We are fortunate to have two Episcopal Churches in the Verde Valley area. St. Andrew’s Church was originally a mission church intertwined with St. Thomas of Clarkdale. St. Thomas was founded in 1913 when Clarkdale was the hub of the thriving mining industry in the Verde Valley. In 1957 there were 12 members of St. Thomas who resided in Sedona and they made a decision to hold services there. In 1967, a priest was appointed to serve as the Vicar of the Episcopal Church in the Verde Valley and the two churches shared a rector and a vestry until 1989, when we lovingly separated with the blessings of the Bishop. Since then, St Andrew’s has grown into a vital parish under the leadership of succeeding priests.
St. Andrew’s church was built in 1977 by faith, volunteer labor and donations. The Blanche Henderson Garden, located between the church and the parish hall, was built as a memorial to one of St. Andrew’s charter members and leads to the Columbarium Chapel which was completed in 1979. The garden, with its shade trees and water feature, is a peaceful spot for honoring our loved ones, meditation or just relaxing.
Vestry
2026 Diocesan Convention Delegate:
Rick Baker
Designated Alternate:
Tracy Egeness
Clergy & Staff
Fr. Vincent Caranchini, Priest in Charge
Father Vincent Caranchini joined St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Sedona as their new Priest in Charge on September 1, 2026. He began this ministry of leadership after working with the community of St. Andrew’s as a deacon and as a seminarian. He succeeds Bishop Kirk Smith, the former Episcopal Bishop of the Diocese of Arizona, who acted as Interim rector.
Some members of the congregation describe Fr. Vincent as a man of deep faith, wisdom, and artistic talent. He is committed to building upon programs of spirituality, music, art, and service, which are a hallmark of St. Andrew’s ministry and outreach to the region.
Vincent is a Chicago native from a Polish-Italian Catholic immigrant family. He is passionate about promoting the justice of the Gospel, rooted in prayer and worship, and expressed through ministry and education. He is experienced in retreat work, spiritual direction, and social services, with extensive experience in education and administration in higher education.
The Rev. Caranchini is also a tenured Associate Professor in the School of Art + Design at Northern Arizona University. He completed his M.Div. at The Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley, CA. He also holds a BFA in Fine Arts from the Chicago Art Institute and an MFA from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. He has been an educator in the fine arts and design for 25 years, working as a professor and administrator. His strong interest in liturgical spaces and religious art has driven his work as an educator and artist. Vincent’s artmaking practices are related to sacred space and iconography and have been exhibited in national juried and selected shows. His homiletic writings are included in the National Episcopal Church’s Sermons that Work series.
Vincent and his spouse, Greg Bruce, currently reside in Flagstaff. They enjoy traveling to see art and architecture in the United States and abroad. They are very grateful for this opportunity to serve St. Andrew’s and the greater Sedona and Verde Valley region.