Belle Isle is less a town than a feeling tucked between the larger neighborhoods of south Orlando, and St. Mary of the Angels Episcopal Church sits at its heart on Matchett Road. Surrounded by homes and shaded by the small parking lots that wind around the building, the parish has been part of this Orange County neighborhood for generations. Today it is a place where two very different Sunday services, a fifty-year-old early childhood program, a Tuesday breakfast table, and a small but active outreach effort all share the same front door.
Two Sunday Services, One Family
Sunday morning at St. Mary of the Angels begins early with an 8:00 a.m. Rite I. The service is quiet and reverent, centered on scripture and prayer, and uses traditional language without music. Many worshippers find it a peaceful way to start the day.
At 9:00 a.m., coffee hour fills the Parish Hall with fresh coffee and donuts and gives neighbors a chance to talk before the larger service. The 10:00 a.m. Rite II brings the historic traditions of the early church into the present, blending time-honored hymns with modern worship songs. Communion is celebrated at both services, and all baptized Christians are welcome to receive. The 10:00 a.m. service is also livestreamed on Facebook for those who cannot attend in person.
Children from kindergarten through fifth grade are invited to Kids Church during the 10:00 a.m. service. They spend the first portion of the service in The Hub with interactive lessons, crafts, and Bible stories from both Testaments, then return to their families in time for Communion.
Rooted in the Book of Common Prayer
Worship at St. Mary of the Angels follows the liturgy of the Book of Common Prayer, the historic Anglican guide rooted in scripture. Members recite the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed as part of their shared life of faith. The parish is part of the worldwide Anglican Communion and of the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida, and it holds to a simple statement of belief: "We believe in and follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, whose life, death, and resurrection saved the world."
Anyone new to a liturgical church need not worry. Everything needed to follow along is provided in the pew, and the rector and congregation are glad to talk through the prayers and practices after the service.
The Rhythm of the Week
Tuesday is the day the building stays busy after Sunday is over. At 8:30 a.m., the Breakfast Club gathers in the Parish Hall for food, fellowship, and a sustained time of prayer. The group lifts up the church family, the community, the diocese, the nation's leaders, and the world, praying for healing, comfort, peace, and thanks in times of joy.
At 10:00 a.m. on Tuesdays, the Prayer Shawl Ministry, nicknamed the Knit Wits, fills the same hall with the click of needles. Members knit and crochet scarves and shawls that are donated to local hospitals and shelters, and the group produces more than five hundred shawls and scarves each year. Beginners are warmly welcomed, and experienced knitters are happy to teach the basics.
The parish hall also hosts two recovery meetings during the week: an Al-Anon group on Mondays at 8:00 p.m. and an Alcoholics Anonymous group on Saturdays at 8:30 a.m.
Care, Widows, and the Yearly Food Drive
The Al'manah ministry offers emotional, spiritual, and tangible support to those walking through widowhood, gathering members and friends for a time of comfort and care. Members of the parish also volunteer alongside community partners including Servant's Heart Ministry, the Russell Home, and Nathaniel's Hope.
A parish-wide food drive gathers non-perishable items throughout the year for the food pantry at the Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist. At Thanksgiving, the parish puts together more than sixty holiday dinner baskets, each one a complete holiday meal for a family in need.
Children, Youth, and Women
Beyond Kids Church, the youth ministry meets throughout the year for fun events, Bible studies, and service projects, and the parish regularly sends young people to diocesan youth events. Among women, two long-standing orders call St. Mary of the Angels home. The Daughters of the King is an international lay order focused on prayer, service, and evangelism, and St. Monica's Guild, affiliated with the National Episcopal Church Women, fosters fellowship, spiritual growth, and service among the women of the parish.
A Preschool That Has Outlasted Trends
St. Mary's Preschool has been educating the youngest learners in the Belle Isle area of Orlando for more than fifty years. It operates as an integral part of the church's life and is celebrated across the wider community as a place where little ones take their first steps into school. The preschool serves families from the neighborhood and beyond and runs under its own director.
Music, Altar, Servers, and Tech
Worship at St. Mary of the Angels is supported by a long list of quietly essential ministries. The volunteer choir and musicians lead the singing at the 10:00 a.m. service, while Dr. Carla Edwards serves as organist. The Altar Guild tends the altar, the Sunday flowers, and the seasonal decorations. Acolytes, lay Eucharistic ministers, readers, ushers, and greeters all share in the liturgy. Behind the scenes, a Tech Team runs the sound, the cameras, and the livestream that carries the 10:00 a.m. service beyond the building.
Pastoral Leadership
The Rev. Kevin Bartle has served as rector of St. Mary of the Angels since 2018. He holds a Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary and brings more than twenty years of ministry experience, ranging from student ministry to Christian leadership. He also serves as a youth ministry coordinator for the Diocese of Central Florida.
Shandra Newby has directed St. Mary's Preschool since 2022. She holds an A.S. in Early Childhood Education and a B.S. in Supervision Management, with more than twenty years in early childhood education. Ella Binyam leads Kids Church, bringing experience from children's ministry and missionary settings, and is also pursuing a degree in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology.
The parish is governed by a vestry of elected representatives who serve alongside the rector. The current vestry includes Senior Warden Monica Phillips, Junior Warden Chuck Drake, Treasurer Van White, Secretary Marie Hardy, and members Chris Nemethy, Paul Roper, and Claudette Bardowell.
Plan a Visit and Give
St. Mary of the Angels is easy to find but easy to miss the first time. The driveway leads around the church building to a larger parking lot and the main entrance, and a smaller lot faces the road for those who prefer to park out front. Come as you are. Some wear suits and dresses, others wear their favorite t-shirt and jeans, and a light sweater is welcome since the sanctuary is kept cool. The 8:00 a.m. service runs under an hour, and the 10:00 a.m. service lasts about seventy-five minutes. Those who prefer to remain seated during Communion are welcome to come forward with arms crossed for a blessing.
Every dollar given to St. Mary of the Angels goes directly to hands-on ministry, the parish says. Giving is available online through the church's secure portal, by texting SMOTA to 73256, or by cash or check placed in the offering plates or mailed to the church office. Office hours are Tuesday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to noon.