A Brief History of St. Richard’s Church

In 1956 the Rev. Paul Reeves, Rector of All Saints

Church, Winter Park, Florida, encouraged by his

Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Henry Louttit and led by the

Holy Spirit, embarked on the project establishing

a parochial mission. Members of All Saints whose

homes were generally north and east of down-

town Winter Park were approached and given

the opportunity to take part in this extension of

the church. On October 14, 1956, Father Frank M.

Brunton, Priest-in­Charge, conducted the first

service of the new mission in the auditorium of

Lakemont Elementary School. There were 39

persons present.

In a few months the budding mission accepted a

donation of property in the "New" subdivision of

Tanglewood from the developer and employed

Francis H. Emerson, AIA to draw plans for a

combination parish house-church. By June 30,

1957 the new mission installed the Rev. Christo-

pher Breese Young as Vicar.

Building Fund pledges permitted construction to

begin by the spring of 1958, and services were

held in the new building (the current St. Rich-

ard’s Parish Hall) by the end of the summer. In

November 1958 the new mission church provid-

ed housing for Father Young by purchasing a

Tanglewood home at 1816 Toy Lane.

The need for educational facilities was a mission

priority, and very soon plans were drawn for a

classroom building. In September 1959 construc-

tion began not only for Sunday school, but also

for a kindergarten known as St. Richard's Acade-

my. Later, the mission church changed the

school name to Bishop John D. Wing Academy to

honor a former bishop of South Florida.

At the Diocesan Convention in May 1960, the

Mission of St. Richard's was granted parish status

with Fr. Chris Young its first Rector. Shortly

thereafter on July 1, 1960, Fr. Young resigned to

join the Chaplain's Corps of the United States Na-

vy. The vestry called the Rev. Hollis Buchanan to

replace him. One memorable fact is that the in-

stallation ceremony for Rev. Buchanan was post­

poned because of hurricane Donna. In 1963 Mi-

chael Farrell, a grandson of parishioners, com-

pleted a triptych painting, “The Life of St. Rich-

ard in Trilogy” that was placed in the parish-

church building. The retouched painting is now

located in St. Richard’s Room. During the time

Rev Buchanan was Rector, the new church was

built. The church was dedicated on February 22,

1971, and worship services began in the new

building two days later.

Subsequently, the Rev. Barry R. Howe was called

to be Rector in October 1978. He was followed by

the Rev. Jonathan B. Coffey, Jr. in 1983 and the

Rev. Grayson B. Garvin in September 1989. The

Rev. Kevin A. Wyld became Rector in April 1999

followed by the Rev. Thomas A. Downs in Octo-

ber 2004. The current Rector, the Rev. Alison P.

Harrity, became Rector of St. Richard’s Church in

July 2011.

Clergy who have served during the transitions

include the following: The Rev. Ronald

Brokaw, Priest-in­Charge from September 30

through July 1, 1978 and The Rev. Watson Nie-

man, M.D. retired, served as Interim Rector

and as assistant to Fathers Coffey and Garvin.

The Very Rev Osborne Littleford, Dean Emeri-

tus, Cathedral Church of St. Luke, Orlando,

served as Interim Priest from January through

September 1989. The Rev. Richard J. Bow-

man was Interim Rector prior to Fr. Kevin

Wyld. The Rev. Leander J. Ecola, the Rev.

James P. Coleman, and the Rev. Canon Rob-

ert J. Vanderau, Jr. served as Interim Priests

prior to the current Rector, the Rev. Alison

P. Harrity.

Others called to the ordained ministry and

service at St. Richard's included the following:

Deaconess Harriet Holt English, Deacon Flor-

ence Biller, Deacon Ausburn (Burt) Price, Dea-

con Aileen Pallister Walther, and Archdeacon

Linda Brondsted. In addition, the Rev. Mar-

ion Thullbery, the Rev. Timothy Vance and the

Rev. Karen Anthony were all ordained at St.

Richard's.

In the early 1980's St. Richard's carried the

nickname of ''The Diocese of Tanglewood" be-

cause of the extensive list of clergy in the par-

ish family. They were as follows: the Rev.

Benton Ellis, former headmaster of Trinity

Preparatory School; the Rev. Thomas A.

Downs, former Canon to the Ordinary for

Bishops Folwell and Howe; the Rev. Robert

Miller, retired Canon for Christian Education,

Diocese of Chicago; the Rev. John Palarine, for-

mer Canon of Youth and Education under Bishops

Folwell and Howe; the Rev. Barclay Wilson; and the

Rev. Ronald Brokaw who is retired from association

with Trinity Prep School and has served under Bish-

op John Howe as Canon to Honduras, companion

diocese of the Diocese of Central Florida.

St. Richard's is recognized for many reasons, one of

which is its position as first in several areas. Florence

Biller was the first woman ordained to the perpetual

diaconate in the Diocese of Central Florida; Rebecca

(Becky) Wilson was the first woman to serve on a

vestry in 1967, and Peggy Gordon held the position

of Senior Warden for the first time in the Diocese.

Marion Thullbery joined the staff while she was a

seminary student and was ordained to the transi-

tional diaconate and the priesthood becoming the

first woman priest ordained in this diocese.

In the March1967 planning for the new church

building, Schweitzer Associates, Architects were

selected to develop a master site plan. Mr. Nils

Schweitzer, President of the AIA Committee on

Church Architecture and an Episcopalian and for-

mer student of Frank Lloyd Wright, designed St.

Richard's church as it stands today.

According to the special church bulletin for the

Opening of the Doors and Dedication on February

22, 1971, the officiant, assisted by the builders, laid

the stone engraved AD. 1970. After striking the

stone three times, the officiant said, "Here let the true

faith and fear of God, with brotherly love, ever

abide, and may this place now set apart with prayer,

and with the invocation and praise of the Most Holy

Name, be evermore the Temple of the Most High

God." Trumpets sounded, followed by "Praise ye

the Lord, because the foundation of the House of

the Lord is laid." The people shouted, "Alleluia, Alle-

luia, Alleluia!" The first service in the new church

was held on Ash Wednesday, February 24, 1971

The history of the music program reflects the dedi-

cation and talent of this parish from the first acquisi-

tion of a second hand piano to the memorial gifts of

a harpsichord. Many of the parishioners volun-

teered their talents on the piano or electric organ

through the 1970's. Mrs. Hazel Somerville was the

first fulltime organist and choir­ master. Later Mrs.

Ginny Koepkey joined the staff followed by Dr.

Bradford Gee as director of the music program. Mr.

Robert Miller, assisted part time by Mr. Fred Selph,

became organist and choirmaster following Dr. Gee.

After Mr. Miller, Geoffrey Shoffstall was director of

the music program. Dr. Carl MaltsBy is the current

Music/Organist/Choir Director.

The Visser Roland Pipe Organ dedicated in 1985,

the tympani drums, the handbell ringers, the youth

and adult Choir/Schola augment the ministry of the

music director and add a glorious dimension to our

worship.

Structurally the church remains as originally built,

but many refinements and appointments have been

added to enhance its beauty. The banners are repre-

sentative of the varied gifts of the congregation as

they adorn the walls. The Christian seasons of the

year are used at the altar at the appropriate times.

The original banners were designed by Betty Wolfe,

Cathedral Church of St. Luke. Margie Schilling and

Martha Ellis made the initial banners, and the nee-

dlework artistry of Mary Nan Johnson, Della Smith

and Carolyn Abdalla add to the beauty of the hang-

ings. The beautiful needlepoint kneelers were de-

signed under the guidance of Mrs. Martha Ellis and

completed by Marion Hanas, Dorothy Bare, Martha

Elllis, Ann Martin, and Nancy Peyton.

The Lady Chapel was placed in the northeastern

comer of the sanctuary in 1993 as a memorial gift

from Frank and Marion Lightbown in memory of

Christopher and Mark Lightbown. This area pro-

vides an intimate worship space for weekday and

special services.

In the 10 years since the 50th Anniversary of St.

Richard’s Church, additional refinements continued

for the buildings and grounds. Many refinements

were made thanks to the generosity of St. Richard’s

parishioners and friends and with proceeds from a

successful Capital Campaign held during the time

that the Rev. Thomas A. Downs was Rector.

These refinements included new carpeting in the

church, the renovation of the former preschool

building to expand office and conference room

space, upgrades to the parish hall, inclusion of the St.

Richard’s Room, the creation of the current nursery

room and the addition of a new roof. The beautiful

church memorial garden and fountain were addi-

tional improvements including the addition of a me-

morial brick walkway. The church also added a pet

cemetery on the church grounds.

St. Richard's Episcopal Church is truly the legacy of

many dedicated Christians who had visions for a

new mission in Winter Park. Members and friends

of the congregation were proud to participate in the

Consecration of the Church buildings and the mort-

gage burning in 1996.

Throughout the 60 years of history at St. Richards,

parishioners and friends have been part of and con-

tinue to participate in dedicated, life-changing minis-

tries. These ministries are offered mirroring the love

of Christ and with a grace and spirit respectful of the

dignity of all people.

Today, rejoice at the celebration of this Diamond Ju-

bilee Anniversary of St. Richard’s Church. Celebrate

the current church mission brought by the Rev. Ali-

son P. Harrity “to discover God’s grace and change

our lives and change the world.”

Updated October 2016

60 Years of Leadership

Bishops The Rt. Rev. Henry I. Loutitt 1956 The Rt. Rev. William H. Folwell 1969 The Rt. Rev. John W. Howe 1989 The Rt. Rev. Gregory O. Brewer 2012

Rectors

The Rev. Frank M. Brunton 1956

The Rev. Christopher B. Young 1957

The Rev. Hollis H. Buchanan 1960

The Rt. Rev. Barry R. Howe 1977

The Rev. Jonathon B. Coffey, Jr. 1983

The Rev. Grayson B. Garvin 1988

The Rev. Kevin A. Wyld 2000

The Rev. Thomas A. Downs 2004

The Rev. Alison P. Harrity 2011

Deacons

The Rev. Ausburn (Burt) Price 1980

The Rev. Florence Biller 1982

The Rev. John Poole 1996

The Rev. Aileen Pallister Walther 2004

The Ven. Linda J. Brondsted 1986, 2004

Organists and Choirmasters

Marian Honaas 1957

James Higbee

Amado Bobadilla 1974

Hazel Somerville 1980

Virginia Koepkey 1993

James B. Gee 1996

John R (Bob) Miller 2004

Geoffrey Shoffstall 2006

Carl MaltsBy 2012

Thanks be to thee, my Lord Jesus Christ,

For all the benefits thou hast won for me,

For all the pains and insults thou hast borne for me.

O most merciful Redeemer, Friend, and Brother,

May I know thee more clearly, Love thee more dearly,

And follow thee more nearly: For ever and ever.

Prayer of St. Richard of Chichester

St. Richard’s

Episcopal Church

The Rev. Alison P. Harrity 5151 Lake Howell Road, Winter Park, FL 32792-1095

(407) 671-4211, (407) 671-2028 - Fax rector@strichards.org www.strichards.org

St. Richard’s Celebrates Holy Eucharist on Sundays at 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.