Church of the Good Shepherd

The Anglo-Catholic Parish of the Episcopal Diocese Of Upper South Carolina

Welcome to Good Shepherd

If you long for a loving community
of Christians ...

If you believe the Bible is the
inspired Word of God ...

If you enjoy traditional
Anglican choral and
organ music ...

The Church of the Good Shepherd
is just what you're looking for.


We’re small enough that you can get to know everyone and become involved in any ministries that interest you — but large enough to have the best in choral music, a vibrant mission ministry and an inspirational worship space with uplifting liturgies.

We are people of prayer and people of action, worshiping together in a place where we are comforted and a place where we are also challenged.

We embrace an ever-changing world with a never-changing Gospel...

We are young and old, newcomers and lifelong members of this parish, a welcoming home for Christians from all backgrounds — Anglican, Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant and Evangelical.

We are the Anglo-Catholic parish of the Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina, and we would be honored to have you worship with us.

The Church of the Good Shepherd is the spiritual home for people from all walks of life who gather to celebrate the Catholic faith in the Anglican tradition.

picture of Narthex Stained Glass of the Good Shepherd

What brings us together is reverential worship, characterized by outward and visible expressions of the devotion in our hearts. The Eucharist unites us as a community of Christ and gives us strength to go into the world to do the work God has given each of us to do.

The Church of the Good Shepherd, chartered in 1883, is an unusually traditional parish within the Episcopal Church, a parish that still walks in the paths of Anglican belief and practice. We trace our beginnings to the Oxford Movement, which sought to counter the secularization of the Anglican Church, focus on Christian service and recall the Church to its heritage of apostolic order and the Catholic doctrines of the early Church fathers. We are committed to upholding and propagating the historic faith and order of the Catholic Church as set forth in the Anglican tradition and in unity with the Anglican Communion.

We are a liturgical church, which means we worship together in a consistent and formalized manner, observing the seasons of the traditional church year and employing the liturgies and rituals of our rich Catholic heritage. We seek through our liturgies, music and community to provide a worshipful experience that fills hearts with the love of Christ, enriches minds and inspires us for Christian service.

We provide opportunities for prayer, study, reverence, charitable service and social interaction for all ages, as we strive to fulfill Jesus Christ’s command in Matthew 25:40 that we serve the least of these among us.

  • Sacramental worship centered on the Eucharistic Feast
    • Low Mass at 8 on Sundays and at 12:05 on Wednesdays and Thursdays
    • Solemn High Mass with incense, Sanctus bells and traditional Anglican choir at 10:30 on Sundays
  • Youth and adult Sunday school classes and periodic study classes at 9:30 on Sundays
  • Eucharistic Adoration in St. Mary’s Chapel at 9 on Sundays
  • Rosary in the library at 9:30 on Sundays
  • Confession by appointment
  • Christian fellowship groups for youth, young adults, career-aged adults and seniors
  • A beautiful historic church conveniently located on Blanding Street in Columbia’s downtown historic district

The Rev. Dr. James F. Lyon IV, Rector