On April 13, 2008, Promised Land Anglican Church held its first worship service in the Rose Garden at the home of Roy and Mary Schick. There were 25 people in attendance on that glorious day and as Christ Church Vero Beach parishioner Mrs. Shirley Morgan remembers, “We were a group of people wanting to stand on God’s word. Even though there was a group of people, it was a oneness with God with the whisper from the breeze of the Holy Spirit ushering in.” The worship continued in this beautiful garden for eight consecutive weeks and the attendance grew to 125 people. With the hot summer months approaching and attendance growing, many prayed for the Lord to lead them to a permanent worship space. Parishioners, clergy and a majority of support staff from their previous church, had voted to form Promised Land Anglican Church. In eight short weeks, the first service was held on July 6, 2008 at 925 14th Lane, former home to the tax collector and a thrift store. Quite a different venue than the former church. The operational name was soon changed to Christ Church Vero Beach.
From the first service, attendance exceeded occupancy restrictions. Creativity and flexibility enabled the church to continue to flourish. The positive energy was contagious to all who visited. Satellite services were held in the office space to handle overflow, some parishioners came to an earlier less-attended service, and some chose to stay home and watch the service through a live stream on their computers.
In the fall of 2009 a congregational meeting was held and attendeees voted unanimously to affiliate with the newly forming Gulf Atlantic Dioces of the Anglican Church in North America, under the direction of Fr. Neil Lebhar, Bishop-Elect.
Today, Christ Church Vero Beach continues to experience God’s blessing of faithful followers willing to jump in and help at a moment’s notice. Come see what we are doing. The community is invited to join us in worship on Sundays at 925 14th Lane (behind the Outback Steakhouse), or watch the 10:00 a.m. service live on Sundays via our website at www.christchurchvero.org. We are an Anglican church offering traditional and contemporary biblical worship in a joyful environment.
