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 [email protected] www.strichards.org
St. Richard’s Celebrates Holy Eucharist on Sundays at 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.