in Rancho Bernardo with their two cats, have four adult children.

The Rev. Jacob Robling is Curate and Youth Minister, overseeing the CREW program, confirmation preparation, and many of the parish's youth and young adult offerings. The Rev. Isaiah Dau serves as a Priest Intern. The Rev. Frank Muñoz, a retired Navy chaplain and teacher, joined the parish as a non-stipendary Priest Associate. The Rev. Deacon Bill Zettinger serves as Deacon Emeritus.

The staff includes Claudia Gonzales as Office Manager, Joelene Showers as Bookkeeper, and Mike Jewett as Facilities Manager. The senior warden for 2026 is Jerry Gray, and Joseph Snodgrass serves as junior warden. Treasurer Annalisa Parker, CPA, oversees finances. The Vestry includes a youth representative, Michael Fanning, elected for a one-year term.

Annual Rhythms and Parish Traditions

The parish calendar is built around a set of beloved recurring events. The Zydeco Shrove Tuesday Celebration, held the Tuesday before Lent, features a New Orleans-style Zydeco Mass, a Cajun potluck, pancakes, Mardi Gras beads, and a king cake. During Lent and Advent, parishioners gather for Wednesday evening Soup Suppers, with a different parish ministry group providing soup, salad, and bread each week, followed by programming for adults, youth, and children, and closing with Compline or Evening Prayer.

St. Bart's Weekend, the patron saint's day celebration, fills the last weekend of August with meals, fellowship, and music. In October, the Blessing of the Animals welcomes pets of every kind into the Sanctuary and Chapel in memory of St. Francis of Assisi. The annual Poway Days Parade in September brings the parish banner and congregation down the streets of Poway. Trunk or Treat fills the parking lot on Halloween with decorated car trunks and candy. The Children's Nativity Pageant at the 4:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Service invites every child present, including visiting grandchildren, to walk on as angels and sheep.

The Annual Meeting, held at the start of each year, elects new vestry members and Diocesan Convention delegates and presents the parish budget. Lent and Advent study series, the parish retreat at Camp Stevens in Julian, and the parish's recognition as a Progressive and Traditional community, "preaching for today, timeless traditions," round out the year.

Weddings, Memorials, and Pastoral Care

The parish celebrates the Sacrament of Marriage for all couples. The Rev. Nina Bacas meets with couples to plan weddings and receptions and to walk them through premarital preparation, drawing on The Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage from the Book of Common Prayer.

Memorial services are described at St. Bart's as Easter celebrations. Clergy, staff, and the Pastoral Care team walk families through planning, including the choice of hymns, scripture, and poems, and reception options in the Multi-Purpose Room, in the sanctuary, or on one of two patios. Many members are interred in the Susan S. Cashmore Columbarium, with a service of interment that can follow immediately or be planned for a later date.

The Pastoral Care ministries include Lay Eucharistic Visitors who bring communion to those unable to attend worship, the Flower Guild which delivers altar arrangements to those receiving pastoral visits, Loaves and Fishes which provides meals for parishioners who are ill, recovering, or have a new baby, the Prayer Quilt Ministry, the Prayer Chain, and the Memorial Reception team. For pastoral emergencies, the parish maintains a dedicated line.

Becoming Part of St. Bart's

Membership at St. Bart's has two entry points: baptism and confirmation. Anyone who is already baptized can become a member by requesting a transfer from another church or by registering at St. Bart's. Adult baptism is a public commitment to follow Christ, and infant and child baptism celebrates God's unconditional love with parents, godparents, and the whole community. Confirmation is a season of study and reflection culminating in a ceremony with the bishop, and is expected for those who may wish to serve on the Vestry. Lifelong Episcopalians and those considering Christianity for the first time are both welcome in Inquirers' Classes. The parish's view is plain: "You belong already. Let's make it official."

Newcomers are invited to fill out a Newcomer Card, attend a Newcomer Brunch following the 10:00 a.m. service, join a small group, or sign up for a Ministry Connection form that matches them with worship, parish life, formation, outreach, governance, or building and grounds ministries. Giving to St. Bart's is offered online, by mail, by phone through the bookkeeper, and through stock or securities transfers. A planned giving program, the Legacy Society, recognizes members who make provisions for a gift to the parish in their estate plans. The parish operates with an annual giving campaign, a published budget summary, and a Proportional Giving Chart for members who want guidance on pledge amounts.