Melbourne
Florida
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Holy Trinity Episcopal Church
Mission Statement:
To know Christ and to make him known
History:
In the 1880's, the first families to settle in Melbourne were mostly of English background and members of the Episcopal Church. Early church services were held in a store. Eventually, a parishioner from Connecticut presented property and cash for a church building in South Melbourne. The famous theologian, The Rev. William P. DuBose, officiated at the first service in the building in 1886. In 1895, the building was moved by barge to a more central location on Highway US 1. Holy Trinity was declared a parish in 1949.
In 1953, when the then Rector, The Rev. Alexander Boyer envisioned tremendous growth in the area because of the start of the Space Program, the present site on Strawbridge Avenue was purchased. This allowed for the addition of the sanctuary, seven class rooms, a living room, two offices, and a kitchen. The classrooms were used for Christian Education on Sundays, and by an over- crowded school system during the week.
In 1958, five classrooms were added and Holy Trinity Parish Day School opened. Five years later, the Episcopal Church Women funded the move of the original church structure to the Strawbridge Avenue site. The building is now our chapel and has been dedicated as an Historic Landmark of Brevard County. Father Boyer retired after 25 years as rector. In 1980, The Rev. William G. Lewis, then Archdeacon of The Diocese of Pittsburgh, was called to lead the parish. He oversaw the addition of new offices, a second living room, a library and the purchase of a nearby house which became The Episcopal Counseling Center. The Parish Day School grew to over 400 students during this time.
In 1998, The Rev. Dr. Dabney T. Smith was called to be Rector. While honoring the past and anticipating the future, the congregation, under his leadership, experienced renewed vitality and growth. Lewis Hall was acquired in 1999, and in the fall of 2001 a capital campaign was initiated and successfully completed. It will, in the long term, provide funding to expand all Church facilities. The first step in that direction, the remodeling of Lewis Hall, was completed in the fall of 2003.
To know Christ and to make him known
History:
In the 1880's, the first families to settle in Melbourne were mostly of English background and members of the Episcopal Church. Early church services were held in a store. Eventually, a parishioner from Connecticut presented property and cash for a church building in South Melbourne. The famous theologian, The Rev. William P. DuBose, officiated at the first service in the building in 1886. In 1895, the building was moved by barge to a more central location on Highway US 1. Holy Trinity was declared a parish in 1949.
In 1953, when the then Rector, The Rev. Alexander Boyer envisioned tremendous growth in the area because of the start of the Space Program, the present site on Strawbridge Avenue was purchased. This allowed for the addition of the sanctuary, seven class rooms, a living room, two offices, and a kitchen. The classrooms were used for Christian Education on Sundays, and by an over- crowded school system during the week.
In 1958, five classrooms were added and Holy Trinity Parish Day School opened. Five years later, the Episcopal Church Women funded the move of the original church structure to the Strawbridge Avenue site. The building is now our chapel and has been dedicated as an Historic Landmark of Brevard County. Father Boyer retired after 25 years as rector. In 1980, The Rev. William G. Lewis, then Archdeacon of The Diocese of Pittsburgh, was called to lead the parish. He oversaw the addition of new offices, a second living room, a library and the purchase of a nearby house which became The Episcopal Counseling Center. The Parish Day School grew to over 400 students during this time.
In 1998, The Rev. Dr. Dabney T. Smith was called to be Rector. While honoring the past and anticipating the future, the congregation, under his leadership, experienced renewed vitality and growth. Lewis Hall was acquired in 1999, and in the fall of 2001 a capital campaign was initiated and successfully completed. It will, in the long term, provide funding to expand all Church facilities. The first step in that direction, the remodeling of Lewis Hall, was completed in the fall of 2003.