“Saint Barnabas, a man filled With faith and the Holy Spirit”

In 1966, the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles established a Preaching Station in Borrego Springs called St. Barnabas. It was later abandoned but reestablished by the San Diego Diocese of San Diego in 1974 when a retired priest, Rev. Robert E. Lenhard, known as the “Desert Priest”, took up residence in Borrego Springs. By 1975 services were held in private homes of the small congregation. In June of that year the first service in a church was the Holy Eucharist, celebrated on St. Barnabas’ Day, at the Medodist Community Church.

In 1976 consent was given to St. Barnabas to become a Mission in the Diocese of San Diego. In the same year St. Richard’s Catholic Church invited our Mission to hold services in their church. In the following years By-Laws and budgets were adopted, the Women of St. Barnabas was formed, outreach programs were started and then thoughts began to build a church on ground donated to St. Barnabas by the Methodist Church and DiGiorgio-Burnand-Kuhrts holdings. By the end of 1984 there was a groundbreaking ceremony with Holy Eucharist following at St. Richards. The Vestry plus an architect in the congregation began drawing up plans, working with San Diego County for permits and other agencies and by January 1986 construction began. The church and Parish Hall were completed in June 1986. The church office was added at a later date.  The first service held in the new church was held in September 1986 and the consecration was held January 4, 1987.

During the following years services were conducted by visiting priests in the Diocese and from Canada.  Around the year 2000 the Vestry concluded that St. Barnabas should have a full time priest. The Right Reverend Alex Nagy became our first full time Priest in 2001. During his tenure with St. Barnabas we became a Parish. In 2008, +Alex and his wife decided to move to Vancouver. The Vestry formed a Calling Committee and by 2010 Reverend Laura Brecht became our Rector.
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We welcome visitors to “Share the Love of Christ” with us. So if you are in Borrego Springs please stop and visit our beautiful church, relax in our Memorial Garden, feel the Spirit while walking our Labyrinth and even have a picnic in the Palapa.  

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