As we look forward to 2030 and imagine the possibilities for St. John the Divine to be A Light for the City — a place and people that serve as a beacon of God’s love, welcome neighbors into our faithful community, and go forth into Houston to bear the gospel for the sake of others. Now, it’s time to let our light Shine Forth more brilliantly than ever before to strengthen our foundations, grow our membership, and enhance the ways we can serve our city.
After a months-long process developing a much-needed Master Campus Plan and a new Strategic Plan (SJD 2030), it became clear that our campus requires significant improvements to fulfill this vision. So we have quietly launched a capital campaign to raise $55 million to fund these improvements, with a parish-wide launch planned for the beginning of 2026.
Join us to Shine Forth by:
Praying for God’s continued guidance.
Sharing the vision with others.
The Campus Master Plan design is complete and approved by the vestry, allowing the project to move into the detailed design phase. This current stage is expected to take approximately 14 months and will result in final construction documents ready for submission to the city for permitting. The permitting process is anticipated to take around 8 months. If all proceeds as planned, groundbreaking could begin as early as the Fall 2026. Construction is projected to take 20 to 22 months, with full project completion targeted for the third quarter of 2028.
The plan includes both new spaces and the renovation of some regions of the existing campus. On the first floor, construction will include a new dedicated modern worship space, a new fellowship hall, a coffee shop, a bookstore, and a grand gallery. On the second floor, we will have a new open mezzanine gathering area, a new chapel (moved from the basement), and a new parlor, while the classrooms and offices will be renovated. A new third-floor area will be dedicated to youth, featuring classrooms and gathering spaces, including large media rooms for high school and middle school students.
To meet city requirements, we need 152 parking spaces on our expanded campus. Since constructing an underground parking garage is not feasible, the only viable option is to build surface parking where the Julia Garden currently stands. However, since the North Lawn falls under the jurisdiction of River Oaks Property Owners, we cannot utilize it for commercial purposes, which a parking lot is defined as.
The Julia Garden offers a beautiful natural setting for our Church—a serene space for reflection and gathering. Our vision is to preserve the spirit of the garden while relocating it to the North Lawn, where it will be expanded to include inviting gathering areas, winding pathways, lush landscaping, and elegant hardscape elements. We have currently engaged a leading landscape design firm to bring this new vision of the Julia Garden to life.
Yes, we plan to add 44 surface parking spaces, increasing the total from 113 to 157.
No, we have decided not to construct an underground parking garage during this phase of the project. Given the substantial cost involved, we are prioritizing our budget to build new facilities and enhance our existing spaces. We plan to add ample surface parking to meet the city’s parking requirements. In Phase 2 of the project, we will evaluate the possibility of adding a parking garage or additional parking spaces.
During different phases of construction, access to our campus will be limited. However, we will ensure that access to the Church, Chapel, and Hall Life Center remains uninterrupted throughout the entire construction project. We are collaborating with our construction partner, Tellepson, to determine the precise timing of the access disruptions to our campus.
We plan to add 7,500 square feet of new basement space directly below the new modern worship building. With this added space, we will have new music and creative teams' rooms, offices, and classrooms, as well as additional storage and an expanded mechanical room.
At this stage, we estimate the total project cost to be approximately $55 million. However, this figure is subject to change since the design process is still in its early phase. Factors such as the unpredictable impact of tariffs may affect overall costs, making contingency planning a key priority. We are committed to informing parishioners as the design evolves and cost estimates are refined.
None - the Episcopal Diocese of Texas does not fund the construction or refurbishment of buildings on parish properties.
You can email the project director, David Humphreys, or submit a form with your question.