From humble beginnings, St. Peter's Cathedral is born



The vision was conceived just 13 years ago. A tiny group of Anglicans began plans to build a place of worship in Tallahassee.

From those humble beginnings, the rector and hard-working congregants of St. Peter’s Anglican Church in 2014 completed the grand edifice on Thomasville Road in north Tallahassee.

The congregation created a massive house of worship whose very architecture speaks to the “beauty of holiness” defined in the Book of Common Prayer. The importance of the church within the worldwide Anglican community will be recognized on Sunday with St. Peter’s designation as the Cathedral of the Gulf Atlantic Diocese of the Anglican Church in North America.

With pledges, large gifts, donations, and prayer, the rector, Father Eric Dudley articulated his vision of a church that would resemble a 13th-century English-Gothic cathedral. And the congregation responded.

The final result is a 30,000-square-foot church that can seat up to 1,000. It's adorned by 24 spires, five Celtic crosses, soaring stained glass panels, and a triumphant bell tower. And what is more, the faithful came. From the small group of 700 committed believers in 2005 to its present 2,000-member congregation, St.Peter’s has expanded into the very heart of Tallahassee’s community.

And now, in its new role as an Anglican cathedral, Father Dudley sees an even greater responsibility.

This designation requires more of the congregation in terms of serving the larger community by reflecting Christ’s truth and love in on-going involvement with the poor, the unchurched, and all others, Dudley said.

"Offering leadership in helping pull the Tallahassee Christian community together in common service (regardless of denomination), and in linking hands with the African-American community so that the divisiveness we’ve seen around the country is not allowed to divide us here," he continued.

"Fragmentation has been the name of the game these last few years in our culture, and large parishes especially are called to take hands with other faithful Christian communities so that together we become a strong presence for truth, love, and grace.”



As the new seat of the Bishop, St. Peter’s is set to become a locus of spirituality in the Anglican tradition.

At 10:30 a.m. Sunday, following the 9 a.m. service, Bishop Neil Lebhar of the Gulf Atlantic Diocese will preside over the formal consecration and unveiling of a sign announcing the designation. He is not unfamiliar with Tallahassee and the church.

St. Peter’s has already been the center for several of the yearly diocesan synods, major conferences, and many of ordinations, Lebhar said. Its staff and volunteers helped begin key diocesan ministries, including high school retreats and summer camp.

St. Peter’s also serves as the location for events in their Anglican Province, which includes Mexico and Canada as well as the U.S. One such event is the Disciple Conference Friday and Saturday. At last year’s Disciple Conference, the archbishop was the keynote speaker, Lebhar added.

"I am grateful for the ministry of St. Peter’s and the opportunity to declare it to be the Cathedral of the Gulf Atlantic Diocese of the Anglican Church in North America,” Lebhar said.

Others too voiced gratitude not only for St. Peter’s and its spiritual mission but for what it means to the city at large.

"Naming St. Peter’s Anglican Church a cathedral means a lot not only to me personally, but to the city of Tallahassee. I have found visiting cathedrals in Europe and metropolitan areas of the United States a significant part of my travels and even a draw to many destinations," said Major Harding, former chief justice of the Florida Supreme Court. "As a cathedral, St. Peter’s will not only create a place of interest, it will provide, in addition to its remarkable current ministry, additional special opportunities for spiritual development with worship, classes, and special events for everyone."

Sue Dick, president and CEO of the Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce, agrees: “By assuming a leadership role within the Anglican Church, St. Peter’s will be drawing visitors to Tallahassee from throughout the country, growing the church’s influence and impact.”

Added Bishop Lebhar, "To have a cathedral is in some sense to have a home base. It is the center where people from our more than 40 congregations can gather, worship and be trained for our common mission to share the love of Jesus the Messiah with all those who do not yet know him.”

St. Peter's Dedication

Where: St. Peter’s Cathedral, 4784 Thomasville Road

When: Sunday, Services: 9 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 5 p.m. The unveiling of St. Peter’s Cathedral sign ceremony follows the 9 a.m. service at 10:30 a.m.

Who is Invited: All of Tallahassee.

#prayforTLH

St. Peter’s Cathedral will also be distributing painted "Tally Rocks" that have the hashtag #prayforTLH. The rocks will be in bins marked with different areas of town: Killearn, Downtown, Midtown, Frenchtown. On Sunday, everyone is invited to take a rock with a designated location and distribute them throughout the city. Leaders say it is an effort to invite people to pray for all of Tallahassee on social media.



