The following story is far from complete.  It is, as it were, a work in progress so please be patient as it is completed.  The information has been collected from a variety of primary sources (church bulletins, meeting minutes, and archives) and from anecdotal sources (interviews, lore, and stories).  I am indebted to the work of Gerrye West who compiled a history in 1978 on the occasion of the church's 25th anniversary.

Any inquiries can be addressed to the author: RMoses@StDavidsLakeland.com.   

The Orange Groves - I remember the orange groves

While the orange groves are long gone, their memory stands strong in the minds the founders.  It was in a small clearing in the midst of these groves that on May 16, 1953, a small congregation, led by the Rt. Rev. Martin J. Bram, celebrated the ancient ground-breaking ceremony called The Bounding of the Close.  “Oh, and Mary Ellis,” continues the founder, “perched on the Phillip’s flat bed truck with that old pump organ.  We stood beside her – in the choir.” Mary Ellis Smith began the ceremony by pumping a small foot-powered organ, the fledgling congregation marching in procession around the boundaries of the projected church site, singing as they went.

it never rained on sundays

The story began on Palm Sunday, March 28, 1953 when the creation of new mission parish was made known by the Rev. Clifton H. White, rector of All Saints Episcopal Church in “downtown” Lakeland.  The mission was a natural result of the rapid growth seen in Florida since the end of World War II.  With Lakeland city and the Episcopal Church therein growing, a new church seemed prudent.  Bishop Bram thus wielded a shovel in the symbolic breaking of the ground.

Some forty worshippers were invited to move to the new church, most living in the new southern neighborhoods.  The Rev. Edward H. Manning, curate of All Saints, was appointed vicar for the new mission.  While the church was being built, the new congregation would worship through that whole summer amidst of the grove.  “Oh, no,” recalls a founder, whose family donated the land “it never rained on Sundays – at least not until the church was built.”

The first building on the grounds was dedicated on September 13, 1953, by the Rt. Rev. Henry Louttit, Bishop of South Florida.  For some years, this building would remain multi-purpose, the main room reserved for worship with two side rooms offered for coffee fellowship and nursery care.  The surrounding grove would provide space for other functions.

Music was a source of great joy to Fr. Manning and so it was appropriate that when Father White asked him to name the new church, he christened it St. David's patron of the music-loving people of Wales.  Having been born to a princely family, David forsook his wealth and position to carry the gospel to the Welsh countryside.  It is said of St. David that he bore such a prophetic voice that the ground on which he preached would rise to form a mountain and white doves would settle on his shoulders.  Some 100 churches in Wales alone bear his name.

Fr. Manning was, by all accounts, a man of sound teaching and of no mean musical talent.  Under Fr. Manning’s tenure no fewer than six groups being formed in his two years as rector.  As well, Fr. Manning would help to found an Altar Guild, a chapter of the Episcopal Church Women, and a Service League, mainly for the young adults.  “And, of course, there was an adult choir, for music has always been important at St. David’s.”  Fr. Manning would resign his post in February, 1955.

The parable of the talents

During the interim the vestry would petition the bishop for diocesan parish status.  The bishop granted the request on June 1, 1955, without St. David’s having a standing rector.  Afterwards, in August, 1955, the Rev. Donald Barrus took up residence at St. David’s.  By this time the church was very active and growing quickly, especially its younger ranks - many young family moving to Florida in the late '50s.  With the growth came many needs. 

A $48,000 construction project completed a church addition which included space for a library/adult classroom, a youth study room, and a children’s Sunday school.  A children's chapel was also established, complete with a small white altar with gold cross, candelabra, and child-sized white pews.  A parish office and reception space was added soon after.  A day school, later to be called Lads and Lassies was opened in 1957.  Under the direction of Jean Warneke, the school would serve the church until 1976.

The building and innovations would, of course, cost money.  While much of the labor and skill were contributed by members, a lot still was necessary.  The Men's Club would embark on a most unique and successful project modeled after the parable of the talents.  Each man was given ten dollars by the church treasurer to invest, using his particular talent, and, at the end of one month, each man reported the amount of return he had realized.  The men enjoyed the endeavor and raised enough to tile the floor of the sanctuary, the nave, and the education rooms.

Two new permanent staff positions would also be created during Father Barrus's tenure:  parish secretary (held by Virginia Smith from 1957) music/choir director (held by Eric Berg from 1959).  Father Barrus resigned his post in June, 1960 to accept a position at Holy Trinity in West Palm Beach.

I am a soul, I have a body

Supply clergy would fill the void until September when a stroke of good luck brought the Rt. Rev. Wallace E. Conkling, retired bishop of Chicago, to Lakeland and into service at St. David's.  Bishop Conkling had come to St. David's expecting to stay only a few weeks but would end up assisting every weekend for over a year.  Bishop Conkling would give St. David's a certain stability, allowing a smooth transition while it searched for a permanent rector.  It was during his time at St. David's that the Daughters of the King would be founded here - subsequently the St. David's chapter would be named for Bishop Conkling.  Many who were children during his tenure might remember his Sunday School classes:  A tall, bespectacled man in cleric robes striding up and down the aisle leading the class in reciting, "I am a soul, I have a body" or teaching the children how kneel 'painlessly' in prayer.

It makes st. david's very much distinguishable

In September, 1961, The calling committee finally announced the hire of the Rev. Peter Wallace Fleming.  Father Fleming would be well remembered for it was under his tenure that St. David's reached a new height in attendance, activity, and awareness.

A Lakeland native, who had been serving a parish in Jessup, Georgia, for the past few years, Fr. Fleming was noted as being a solid teacher open “to new ideas,” yet he was also remembered as “quite traditional.”  He was said to be one who could “hold the stage,” having a “flair for the dramatic” and he knew how to “throw an event.”  Using his noted musical talent, Fr. Fleming was often seen at the piano at the Lakeland Yacht and Country Club, a crowd of fans listening intently.  Under Fr. Fleming’s tenure St. David’s reached a new height in attendance.  In terms of leadership, Fr. Fleming is fondly remembered as leading with decisiveness and “running the church with military precision.”

In 1964, recognizing the growth of Lakeland and of St. David’s, Fr. Fleming ordered a full church survey to be undertaken with the purpose of building a new sanctuary and classroom space, converting the old sanctuary into a social hall.  On October 16, 1966, after the sale of some church property, ground was broken, Bishop Louttit again presiding over a congregation gathered on the boundaries of the site.  The new church, at a cost of $165,000, was dedicated on the First Sunday of Advent, December 3, 1967.  The new church was unique in architecture, being the only church-in-the-round present in the area.  “It made Saint David’s very much distinguishable.”

Not only the new building, however, St. David's growth required the need for the hiring of new staff.  In 1963, the first assistant rector was brought on board.  A retired Chicago priest, Fr. Garrard would die after just nine months at St. David’s.  However, in late 1964, a recent seminary graduate would come on staff, being ordained at St. David's in November.  The Rev. Robert Brown was remembered especially for his ministry to the aged and ill.  Parishioners recount how he visited the nursing home daily for morning prayer and came every Sunday for Eucharist.  Fr. Brown would leave a year later for the Church of the Good Shepherd in Lake Wales.  Two other assistant rectors, the Rev. Randall Chase and the Rev. Robert (Buck) Merritt, would come to St. David's during the rectorship of Fr. Fleming.  A further staff move was made in 1970 with the hire of Agnes Hicks as the first full-time Director of Religious Education - a post she would hold until 1976.

More coming soon