Atwater is located north of Merced, just off Highway 99, and is the location of Castle Air Force Bas. The community has all the strengths and weaknesses that come from such a realtionship. Efforts to form an Episcopal congregation were made as early as 1960, but met with no permanent success. Movement of military personnel, who comprise such an important part of the congregations membership, made it impossible at the time.
In January, 1979, another beginning was made, with the encouragement of Bishop Rivera and the Rev. Edward Murphy, Rector of Merced. Others had encouraged this project, too. At the February 27 Vestry meeting, three men, members of St. Luke's who lived in Atwater, resigned in order to become a part of the nucleus of the new mission. They were Mike Bogan, Tom Dandy, and Norman Vaughn-Hulbert. St. Luke's donated vestments and altar linens; members gave money to help; when the church was finally built, St. Luke's also gave pews. This was the third mission St. Luke's has helped start. It was about a year before St. Luke's own budget was restored, but it was seen as "investment in mission", not a loss.