Our History

Few members of the St. Thomas' family are aware that the institution with which they so proudly identify today began life as the Snell Isle Episcopal Mission. Or that it was midwifed by what is now the Cathedral Church of St. Peter. Or that its first worship service was held in the St. Petersburg Woman's Club. But all those things are so, and they date back to early 1952.

In January 1961, the mission officially became St. Thomas' Episcopal Church. The preceding nine years were an eventful interim:

The Rev. Arnold R. Verduin, who became the mission's vicar late in 1952, was made its first rector on May 4, 1954. The mission, which by then was holding services at the Masonic Home, became a parish of the diocese that day. Members of the congregation bought three acres of submerged land on Snell Isle in January 1954; on Aug. 1, they were able to move the worship services into a completed parish hall.  Father Verduin left St. Thomas' after Easter 1956.

In the fall of 1956, The Rev. William C. Baxter was called as the new rector.  Under his leadership, the fledgling St. Thomas' added Sunday School rooms, offices and space for St. Thomas' Day School; on Palm Sunday 1961, the present church building and adjoining chapel were dedicated. Father Baxter died in January 1962.

The Rev. George LaBruce, who was named assistant rector the previous October, became St. Thomas' third rector. The building program continued during his tenure: A second floor of classrooms was added to the school, which was soon to become Canterbury School; the Parish Hall was expanded, and the current Guild Room was created.

In June 1976, The Rev. Peter Wallace Fleming Jr. was called as St. Thomas' fourth rector. A man with a keen interest in landscaping, music and the decorative arts, Father Fleming inspired a series of renovations that culminated in the Curry Garden and the St. Thomas' Columbarium. Father Fleming's tenure of more than 18 years also was characterized by his development of study programs and a more active lay ministry. With Father Fleming's retirement on January 1, 1995, the vestry called as Interim Rector, The Rev. Barnum C. McCarty.

The Rev. C. Christopher Thompson responded to the call of ministry on Feb. 1, 1996, and was installed as the fifth rector of St. Thomas' on Nov. 9.  Father Thompson more fully incorporated the youth into the parish. During his tenure, the Baynard Center for Ministry was constructed and dedicated in 1999. Father Thompson was called as rector to Eastern Shore Chapel Episcopal Church in Virginia Beach, Va., in September 2005.  In November 2005, the vestry called The Rev. W.D. McLean III as Interim Rector.

In June 2007, The Rev. Chris Schuller was called as the sixth rector of St. Thomas'.  He is a deeply spiritual man who has a history of energizing not just the congregation, but also the entire town.  One of Father Chris' primary strengths is pastoral care, with a true gift for healing, as well as being a skilled communicator able to connect with anyone on any level.

Today, St. Thomas' continues to answer God's call as we grow together, guided by the Holy Spirit, as a welcoming, engaging, and transforming community of faith.