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| Saint Raphael's Church in Fort Myers, Florida is an Anglican Episcopal denomination parish that dates back to 1951. We are a small parish in an island resort community. We welcome visitors and hope you find a home here. Follow this link to Words of our Faith, a helpful compilation of words and terms commonly heard in an Episcopal or Anglican church.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS |
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Sunday Church School: St. Raphael's Sunday School is open to all children. It is available during the Sunday morning worship time. Parents please let the ushers know you want your child to attend. Ms. A.J. Bassett is our School Director.
Taize Healing Service: We quietly gather for a candle light, contemplative prayer and healing service. The service consists entirely of scripture readings, Taize chants, and periods of silent personal prayer. The power of the Holy Spirit is palpable during each of these moving healing services. Prayer teams are available for those who wish to be joined with intercessors.
> A Special Invitation from the People of Saint Raphael's Anglican Epsicopal Church to clergy families who have suffered loss and trauma. Please click here to see the invitation in detail:
- UPDATE UGANDA MISSION: Father Ben Tumuheirwe was with us several times in 2007 to update us on the exciting working going on at Juna Amagara in Uganda in their efforts to safeguard and educate the orphans! Please click on our OUTREACH button to find a link to their impressive website and learn how you can continue to support the critical work that Father Ben and his team is doing in Uganda
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Saint Raphael's now is set up to accept electronic giving via Electronic Funds Transfer, Bank Debit Cards, and even major Credit Cards. Please click on the E-Giving link at the left to set up your private, personal account and begin giving to the Church without having to write out checks or carry cash about! We will also have customized pew cards so that , if you wish, you can document your e-giving and place the 'receipt' in the collection plates to be blessed. Please try out the link and give us your comments as to how easy it was to set up and use.
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CHURCH CALENDAR |
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Monthly Vestry Meetings:
Regular vester meetings have been resumed, they are held the second Wednesday of the month. All St. Raphael's members are welcome and encouraged to attend to learn how the "business" of the parish is conducted.
All members of the Congregation of St. Raphael’s (as stated in the By-Laws of St. Raphael’s Church, Article VII, Section 7) are invited to attend. In order to avoid embarrassment of what qualifies a person to be a Member of the Congregation of St. Raphael’s, the following By-Law is included:
- ARTICLE III, Section 1. : All persons who have received the Sacrament of Holy Baptism with water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and whose Baptism has been duly recorded in the Parish are members of the Parish.
We hope that this clears up any misunderstanding. While our doors are open to ALL, when it comes to the business of the Parish, attendance does not a member make. Thank you for your co-operation in this matter.
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HISTORY |
St. Raphael’s is located in a quiet residential area, on a circle of land, across from the back bay on Estero Island. The church plant includes the Parish Hall, Church and Rectory (which is now a retreat home for clergy in need of R&R).
St. Raphael’s was founded by a devout group of 20 Fort Myers Beach Episcopalians who petitioned the Diocese for permission
to organize a Mission on March 5, 1951.
The first service in the newly built church was December 1953 and the dedication of the Church by the Bishop was January
31, 1954, with 42 communicants.
The Rectory (Vicarage) was built by members of the congregation and completed in October 1956. It was completely modernized, updated and redocorated in 2006.
The parish hall was built in 1958 and became a center for local organizations such as AA, AARP, girl scouts, young peoples
dances and church activities.
St. Raphael’s became a Parish October 16, 1966.
Additions were made to the Parish Hall with an office complex and conference room in 1974 and improvements to the kitchen
and Sunday School rooms were made soon after. Over the years, many improvements have been done to the buildings and
grounds. We have a beautiful Columbarium with a Cremains Garden outside behind the Altar. Our 50th Anniversary in March
2001 was a joyous occasion with many former rectors in attendance. The Service was conducted by our Bishop – the Right
Reverend John Lipscomb. A new wall and statue of Jesus by the sculptor Don Wilkins were dedicated on All
Souls day, November 2001.
On January 21, 2003 St. Raphael’s was designated as a historical resource by the Town of Fort Myers
Beach (one of only eight designations to date).
Link to pictures of the Church on Easter Sunday.
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MAP & DIRECTIONS |
| Go to the CONTACT US page for links to detailed
maps and directions. |
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