Rector
-
The Rev. Frank Cooper
Admin
Assistant -
Adele Armitage
Youth
Education Director -
Candi Ellis
Altar
Guild -
Charlene Lilly
Flower
Guild -
Carol Crain, Martha Cooper, Sarah Greenwell
|
The
Vestry Staff - 2008
Senior Warden:
Gail Smith
|
|
Junior Warden:
Jane Whitney
Commissions
|
|
|
|
Finance - Long-Range Planning and Annual Financial Budgets
|
|
|
Fellowship & Hospitality - Foyer Groups, Coffee Hours, Church Meals,
Home Support, Greening of Church
|
|
|
Adult Christian Education
|
|
|
Outreach & Evangelism - Outreach, Annual Fundraising Event, Evangelism
|
|
|
Stewardship - Education, Motivation, Annual Tithe Campaign
|
|
|
Youth Christian Education - Acolytes, Nursery Supervision, Youth Music,
Education
|
|
|
Membership, New Member Ministry
|
|
|
Buildings & Grounds - Security, Landscaping, Building Maintenance
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
History of Christ the King
Christ the King Episcopal Church actually began in 1985
as the South Walton Bible Fellowship, a south Walton group of Episcopalians who were members of St. Andrews Church in nearby
Destin, Okaloosa County. They would meet on Sunday evenings at the Episcopal Fishers of Men Retreat facility for informal
Bible study and fellowship.
The group quickly grew and the
need was recognized for an Episcopal church in south Walton County. A meeting was held with the Arch-Deacon of the diocese
and tentative plans were implemented. Services were held on alternate Sundays and were conducted by the Rector and Curate
from St. Andrews.
Christ the King was recognized
as a Mission Station by Bishop Charles Duvall on Easter Sunday, 1986, thus marking the first new Episcopal Church in Walton
County in 100 years. Fr. Jack McLeester became Priest-in-Charge and Lance Hughes was appointed Warden by the bishop.
In 1988, using land that had been
purchased by St. Andrews on Highway 98, the new congregation built a doublewide modular structure to a custom design so that
it could serve as a church and offices. Fondly called “St. Doublewide” by the parishioners, it served the parish
for 10 years. (The structure is currently being used by a new Lutheran congregation.) With the retirement of Fr. McLeester,
Fr. Carl Bright became the Rector in 1990 and remained with the parish until his retirement in 2003.
A gift of 15 acres of heavily wooded land was given to the
parish, and on September 14, 1998, the new church was consecrated
by Bishop Charles Duvall. It sits at the end of a long,
winding driveway surrounded by a forest of majestic pine
and magnolia trees. Elegant in its simplicity, the church
is a classic board and battens Carpenter Gothic building,
and is often referred to as “The Church in the Wildwood”.
A covered walkway links the church
to the Sandefur Hall and then continues around to a separate building that houses classrooms, nursery, and the Hughes Library.
Lush gardens of azaleas and camellias fill the spaces surrounding the buildings. Standing in the courtyard known as “Gahagan’s
Garth” is a lighted fountain.
We are proud to have come from
“St. Doublewide” to what is widely considered the most beautiful church in the area, truly a church in the Wildwood.
Christ the King at Present
MEMBERSHIP
Christ the King has 220 Baptized members and 162 active confirmed members. We maintain communication,
however, with approximately 365 parishioners and friends due to seasonal fluctuation in attendance from vacationers and winter
residents. Sunday attendance averages 140 and we routinely celebrate in excess of 158 Holy Eucharist’s annually. In
a typical year we perform 4 Baptisms, 10 Confirmations, and over 20 other special services.
WORSHIP
Christ the King has two services on Sunday mornings: Rite I at 8:00 and Rite II at 10:30 A.M. Other
special occasions, such as house blessings and wedding anniversaries are also recognized and celebrated. Ecumenical services
under the auspices of the South Walton Ministerial Association have become yearly celebrations on Good Friday and at Thanksgiving.
Holy Week services usually include the Stations of the Cross, foot washings, and stripping of the altar. Every Wednesday evening
at 5:30 P.M., we celebrate the Eucharist with a Healing service and discuss the upcoming Sunday Bible readings; choir practice
immediately follows.
MUSIC
Music and congregational singing play a vital role at the 10:30 service. Traditional selections with
occasional renewal music are sung during the service. We are fortunate to have a very talented organist/ choir director who
organizes and leads ecumenical seasonal cantatas and concerts with members from surrounding area churches. Christ the King
also offers the church for locally sponsored philharmonic concerts and other solo instrumental performances.
SERVICE GUILDS
Organizations such as the Altar
Guild and Flower Guild of St. Theresa offer members the opportunity to serve and participate in the church community. Currently
we have no acolytes.
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
Christian Education for adults
and children include a study at 9:15 A.M. on Sundays between services. Women conduct their Bible Study class on Monday mornings
at 11:00 A.M., followed by Noon Day prayer. Men’s group meets for breakfast and Bible Study on Friday mornings. Intercessory
Prayer group meets at 4:30 P.M. on Wednesday afternoon.
OUTREACH
Christ the King has always opened the doors of its facilities to outside groups for regular meetings,
social and music events. We are involved in our community through a number of outreach projects, and 33% of our total operating
income is given to outreach programs.
About the Area
Santa Rosa Beach, in the South
of Walton County, Florida, is the home of Christ the King Episcopal Church. Santa Rosa Beach is one of the famous “Beaches
of South Walton” that has been repeatedly listed as being among the best beaches in America. The unique soft white sand
beaches that extend into the Gulf cause the water to be a beautiful emerald color for several hundred feet until the depth
of the water increases and the water becomes a deep blue. The Gulf coast from Pensacola to Panama City Beach is called “The
Emerald Coast.”
The church is located midway
between the Gulf and Choctawhatchee Bay.
The Bay is 30 miles long
and 3 miles wide and is fed from a watershed of inland rivers and the Gulf at high tide. Access to the Gulf from the bay is
possible at East Pass in Destin, 15 miles from the church. A constant stream of boats cruises between the bay and gulf because
Choctawhatchee Bay is part of the Gulf Intercoastal Waterway that extends from Brownsville, Texas to Boston, Mass.
There are unique features
to our land and seascape. First, an oddity in the Gulf, called the 100 fathom curve, brings deep water closer to shore than
any place in Florida and has resulted in the largest charter fishing fleet in the state with record breaking catches of various
billfish and grouper among the many species landed every year. Second, the Coastal Dune lakes that dot the coastline are so
rare they are found only in Walton County and in remote portions of Africa.
Our area boasts an ideal
climate of chilly winters (30’s-50’s); mild and beautiful springs and autumns (40’s-70’s); and quite
hot summers (80’s-high 90’s). The majority of our days in each season see clear blue skies and different flowering
varieties of desert and forest flora.
The Emerald Coast has become
a major tourist destination with spring and summer being the primary seasons. Also, an increasing number of visitors come
to our area for the winter, and many attend our church for several months each year.
South Walton
is an interesting mix of dense coastal development and rural forested areas. Census figures show a year round population of
about 35,000; but the influx of more than 100,000 tourists has resulted in an array of fine restaurants, varied shopping opportunities,
and a budding market for the visual arts. The result is a low key, small town atmosphere that is mingled with areas of cosmopolitan
flair.
Okaloosa-Walton Community College in nearby Niceville boasts a fine arts program with
emphasis on the visual and performing arts. A modern performing arts center hosts a large 1700 seat concert hall, where a
steady stream of varied entertainment opportunities are offered, from the college supported symphony orchestra to musical
theater and full dramatic stage productions by touring professionals and local performers.
The Walton County School
District has 15 schools. Near the church are a kindergarten center, an elementary school, two middle schools and one
high school. The nearby Okaloosa-Walton Community College has just been designated a four year college and will offer
programs leading to a Bachelor's degree as well as the current Associate degree programs. A satellite campus is to be
constructed during the next two years within three miles of our church.
Additional information may be found at the following
sites:
Top of Page
|
