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Prepared by the Rev. Canon John W. Thomas, Diocesan Historiographer and
Archivist of the Diocese of Southwest Florida.
The following are excerpts from Rev. Thomas' article.
1763-1783: Florida territory under English control. Bishop of London licensed 9
clergy to function in area. First Anglican house of worship was St. Peter's in
St. Augustine.
1783-1821: Florida under Spanish rule.
1821 & on: United States took possession of Florida.
1831: Bishop Bowen of South Carolina consecrated Trinity Church in St. Augustine.
1838: Bishop Kemper of Missouri and Indiana consecrated Christ Church in Pensacola.
1838-1-17: Diocese of Florida organized.
1851: First Bishop for Florida consecrated. He was the Rt. Rev. Francis H. Rutledge, rector of St. John's, Tallahassee,
1860-1865: Civil War.
1892: Diocese of Florida divided and Missionary District of Southern Florida created by General Convention.
1932: Missionary District became self-supporting and is admitted to the General Convention as the Diocese of South Florida.
1932-1950: One million people moved into South Florida.
1969-1970: Diocese of South Florida divided into three separate dioceses: Central Florida, Southeast Florida and Southwest Florida. Bishop Hargrave elected Diocesan of Southwest Florida.
1975: Bishop Paul Haynes became Diocesan Bishop.
1988: Bishop Haynes died prematurely due to a sudden illness.
1989: Bishop Rogers Harris of Upper South Carolina became the third Bishop of Southwest Florida.
1991-1996: Retired Bishop of the Dominican Republic, Telesforo Isaac, became Assisting Bishop to help Bishop Harris.
1997: Very Rev. John B. Lipscomb became the fourth Diocesan Bishop
(please click on photos for enlarged versions)
1996: Land purchased at the Southwest Corner of Lakewood Ranch Blvd. and Route
70.
Rev. Jack Kline took over the project along with a steering committee.
Deacon Phil Davis came in to assist. First service held Dec. 7, 1996 in the D.A.V. Hall.
1997: Dedication of the Manasota Mission Church and the property on Jan. 18.
1998: Fall Convention of the Diocese of Southwest Florida recognized the
Manasota Mission
as an Organized Church named St. Mary Magdalene. Late in the
year, Rev. Kline retired prematurely due to ill health. Rev. Gayle King came in
as the interim rector.
1999: Rev. Jim Williamson became the new rector in early May. Late in the
year,
ground clearing occurred and the beginnings of our new church emerged on
the property at the corner of Route 70 and Lakewood Ranch Blvd.
2000-6-25 St. Mary Magdalene dedicated and consecrated.
2005-1-02 Fr. Jim Williamson leaves St Mary Magdalene replaced by Fr. Wes Wasdylce
2005-05 Fr. Wes Wasdylce leaves. Replaced in June by Mother Michelle Robertshaw who left in August 2006.
2006-10-8 Fr Jim Hedman's first Sunday as Vicar
2007-02-25
Fr Jim Hedman instituted as 4th Vicar of Saint Mary Magdalene by Bishop
coadjuter elect Dabney Smith.