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Our Remarkable History

Saint Gabriel's Episcopal Church

Established 1887, and Officially Listed in the National Register of Historic Places

St. Gabriel’s Church was built by local contractor, Mr. Decker in 1888-89 on land donated by Mary Hopkins Titus, the widow of Colonel Henry Titus. Funds for the construction were raised by local residents led by Prof. I. D. Parkinson and with a large gift by Mrs. Boardman. Actual work began on April 16, 1888 and on May 17, 1889 Bishop Weed dedicated the Church.

The Church was first called St. John’s but changed to St. Gabriel’s with the donation of the windows in the east end.

From that first service in 1889 until 1956 St. Gabriel’s had a succession of temporary clergy, many serving less than a year. The most notable of these was the Reverend Charles H. Bascom, who served three terms at St. Gabriel’s (1924-1927, 1935 -1944, and 1946-1956) Since St. Gabriel’s was not able to support a minister on its own the clergy were referred to as Vicar, and frequently served more than one congregation. (Usually St. Mark’s, Cocoa)

The Reverend (later Bishop) William H. Folwell was the first Rector of St. Gabriel’s and served from 1956 to 1959.

In 1960, in response to growth generated by the space program, the size of the Church was greatly increased by expanding the nave to the north, south, and west.

From 1959 to 1977 St. Gabriel’s was served by the W. Sumner Ferguson, The Rev. Clark Dorman. The Rev. Ralph Banks, and The Rev. Saxson Wolfe.

From 1977 to 2009 The Rev. John Richard Pobjecky was Rector. Upon Father Pobjecky’s retirement, The Rev. Robert Goodridge was called and installed by Bishop Howe on June 28, 2009.