The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1919-01-20
Congressman Fl. ]. Drane
Reviews History OF All
Saints Episcopal Church

erected by the workmen of the village
the principal Of whom was Mr.. A.
Anderson, who was the superintend.
ent in charge and who still abides
with US, venerable and highly use.
full citizen. The lot upon which the
building was erected was about two
miles to the northeast of where it now
stands-just at the point where the
hills fade into the prairies, and had
a most magnificent view of Lake Park
er. There was still a sad deficit in
the building fund, as a result of which
the building was not finished in ito
entirety, though the general plan of
architecture was adhered to. The
temporary windows were Of ordinary
clear glass, two sash to the window
and two lights to the sash, finished
square at the top, like the windows
OF an ordinary cheap cottage. The
building was innocent of paint with
out or of ceiling or varnish within.
1t had vestry room about ne-fourth
the size of the one afterwards erect
ed and there were no facilities for
heating or lighting.
The furniture Of the nave consisted
OF four dozen cane-seated chairs ana
perhaps two or three rough benches,
the former being now in the Guild
Hall of st. Agnes Guild. The chan
Gel furniture was of the crudest kind,
being made at neighboring saw-mili.
Probably the first sermon was
preached by Rev. J. H. Weddel.,
though during one winter of that pc
Rod the Rev. Charles F. CARAT of
the Parish of Little Tew, Oxford,
England, served the church while Wis.
iting his son, Mr.. Charles Eustace
CARAT, then, as now, resident COM
municant and a most excellent cit;-
zen May be permitted to say, in
passing, that Charles Eustace Garratl
is the sole surviving member of the
original communicates identified with
Acton and now actively connected
with this congregation.
His attendance has never been long
interrupted except upon the two oc-
casions when he, to his everlasting
honor, crossed the ocean and followed
the flag Of England to battle. Once to
South Africa and again to France,
from whence he has recently returned.
to live, we trust, among us, to ripe
and peaceful old age.
The wheezy little organ which did
service in, the church at Acton was
presided over by Mr.. Walter II
Coumbe, an aged Englishman long
since dead.
The first Lay-reader there was Mr..
Piers E. Warburton.
The church at Acton was known as
All Saints" but was never dedicated
there. 1t is "All Saints" now.
The property was conveyed, by
deed, to the Diocese of Florida, thi
State at the time being one Diocese,
presided over be that gryat and good
Father in God, Bishop Edwin G.
Weed, who at ripe old age is still!
Bishop of Florida, having his See al
Jacksonville; beloved by all who know
him now and held in loving memory
by those who knew him them.
BY reason of the failure OF certain
experimental business enterprises up.
on which the hopes for Acton had
originally been founded, about the
year 1889, found the pretentious
community veritable Deserted Viii
lage" without a living soul to call It
home. The inhabitants had either left
the country or had become citizens OF
adjoining and more fortunate COM
munities; so we had the unusual spec
tacle of village without villager;
would-be city without citizen.
1t had house of worship, but no
worshipers; an organ without an or
ganist; a choir stall but the voices
were stilled.
Let US turn back the pages of loca,
history for few years:
The first service held by the Epis.
copal church at Lakeland had been
held in the parlor OF the fremont
House, about January, 1886, with a
fair congregation, composed largely of
tourists or of citizens moved by re-
spectful curiosity to investigate this
new religion" and by perhaps one or
two members of the Episcopal church.
The seed sown fell upon fertile soil,
however, and in few weeks the ser
vice was repeated; this time by the
courtesy Of firm of prominent mer-
chants of that day, Higgins & Wag-
soner. The service was attended by