A Legacy of Faith and Resilience

On Palm Sunday, 1927, a small group of Episcopalians gathered at the Lincoln Park Academy School for the first service of what would become St. Simon the Cyrenian Episcopal Church. The service was conducted by Fr. Cook, Rector of St. Andrew’s. The following week, on Easter Sunday, the congregation celebrated its first Eucharist.

The effort to found an African American parish in Fort Pierce was spearheaded by the late Dr. C. L. Eccleston, an African American Fort Pierce dentist, and the Reverend J. R. Lewis, Vicar of St. Patrick’s Church, West Palm Beach. In attendance at these first services were the William Adderley Family, the Charles Smith Family, The Mackey family, the Frank D. Smith Family, and others.

On October 17 of the same year, an application for mission status was made to the Right Reverend John Durham Wing, Bishop Coadjutor of South Florida. The application was signed by thirty-six members including John D. Rahming, Sr. Warden, Frank D. Smith, Jr., Secretary/Treasurer, and Vestrymen C.L. Eccleston and Simeon Ritchie.

On November 13, 1927, Bishop Wing made his first visitation to the newly organized “colored” mission in Fort Pierce. The service was held in the Lincoln Park School’s auditorium. Fourteen candidates were presented for confirmation. The St. Andrew’s Choir was present and vested. The mission was put under the charge of Fr. J. R. Lewis.

Since then, twenty-six clergy have served five generations of congregants at St. Simon’s. We raised the funds to build twice, acquired various properties, remodeled many times, and recovered from several hurricanes.

Saint Simon earned a unique leadership role in Fort Pierce during the Civil Rights movement and struggle for school integration. Father Richard L. Marquess-Barry, a young man just out of seminary, led the church in support of the Civil Rights’ movement. Working with church members, as well as neighboring pastors and leaders, Fr. Barry and Saint Simon’s became instrumental in securing the integration of public schools, and the fair treatment of St. Lucie School Board employees. In addition, we helped secure the equal treatment of Black employees of the City of Fort Pierce, and the right of a minority service member of the U.S. Army, killed in action in Vietnam, to be buried in what was then an all-white cemetery. Saint Simon also worked to improve the living and working conditions of migrant workers. Members of our Parish continue to serve in many leadership capacities in the community.