The History of St. Thomas Episcopal Church

1950 South Miami Episcopal Mission, meeting in Sunset Elementary School, began with 71 members.

1951 The Mission was incorporated as St. Thomas of Canterbury.
Three acres of property were purchased on the corner of Red Road and North Kendall Drive.  Through the following years, additional property has been purchased as it was needed and became available.

1952 Services in a tent were begun on the newly acquired property.
The Rev. Arthur Jacob Rantz was called to be Vicar.  When the Mission became a Parish in 1955, he became the first Rector, serving a total of 24 years.

1953 The “Little Learners” day care center was started, eventually to evolve into St. Thomas Episcopal Parish School.

1954 The name of the church was changed to St. Thomas Episcopal Church.
 The Parish Hall (later named Rantz Hall) was completed, and services moved inside from the tent.

1956 The Parish School building was dedicated.

1960 The Sanctuary was completed and dedicated.

1968 The first portion of the Columbarium was completed.

1970 The pipe organ was installed as a memorial gift.

1976 The Rev. A. Charles Cannon was called as the second Rector of St. Thomas Episcopal Parish.

1978 A new Rectory was built.

1986 The Rev. Roger M. Tobin was called as the third Rector of St. Thomas Episcopal Parish.

1992 The new School and Church classroom and office building was dedicated.

1997 The Sanctuary expansion and refurbishing, the loft, and the rebuilding of the organ were completed.
 The purchase of land with a house for a New Rectory allowed the Old Rectory to become an Annex for Parish use.
 The new Media Center was designed and completed.

2004 The new Arts and Education Building was dedicated.

2005 The first floor of the new building – Rantz Hall, the kitchen, the stage, the Bedell Room, the ECW Room, the Columbarium, and the offices – were available for use.