“A joyful occasion!” is how members of St. Michael’s, Lexington, and other friends describe the celebration of the Rev. Andrew Mepham’s 50^th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood on Saturday, October 19. Mepham retired to Lexington, Kentucky, in 1990, where he has been active as a supply priest throughout the Diocese of Lexington. Days before the anniversary celebration, he and his wife, Florence, were active participants in the Bishop’s Conference on Mission — living examples of the ongoing passion for ministry that has marked their long careers.

St. Michael's presented Florence and Andrew Mepham with a toy boat representing the cruise they will be taking.

Joining Mepham as con-celebrants for the celebration were the Revs. Johnnie Ross, Bruce Boss, Anisa Cottrell Willis, Albert Brooks, John Madden, John Dews, Sandy Stone and David Boyd. In his sermon, Ross, rector of St. James’, Prestonsburg, said “(Andrew) very directly charged me to remember that ‘this celebration is not about (him), and neither should my sermon be about (him).’ My knee-jerk reaction was to quote from today’s 1st lesson which directs us to ‘Honor physicians for their services, for the Lord created them...’ But upon deeper reflection, I realized that Andrew was right. Tonight is not just about him, I thought, it is about all of us together and the God we are called to worship. For we have all in some way been touched by this physician turned priest, and as a result, we have felt the hand and the very presence of God.”


Father Mepham then. . . and now.

“It was lovely to celebrate Andrew’s 50 years of ordained ministry,” said the Rev. David Boyd, rector of St. Michael’s. “The service he helped design was a celebration of ministry of all orders in the church.”

A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Mepham holds a B.S. in chemistry and psychology from the University of Pittsburgh, an M.D. from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, and an S.T.B. from General Theological Seminary in New York City. From 1958 to 1963, he did graduate studies at Oxford University in England and served as the chaplain at Littlemore Psychiatric Hospital, and National Secretary for Medical Students, the Student Christian Movement of Great Britain and Ireland.

Clergy friends joined in con-celebration at the anniversary Eucharist.

Ordained a priest on St. Luke’s Day, October 18, 1952, at Holy Trinity Church in Houtzdale, Pennsylvania, he served as a monk at the Anglican Benedictine Order of the Holy Cross from 1964 to 1968, professor of Pastoral Theology and Systematic Theology at General Theological Seminary at St. Andrew’s Seminary in Mexico City. On July 8, 1971, he was married to Florence Evelyn Thomas, with whom he has shared ministry for 31 years, “completing both our vocations,” says Florence.

He served as rector of St. Thomas Church in Wharton, Texas; Episcopal chaplain at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas; vicar of St. Michael’s, Grove, Texas; Episcopal chaplain at Prairie View A&M University, and St. Francis’ Episcopal Church, Prairie View, Texas, before retiring to Lexington. From 1990 to 1996, he served at St. James’, Prestonsburg, twice a month, and from 1996 through the early 2000s, served at St. Alban’s, Morehead, twice a month.

Father Mepham is pictured at St. Andrew's Seminary, Mexico City, with Bishop Jose Saucedo in 1968.

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