History of Christ Church Monticello

Christ Episcopal Church was organized in 1840 and admitted to the Diocese of Florida in 1842. William D. Moseley, Esq., the first Governor of Florida, was one of the five original vestrymen.

The first church building, erected in 1843, was on the northeast corner of Washington and Waukeenah streets. This building was destroyed by fire in 1883, and the present structure was built in 1885. The Architect for the present building was Mr. T. M. Ferguson of Georgia, who was reportedly the Architect for the Exposition in New Orleans.

The Altar is the focal center of all. It is handsomely wrought of a variety of native woods by the hand of Joseph Trummer an expert wood carver and a member of the congregation during the late 1800's.

The Credence Table and Prayer Desk are also works of Mr. Trummer. These furnishings, along with the lovely brass appointments and the Communion Service, have been placed here by different families as memorials to loved ones.

Saved from the fire was the original communion Table, now the Chapel Altar, also the hand-pumped English organ, Pine cupboard and Font which are near the entrance of the Church. The Font was a gift from St. John's Church, Tallahassee, in 1854.

The Gothic style double Lancet windows hold stained glass windows made in England. The two memorial windows, placed by the families of two devoted churchwomen, were the only original stained glass windows, the others added by the ladies and children's guilds as funds became available.

The timber-trussed roof has beveled beams outlined with Cathedral red. The window casings and door facings are also outlined with Cathedral red. The roof beams have the original paint.

The pews are made of solid pine, put together with wooden pegs.

The lovely needlepoint chair covers, kneelers at the Altar rail, on the Prayer Desks and Choir kneelers were designed and worked by the ladies of the Church. The work was sponsored as a gift of thanksgiving from a former communicant of Christ Church and presented to the Church in 1977.

A long line of Ministers has served Christ Church, and it has the distinction of having ordained eight Deacons to the Priesthood within its walls.

If you come to visit us, you'll find about one hundred people attending on Sunday and about thirty on Wednesday evening. People tell us we're a pretty friendly bunch, but we won't pester you with more attention than you want (unless you show up four or five times; then we may try to put you in charge of something!)

An explanation of our beliefs.

How the Episcopal Church is different.

A "nutshell description" of our services.

Our Outreach program.

The Nicene Creed, the common thread of all Christian Denominations.