The Brotherhood of St. Andrew was founded in 1883 at St. James Episcopal Church in Chicago. In the following 175 years, the brotherhood has grown both in the United States and around the world. Local chapters are associated with either Episcopal or Anglican parishes.

The Brotherhood of St. Andrew is founded on the premise of three disciplines:

• Discipline of Prayer: To pray daily for the spread of Christ's kingdom, especially among men and youth, and for God's blessings upon the labors of the Brotherhood.
• Discipline of Study: To study the Holy Scriptures regularly and the teachings of the Church, to attain a better understanding of how to follow Christ and bring others into his kingdom.
• Discipline of Service: To make continuous efforts, week by week, to bring others nearer to Christ through his Church.