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History
Services of the Episcopal Church were first held in Marathon in 1954 when Fr Armfield, rector of St Paul's Key West, began meeting for Evening Prayer with about eight persons every other Friday in the Chamber of Commerce Building. In October 1955, Fr Whitney Church came to build an Episcopal Mission for the Diocese of South Florida. St Columba, sixth century Abbot of Iona, a Scottish Island, was chosen as patron. For the first nine months the mission moved from one vacant building to another, occupying eleven temporary chapels. In July 1956, it moved to the round former aquarium building at Vaca Cut. In 1960 the present building was constructed on donated land on 52nd Street in Crane Hammock. Construction was slowed by Hurricane Donna but the first service was held Christmas Eve, 1960 celebrated by Fr Edward L. Aldworth. The church was consecrated November 20, 1976, by James L Duncan, the first bishop of the new Diocese of Southeast Florida. At that time Fr Blount Grant became rector replacing Fr Greydon Copeland. An office building, Iona Hall, and rectory have been added to the property. Fr Grant remained until 1992 when Lynne Jones became rector, followed by Fr Michael Hartney and currently, The Rev Debra Andrew Maconaughey. Rev Debra came to St Columba as Deacon-in-charge January 2007 and was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Calvin O Schofield, Jr on July 14th 2007.
451 West 52nd Street, Gulf Side
Marathon, Florida 33050-0426
305-743-6412
Directions to the church: St. Columba is located on the Gulf Side of US1 by MM49, in Marathon, Florida. Turn on 52nd street and the Church is on your right.
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