West Palm Beach, Florida
In 1952, the area around Vedado Park was a quickly developing neighborhood with new houses being built and young families moving to the area. Holy Trinity Episcopal Church was asked by the Diocese of South Florida to begin a new Mission to serve this growing community and appointed a committee to begin organizating. The
Vestry Committee, chosen by the late Reverend James Stirling, Rector of Holy Trinity, consisted of Henry W.
Hall, Richard B. Alexander, Robert B. Tylander, Thomas Suddath, and William Setchel. This endeavor would later become the Church of the Holy Spirit which was begun in 1952 as a Mission of Holy Trinity Church, West
Palm Beach, Florida.
The first services were held in the Hillcrest Vedado Clubhouse on November 22, 1952. The congregation numbered 26 adults and 24 children. Services continued to be held at the Clubhouse under the direction of the
Reverend John Moore, an Assistant Priest at Holy Trinity. Each week all that was needed for worship was brought to the clubhouse: chairs, kneelers, prayer books, and communion vessels; all of which had been donated by other churches. This was literally a ‘church on wheels’. In fact, that is how the church got its name, the
Holy Spirit was truly evident in providing for the needs of this dedicated group.
By vote of the congregation, the name “Church of the Holy Spirit” was chosen. The membership, numbering
49 adults and 48 children, informed the Right Reverend Henry I. Loutitt, Bishop of the Diocese of South
Florida, of their desire to become an organized Mission. Holy Spirit was chartered in September of 1953. The
Reverend J.R. (Knox) Bromby was called as the church’s first Vicar and later, its first Rector.
Property for the church was given to the greater glory of God by Mrs. Annie Beach, a long time member of
Holy Trinity Church. In September of 1953, Bishop Louttit officiated at the laying of the cornerstone of the
Parish Hall. This space was constructed in great part by members who would work laying blocks in the evenings and weekends. It is said that many of the blocks in the walls are reinforced with beer cans.
On November 22, 1953, the first service was held in Beach Hall, the current parish hall, in honor of Mrs. Annie
Beach. By that time, there were 83 communicants and 74 baptized children. The building served for two more years as Sunday school, sanctuary, and fellowship hall. The Mission family proved productive as increasing numbers of children spurred construction of the south wing for Sunday school rooms and parish offices. This wing, completed in 1954, was named the Richard B. Alexander Wing, for the father and grandfather respectively of Nancy Cochrane, Gail Steinmetz, and Debbie Miller-McCray.
The original Rectory, directly east of the present sanctuary, was begun earlier using Father Brumby’s G.I. loan privilege. Throughout its construction, it served to help house nearly 200 Sunday school children.
Plans for the present nave were prepared by architects Hal and Emily Obst. In 1954, the Vestry instituted a professionally directed building fund drive to build the new sanctuary. With pledged funds from members, outside gifts, and a sizable mortgage guaranteed by signatures of some forty pledging members, construction was begun. Work was completed on this final phase and the church was dedicated in a colorful ceremony attended by close to 1,000 parishioners and friends on March 8, 1959. Holy Spirit had grown to include 450 confirmed adult members.
There are many truly unique aspects of the design and construction of the nave. The Christus Rex dominates the nave and is a constant reminder that Jesus Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords and the Lord of our lives. The marble free-standing altar is a wonderful symbol of community as the Celebrant faces and includes the congregation at the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. Finally, the circular altar rail, constructed by Gordon
Riddick in his backyard workshop, offers the opportunity to be present with one another as we share in the bread, and wine which make us one.

In December of 1959, Father Brumby accepted a call to a congregation in Daytona Beach. The Vestry then called the Reverend Peter F. Watterson from Avon Park. Under the guidance of Father Watterson, a large piece of property with a house on the corner of Parker Avenue and Allendale Road was purchased and became the
Rectory.
During Father Watterson’s tenure from 1960 to 1977, Holy Spirit knew both growth and decline. In 1977, under Father Watterson’s leadership, a majority of parishioners voted for Holy Spirit to withdraw from the
Episcopal Church. Many of the long time members of Holy Spirit did not approve of this action and left Holy
Spirit for other Episcopal churches in the area. Also, during this time, the airport’s buyout of the land south of
Holy Spirit in the Hillcrest area had begun, and many more families were moving from the neighborhood. The decision by Fr. Watterson and his supporters to disaffiliate with the Episcopal Church began a precedent-setting law suit over the ownership of the property.
For seventeen months, a small group, supported by the Diocese, worshipped between the services at St.
Christopher’s Episcopal Church in Haverhill. Canon Walter Neds drove from Miami on Sunday mornings to conduct services. At the end of a bitter court battle, the church properties, and certain funds collected during the hold out by the dissidents, were returned to Holy Spirit’s tiny congregation. It was a happy day in March 1979 when those 13 faithful parishioners were once more “at home” on Allendale Road.
In 1979, the Reverend Paul Rasmus came as Rector of Holy Spirit. An Air Force veteran of the Vietnam War,
Father Paul had served as Assistant to the Reverend, (later Bishop), Calvin Schofield at St. Andrew’s Episcopal
Church in South Miami. Old and new members came to join the spiritual and physical resurrection of the
Church of the Holy Spirit.
After approximately seven years of ministry, Father Paul Rasmus left in the spring of 1986. Growth continued under the spiritual direction of the Reverend Eugene Wise who came to Holy Spirit in June 1986 from St.
Andrew’s Church in Lake Worth, Florida. He guided the congregation until he received a call from Tennessee in December 1991.
For seventeen months, Holy Spirit conducted an extensive search process for a new priest. On August 1 st , 1993, the Reverend Hallock Martin began his ministry as the fifth Rector of Holy Spirit.
In 1995, the name ‘Church of the Holy Spirit’ was changed to ‘Holy Spirit Episcopal Church’.
It is said by many that Holy Spirit is a special place. Like many of its members, Holy Spirit has survived much over the years, from schism to hurricanes. Today, the congregation remains strong, continuing to focus on
Christ and His call to share the love of the Gospel. One of the true graces of Holy Spirit Episcopal Church is that it is a place of healing and welcome. Many ‘refugees’ from other churches have come to this blessed place.
Through God’s grace and the love of the parish, they have known healing and a renewed spirituality.
Holy Spirit is a community that accepts and joyfully embraces diversity, being inclusive in all areas, including ethnicity, culture, and orientation. The Parish is currently moving into 18 years of stable clerical leadership, with a strong, shared ministry of clergy and laity. One of the secrets to that shared ministry is the Cursillo movement. Up to 80% of the congregaton has been involved with Cursillo and it has created, and sustained, lay leadership. The congregation has been very active in the Cursillo movement raising eight Rectors, male and female, a multitude of team members, Rollistas, a Diocesan Lay Director, and the current Diocesan Spiritual
Director. In that same period, three persons have been raised up and ordained to Holy Orders; the Rev. Denise
Hudspeth and the Rev. Donna Hall to the priesthood, and the Rev. Bob Sullivan to the Diaconate.
Holy Spirit is a community in which God is worshipped with praise, thanksgiving, and great joy! It is a glorious community of faith to call “home”. Thanks be to God!