Fr. Cannon Jesse F. Anderson, Jr
Sixteenth Rector (1991-2001)...

Jesse F. Anderson, Jr. was the son of St. Thomas’ 14th rector the Rev. Jesse F. Anderson, Sr. and Elizabeth “Penny” Jackson Anderson. He was born in New York City, reared and educated in Philadelphia. Jesse Anderson Jr. grew up in St. Thomas and graduated from Lincoln University (PA) in 1958 and received his Master of Sacred Theology degree from the General Theological Seminary, New York City in 1961. He was ordained Deacon and Priest in the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania in 1961. He served as curate under the Rev. Paul M. Washington at the Church of the Advocate where he was tasked with working with gang members in the surrounding neighborhoods. He served in the Diocese of Washington, DC as Urban Missioner and Associate Rector at St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church from 1966-1973. Fr. Anderson, Jr. served as Vicar of the Chapel of St. Philip the Evangelist from 1973-1985. In addition to his parish ministry activities while in Washington, D.C. he worked as an Adjunct Professor at Southeastern University and as Deputy Director of the Office of Youth Opportunity Services for Mayor Walter Washington. Fr. Anderson, Jr served as Rector at St. Monica’s in Hartford, CT where he spearheaded the development of a long term care facility, senior citizen housing facility, condominiums, community life center and a multi-purpose church facility from 1985to 1990.

Fr. Anderson, Jr. served in Washington, D.C. as the Chair Person, Vice President and President of the local chapter of the Union of Black Episcopalians (UBE). From 1973-1975, he served as the third National President of the Union of Black Episcopalians. During his tenure he covered an extremely troubled period in the life of the young organization. The conservative forces within the Church that were challenging the UBE became entrenched and the strategy conflicts between the older and younger black clergy intensified. In 1989 The Rev. Canon Edward B. Rodman, UBE chronicler wrote a book titled: Let There Be Peace among Us; A Story of The Union of Black Episcopalians.

In it he stated that “Much credit must be given to the Reverend Jesse F. Anderson, Jr. who was President during the critical transition period. His leadership covered a downward slope enthusiasm for the Union as the many second thoughts people had about our work took their toll. It was Fr. Anderson Jr.’s perseverance and faithfulness to the vision that kept the UBE alive when its counterparts in other denominations were beginning to fall apart. His sensitivity to the needs of the organization, and his commitment to evangelism were exactly the right ingredients needed at the time to get us over the hump. Without his hanging in there, we would have never made it to Louisville, and this history would never have been written.”

In 1991, Fr. Anderson Jr. became the 16th Rector of the Historic St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Philadelphia, PA. He moved the congregation from the 52nd and Parrish Streets site to its current location. He renewed the parish with the incorporation of his Liberation Mass into the liturgy. Afro-centric depiction of Christ and the formation of the St. Thomas Gospel Choir.