On the northwest corner of Haverhill and Belvedere Roads in West Palm Beach, St. Christopher's Episcopal Church sits as a congregation that built its own home twice over before settling into the brick sanctuary that has anchored its life since 1976. Members describe themselves as "a happy, inclusive, vibrant Church," known for hospitality, fellowship, and a long tradition of putting their own hands to work on the buildings and grounds.
From an Orchid Field to a Sanctuary of Their Own
The story of St. Christopher's begins with a mission organized by area Episcopalians in 1965 with the blessing of Bishop Duncan. The Rev. Harold L. Batchelor was assigned as the first rector in January 1966, and over the next several years the congregation moved between borrowed locations. The final site was purchased from an orchid grower in October 1968, and the members themselves built the current Parish Hall. For eight years that hall doubled as the sanctuary. The congregation chose its name in honor of St. Christopher, the patron saint of travelers, in tribute to the journey of finding a permanent home.
When Father Batchelor retired, the Rev. Richard Tickner arrived with his wife Pat and children Susan and Stephen from a parish in Key West. Under his leadership the current Sanctuary was built, much of the work done by parishioners, designed to seat 250. The first service in the new church was held on Palm Sunday, April 11, 1976.
The Rev. Christopher Douglas Kelly came to St. Christopher's in August 1978 with his wife Pam and their two-year-old daughter Heather. During his tenure the Christian Education building was completed in September 1982, housing the rector's office, the church office, six classrooms, and restrooms, along with a fenced-in playground next door. Father Kelly retired in 2002, and the parish was served by interim priests including the Rev. David Sutcliffe, the Rev. Terrence Taylor, and the Rev. Donna Hall. The Rev. Willie Dávila was called in April 2010 from Corpus Christi, Texas, with his wife Terry; during his tenure the chancel area was enlarged to accommodate the choir, youth programs, and annual musical events. He retired in August 2017. Since 2021 the parish has been blessed to have the Rev. Canon Winston B. Joseph serving as permanent supply priest.
Sunday Morning at St. Christopher's
The principal Sunday service is Holy Eucharist Rite II at 10:00 a.m. The congregation gathers in the Sanctuary that the parish built on Palm Sunday 1976, and the liturgy follows the Episcopal Church's traditional Rite II order. Children attend Sunday School during the service. The rhythms of the morning are reinforced by the weekly coffee hour that follows, coordinated by the Episcopal Church Women. Services are livestreamed on YouTube, and recordings of past services are available through the church's YouTube channel for those who cannot attend in person. The church office can be reached at 561-683-8167.
Bible Study and Midweek Formation
Bible Study meets every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. in the Parish Hall. The midweek gathering is part of the rhythm of the parish and is open to anyone who wants to dig into the readings and the broader story of Christian faith.
The Pioneer Club
St. Christopher's has a thriving senior ministry called the Pioneer Club, which launched on February 9, 2016, after congregants and the Rev. Willie Dávila identified the need. A naming contest settled on the Pioneer name, and the club grew from 21 people at launch to an average attendance of about 60.
The Pioneer Club meets on the second Tuesday of each month from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall. The agenda combines business, announcements, presentations, lunch, and a raffle, with birthdays celebrated by the club. After lunch many members stay for scrabble, dominoes, card games, and board games. Activities also include day cruises, support for the C.R.O.S. (Christians Reaching Out to Society) food bank, and donations to residents of the Lord's Place and Imagination Kids Learning Center. Everything is offered free of charge.
Youth Ministry
The Youth Ministry at St. Christopher's invites young people to grow in an active, diverse church using their energy and love of life. Youth Group meets weekly on Friday nights from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., where members talk about the highs and lows of the week, discuss topics such as exercise, nutrition, family, and life skills, and take part in game nights, scavenger hunts, prayer walks, movie nights, arts and crafts, and birthday celebrations.
Older youth serve as acolytes, assisting the clergy in the Holy Eucharist and other services. Sunday School runs during the 10:00 a.m. service and is meant to ground children and youth in Christ's love and mercy and the spirit of forgiveness and reconciliation. Summer programs include Camp Wingmann, an Episcopal summer camp where children, youth, and adults gather for week-long residential sessions in June and July.
Outreach for the younger members includes Church Clean Up days, the JDRF Walk, the CROS Walk, and Vacation Bible School. The youth also take part in Youth Sunday, Christmas programs, the Psalmists, the Steel Pan Orchestra, the Youth Choir, and the Howard Cox and Donald E. Crooks Memorial Scholarship for college-bound high school seniors.
Episcopal Church Women, Daughters of the King, and the Men's Fellowship
The Episcopal Church Women at St. Christopher's are part of the church-wide ECW organization. All women in the congregation are members of ECW, and the local chapter coordinates weekly coffee hours, spring and fall yard sales, and fundraisers for special projects. The group meets monthly on the third Sunday of each month following the 10:00 a.m. service.
Daughters of the King is an order for women and girls, from age seven upward, who desire a closer walk with the Lord. Members live under a Rule of Life built around the Rule of Prayer and the Rule of Service, supported by the companionship of sisters in the local chapter and the wider international order. Junior Daughters, young women and girls ages 7 to 21, make a promise to pray daily and serve the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Men's Fellowship is a brotherhood that meets on the third Sunday of each month to plan church events such as Harvest Sunday, the Maundy Thursday Fish Fry, and the Mother's Day Luncheon. The men also pitch in on yard sales, church work days, and general maintenance of the buildings and grounds.
Music and the Steel Pan Orchestra
Music Ministry at St. Christopher's leads the congregation in worship of Almighty God, an extension of the parish's love and relationship with Christ. The music ministry has grown to include the Steel Pan Orchestra and the Youth Choir, both of which perform on holidays, Youth Sundays, and special Sundays.
The Steel Pan Orchestra began rehearsals in March 2016 under the tutelage of Mr. Carlton Lambert, an accomplished steel pan player, and gave its first performance in May of that year. Orchestra members range in age from 10 to 70-plus; none had prior experience playing steel pans, and musical knowledge is not a requirement. In November 2017 the orchestra was invited by Diocesan Bishop Peter Eaton to play at the Diocesan Convention, reportedly the first time a steel pan orchestra played on such an occasion. Anthony Mullings leads the orchestra as Ministry Leader, and requests for special performances can be routed through the church office. Duane "Dane" Lowery serves the parish as Organist and Music Director, supporting the choir and the broader music ministry.
World Mission Outreach and the Crooks Scholarship
World Mission Outreach is St. Christopher's outreach arm, committed to helping members of the wider Anglican Communion affected by natural disasters and lacking resources for daily living and worship. The parish has partnered with churches and their members in Nicaragua and Jamaica, depending on monetary and material contributions to continue the ministry.
The Howard Cox and Donald E. Crooks Memorial Scholarship is an outreach program under the patronage of St. Christopher's, established in 2015. The scholarship recognizes annually one qualified college-bound senior from St. Christopher's and one qualified college-bound senior from a school within the local community. Since inception, more than $34,000 has been awarded to deserving students.
The Altar Guild and the Fundraising Calendar
The Altar Guild cares for the altar, vestments, vessels, and altar linens, prepares the sanctuary for services, cleans up afterwards, and decorates the church with flowers. Members place love for Christ above personal feelings and carry out their duties in peace, devotion, and loyalty.
The Fundraising Committee leads the church in raising funds for budgeted and capital expenses through entertainment. Two annual events anchor the calendar: An Evening of Jazz, often featuring well-known entertainers such as Copeland Davis and Avery Sommers alongside local artists, followed by a meet and greet; and Mardi Gras, held on the Friday before Ash Wednesday as a dinner dance featuring authentic New Orleans cuisine and music. The committee also sponsors a Friends and Family picnic in the fall.
Visiting St. Christopher's
The church sits at 1063 North Haverhill Road, West Palm Beach, Florida 33417, on the northwest corner of Haverhill and Belvedere Roads. The mailing address is P.O. Box 222068, Haverhill, FL 33422. The church office is open during the week and can be reached at 561-683-8167 or by email at stchristopherswpbfl@gmail.com. Giving is available online through the parish's Square site, and gifts can also be sent via Zelle to stchristopherswpb@comcast.net.
The congregation's mission is to be a growing, active church of diversified and reconciling people, proclaiming the Gospel of Christ, developing relationships of prayer, mutual commitment, forgiveness, and tangible care, and developing youth and mission ministries through the use of time, talents, and treasures.