Welcome to St. Mary Magdalene, Episcopal Church

Thank you for visiting our website. We are very glad that you are here. Throughout this site you will see glimpses of a congregation full of life and spirit. We are a community made up of many members with a variety of gifts and interests, yet we remain one body united in love and the proclamation of the Gospel. In the pages of our website you will see that there are numerous opportunities for worship, study, and service. If you are in the Bradenton/Lakewood Ranch area, we encourage you to come and join us for worship on Sundays.

HISTORY OF ST. MARY MAGDALENE

October 1996: Land purchased at the Southwest Corner of Lakewood Ranch Blvd. and Route 70. Rev. Jack Kline took over the project along with a steering committee. Deacon Phil Davis came in to assist. First service held Dec. 7, 1996 in the D.A.V. Hall.

January 18, 1998: Dedication of the Manasota Mission Church and the property.

Fall 1998: Convention of the Diocese of Southwest Florida recognized the Manasota Mission as an Organized Church named St. Mary Magdalene. Later in the year, Rev. Kline retired prematurely due to ill health. Rev. Gayle King came in as the interim rector.

May 1999: Rev. Jim Williamson became the new rector.

Late 1999: Ground clearing occurred, and the beginnings of our new church emerged on the property at the corner of Route 70 and Lakewood Ranch Blvd.

June 25, 2000: St. Mary Magdalene dedicated and consecrated.

January 2, 2005: Fr. Jim Williamson leaves St. Mary Magdalene.

January to May 2005: Led by Fr. Wes Wasdyke.

June 2005 to August 2006: Led by Mother Michelle Robertshaw.

October 8, 2006: Fr. Jim Hedman’s first Sunday as Vicar.

February 25, 2007: Fr. Jim Hedman instituted as 4th Vicar of St. Mary Magdalene by Bishop Dabney Smith.

October 9th, 2010: St. Mary Magdalene is officially recognized as a parish at the diocesan convention.