St. Agatha's Episcopal Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. Agatha's Episcopal Church
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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St. Agatha's Episcopal Church, 2008
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 Location in Florida
Location in the United States
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| Location | 144 Circle Drive DeFuniak Springs, Florida, |
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| Built | 1896 |
| Architectural style | Carpenter Gothic |
| Part of | DeFuniak Springs Historic District (ID92001048) |
| Added to NRHP | August 28, 1992 |
St. Agatha's Episcopal Church is a historic church located in DeFuniak Springs, Florida. It was built in 1896 and has a unique design called Carpenter Gothic. This style uses wood to create beautiful, detailed shapes, often with pointed arches, like you might see in a stone cathedral. The church is an important part of the DeFuniak Springs Historic District, which is a special area with many old and important buildings.
Contents
History of St. Agatha's Church
How the Church Began
In the late 1880s, a bishop named Edwin G. Weed visited DeFuniak Springs. He found three families who were part of the Episcopal church. From these few families, the idea for St. Agatha's Church was born. The very first baptism for the church happened in a private home in 1890.
Building the Church and Early Services
Construction of the church building started in 1895. When Easter came, the women of the church really wanted to have services in the new, unfinished building. They asked the men to lead a special morning prayer service. The men said no because the church building was not yet officially dedicated, and no one in the church was allowed to lead services.
But the women were determined! They decorated the unfinished walls with flowers and green plants from the floor to the ceiling. Then, they went ahead and read the morning prayer themselves. This was a very bold step, especially since women were not usually allowed to lead services back then.
Unique Features and Repairs
St. Agatha's Church has the only pipe organ in the entire county. A member of the church built this special organ, and it was finished in 1990.
Over the years, the church building started to show its age. Some parts of the wood began to rot, and the foundation was damaged by rain. Even the beautiful stained-glass windows started to bend.
Bringing the Church Back to Life
From 2000 to 2007, the church received help from the state to restore its original outside appearance. They also made other repairs inside the church and to the nearby Parish House. The church was celebrated again on December 9, 2007, after all the hard work was done.
Community and Future Plans
Even though St. Agatha's Church is small, with about 30 to 40 people attending, it is very active. In 2011, church members were able to buy a house next to the church. This house is now used for church meetings, classes, and even as a place for special training for future church leaders. This historic house also needs some repairs, and the church is working to get help for that. St. Agatha's is still an active church today.
See also
