History of St. Anne's

History of St. Anne of Grace Episcopal Church

St. Anne of Grace was formed as an Episcopal mission in July of 1982 to serve Seminole Bay Pines area. The church operated out of Seminole United Methodist Church and the first service was held at St. Anne's on July 11, 1982. In October 2020, St. Anne's was approved for parish status by the Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida.

In July of 1984, 1.96 acres was purchased on the corner of 113th and 66th Ave. North in Seminole, where the church resides today. Ground was broken in July of 1986, and the church was dedicated on Palm Sunday, April 4, 1987. The altar, eight-foot cross, pulpit, lectern, and doors were hand carved by a local artist/craftsman, Jorge Posada. The 23 stained glass windows crafted by European stained glass were installed in September 1987. They tell the story of the life of Christ from the annunciation to the second coming. The circular window in the back of the church depicts St. Anne with her daughter, the Blessed Virgin Mary. The outside area included a fenced area with recirculating fountain called St. Anne's Garden. This area now contains St. Anne's Memorial Garden with a flowing pond.

St. Anne's purchased property adjacent to the church, including a house which became St. Paul's Annex on February 15, 1998. As the church continued to grow, there was a need for a larger facility. On April 1997, St. Anne's broke ground for the Center of Ministry, known as Lyons Hall. In 2003, through a generous bequest, the mortgage on the church was satisfied.

In 2014, St. Anne's "went green", both environmentally and financially. It began with a tile roof that needed repair. An investment in solar panels was decided upon, which resulted in significant savings in power costs when it was activated in October 2014. In June of 2014, St. Anne's installed a digital sign.