Good Shepherd Church, Tequesta,
To Celebrate Golden Anniversary
The Village of Tequesta is not the only Tequesta institution to celebrate its 50 th year this year. The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd at 400 Seabrook Road notes its Golden Anniversary this month.
Several long-time parishioners will participate in a champagne brunch program following the anniversary celebration Eucharist service at 10:00 a.m., Sunday, October 28.
The anniversary celebration also includes two performances of a musical revue, "Broadway Then 'Til Now," with music from Broadway musicals from 1957 on. Performances are schedules for Friday evening, October 26, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, October 27 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $20 for advance sales, $25 at the door for Friday and $10 advance sales and $15 at the door for Saturday.
For tickets or further information, call the church office at 746-4674.
Prelude - 1896
In 1896, on the island separated from the mainland by the Indian River, the first church of any denomination in the area was built - St. Martin's Episcopal Church. The original building of Jupiter's first church has done a lot of traveling since then.
The location was virtually the same location as Suni-Sands Recreation Hall (off of A1A, just south of Schooner's). A purchase of the land necessitated a move to what is now Loxahatchee Ave. After the Florida East Coast Railroad was extended southward the church was moved to a spot across the street from the Henry Archer residence.
Some years later, the priest left for another church and St. Martin's was closed. In 1921, the unused building, furnishings and altar was purchased and moved by barge and train to Ft. Lauderdale, and became All Saint's Church. Over the years the altar traveled to numerous new missions in South Florida.
Mission Beginnings in 1956
December 16, 1956 - At Suni-Sands Recreation Hall (the very same location as St. Martin's) a final meeting was held to establish an Episcopal Mission in Jupiter.
October, 1957 - The mission is formally accepted into the diocese as an organized mission.
January 20, 1958 - The first Vestry committee is installed.
April 18, 1958 - The Rev. Elmer A. Allen, Rector, first resident priest is appointed.
April 20, 1958 - Mission is named "Good Shepherd."
1958 - Louise Weeks is elected first president of Episcopal Church Women (ECW).
January 11, 1959 - 3 ½ acres north of Jupiter-in-the Pines in Tequesta is purchased for $10, 220.
May, 1960 - Altar returns to Good Shepherd. After being notified that it was being discarded by St. John's, Homestead, due to the building of a new sanctuary, two Good Shepherd parishioners took their truck and brought the altar back to Jupiter. Today, this altar stands in theChapel of Good Shepherd.
December 23, 1960 - Dedication and Blessing of two buildings, a building to be used for services until a sanctuary can be built, and a Parish Hall/School Building. These were located where "Pennies Shop" and Office/School Building are currently located. Parish Status.
October 18, 1964 - Ground breaking Ceremony for theSanctuary.
May 23, 1965 - Dedication of the new Sanctuary.
1974 - Present day Parish Hall was constructed.
October 3, 1982 - Good Shepherd Celebrates 25 years with the burning of the mortgage and the consecration of the church.
November 4, 1990 - Groundbreaking Ceremony for the present Ryon Building (office/library/classrooms) and the Allen Building (Thrift Shop and meeting rooms).
June 9, 1991 - Dedication of the Ryon and Allen Buildings.
September, 1993 - Good Shepherd Pre-school begins.
October 19, 1997 - Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Good Shepherd Episcopal School which opened in the fall of 1998.
October 16, 2005- The Re-Dedication and Consecration of the newly expanded and enhanced sanctuary.
Good Shepherd, Hurricanes and History
On Saturday, September 5, 2004, Hurricane Frances blew the metal cross off the top of Good Shepherd's steeple. On Saturday, September 25, 2004, Hurricane Jeanne completed the job by blowing down the steeple.
The hurricanes soaked the floors and carpets of the old Church, and damaged the wood of the altar rail and pews. The new addition to the Church, dedicated in 2005, was then under construction but was not damaged by either hurricane.
John Prosser, a member of Good Shepherd, salvaged the cross, cleaned it up and mounted it on the north wall of the new addition. The cross is copper, with a greenish patina. The steeple had been copper-lined. John saved the copper from the steeple and had the Goldsmith in Lighthouse Square fashion some of it into a baptismal bowl which is now in use, and some small copper crosses that were distributed as souvenirs to longtime members of the congregation.
In exploring an attic above the old Church, Patti Bigham, Sexton of Good Shepherd, discovered what is believed to be the tabernacle that originally sat atop our wooden altar that dates back to 1896, now used as the altar in the chapel in the north transept of the new addition. This wooden tabernacle, the width of the wooden altar, has the words "Holy, Holy, Holy", and in the center a rectangular box with a wooden door, which was locked upon discovery. John opened the tabernacle from the rear and supplied a key that fits the lock. He affixed the structure to the wall in back of the 1896 altar, which is now free-standing, underneath the rescued and rehabilitated cross.
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