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| 2504: St Agatha's,
DeFuniak Springs, Florida, USA |
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Mystery
Worshipper: Preacher's Kid.
The church:
St Agatha's, DeFuniak Springs, Florida, USA.
Denomination:
The
Episcopal Church, Diocese
of the Central Gulf Coast.
The building:
The church, built in 1895, is Carpenter Gothic, the style of
many small churches built about the same time in northwest Florida.
It seats approximately 50 people and is the home of the only
true pipe organ in Walton County. The vicarage, built in 1889,
is located next door and is one of two identical frame Florida
vernacular houses that originally stood side by side (the other
having since been moved to a different location). The second
floor serves as the private quarters of the vicar and family,
while the first floor rooms and kitchen are shared with the
congregation, who use them as the parish hall.
The church:
The area has a strong Scots heritage and so is predominantly
Presbyterian. Historically, St Agatha’s has had a small congregation
(the parish was founded in 1890 with only three families) and
at times has been without a vicar. Currently it is an "aided
parish", classified as a mission. Notwithstanding its status,
it has a core of faithful congregants who participate in the
church and community and sponsor regular musical events, including
concerts on the organ and visiting artists and choral groups.
The neighborhood:
DeFuniak Springs is a town in northwestern Florida, the area
called the Panhandle. It was founded in 1881 by officials of
the Louisville & Nashville Railroad as an "end of the
line" resort community and named after the railroad's general
manager. The principal settlers were Scots from Virginia and
the Carolinas. The town was laid out in a carousel pattern surrounding
Lake DeFuniak, thought to be one of only two lakes anywhere
in the world that are perfectly round (the other being near
Zurich, Switzerland). The entire central portion of the town
is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, making
it one of the largest historical districts in the nation. The
old homes and commercial buildings have been beautifully restored,
and the area is rich in cultural and recreational attractions.
The cast:
The Revd Dr Sandra K. McLeod, vicar, officiated. She was assisted
by Melinda Henderson, sub-deacon, and Ms Alex Alexander, reader.
The date & time:
March 13, 2013, 6.00pm.
What was the name of the service?
Lenten Evening Prayer and Communion.
How full was the building?
Other than the altar party there were exactly 12 people.
Did anyone welcome you personally?
Everyone did!
Was your pew comfortable?
Yes, and padded too.
How would you describe the pre-service
atmosphere?
There really was no pre-service atmosphere. Everyone arrived
right on time and took their places with a minimum of conversation.
What were the exact opening words of the
service?
"Yours is the day, O God, yours the night."
What books did the congregation use during the
service?
The Book of Common Prayer.
What musical instruments were played?
None.
Did anything distract you?
The service was foreshortened for time, and thus a number of
pages were skipped. This led to "Turn to page so-and-so", something
that really annoys the Kid.
Was the worship stiff-upper-lip,
happy clappy, or what?
More to the right than the left. While not really "high" it
certainly wasn't "happy clappy". Perhaps "broad" is an appropriate
description. The peace was not passed except as a component
of the final benediction: "Let us go in peace to love and serve
the Lord" – but see below!
Exactly how long was the
sermon?
There was no sermon.
Which part of the service
was like being in heaven?
St Agatha's has an intimacy not found in many churches, and
certainly not in large ones. This is an historic encounter with
place and time .
And which part was like
being in... er... the other place?
The vicar retired to the sacristy without pronouncing the benediction.
One of the congregants had to fetch her back, whereupon she
gave the benediction and we departed "to love and serve the
Lord."
What happened when you hung around after the service looking lost?
We had Lenten supper provided by members of the parish.
How would you describe the after-service
coffee?
It was delightful, with everyone sharing experiences of the
week with each other. There was potato soup, salad, and an array
of deserts, the best of which was lemon icebox pie made from
locally grown lemons.
How would you feel about
making this church your regular (where 10 = ecstatic, 0 = terminal)?
9 – If I lived in the town it would have to be, because
it is the only Episcopal church in the town.
Did the service make
you feel glad to be a Christian?
Yes.
What one thing will you remember about all this in seven days' time?
The intimacy of the service among a small group. |
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