Christ the King Episcopal Church
Lakeland, Florida
OUR HERITAGE
Christ the King Episcopal Church
Christ the King serves the Lakeland community as a welcoming congregation grounded in Scripture, sacramental worship, and a commitment to forming disciples of Jesus Christ. As part of the Diocese of Central Florida, the parish participates in the wider mission of the Episcopal Church and the global Anglican Communion.
The parish began in 1984 at the invitation of The Rt. Rev. William Folwell, 2nd Bishop Ordinary of the Diocese of Central Florida. Originally known as "North Lakeland Mission," it was planted from All Saints Episcopal Church in downtown Lakeland. Under the leadership of its founding Vicar, The Rev. Hugh Williams, twenty‑six charter members gathered for the first Eucharist on August 16, 1984, celebrated in a Holiday Inn on Highway 98 near I‑4. Worship soon moved to Padgett Elementary School while the congregation worked toward securing permanent property on Socrum Loop Road. The church campus was formally bounded and the sanctuary consecrated on October 17, 1987, with Bishop Folwell presiding.
Christ the King has been shaped by faithful pastoral leadership across four decades:
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The Rev. Hugh Williams (1984–1995) — Founding Vicar
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The Rev. Rick Gomer (1995–2012)
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The Rev. Dr. Wally Reynolds (2012–2015)
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The Rev. Carolyn Biggs (2015–2023)
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The Rev. Jaqueline Ponce (2023)
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The Rev. Dr. Robert Moses (2024–present) — Called to serve beginning January 1, 2024
Christ the King belongs in the Southwest Deanery in the Diocese of Central Florida's organizational structure.
Diocese of Central Florida
The Diocese of Central Florida was established in 1969 during a Special General Convention of the former Diocese of South Florida. In response to demographic growth and pastoral need, the convention divided South Florida into three new dioceses: Southeast Florida, Southwest Florida, and Central Florida. This restructuring marked a significant moment in the Episcopal Church’s development in the region, creating dioceses better suited for local mission and governance.
The Rt. Rev. Henry I. Loutitt, then Bishop of South Florida, became the first Bishop of Central Florida, guiding the newly formed diocese through its initial year before retiring. His successors provided continuity and stability during decades of growth and change:
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The Rt. Rev. William H. Folwell (1970–1989)
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The Rt. Rev. John W. Howe (1989–2012)
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The Rt. Rev. Gregory O. Brewer (2012–2023)
In 2023, the diocese elected and consecrated its fifth bishop, The Rt. Rev. Dr. Justin S. Holcomb, who now serves as chief pastor and ecclesial leader. Bishop Holcomb’s episcopacy continues the diocese’s longstanding commitment to sacramental worship and mission‑focused ministry.
Today, the Diocese of Central Florida comprises seventy-eight congregations across fifteen counties, stretching from St. Lucie and Okeechobee in the south to Marion and Volusia in the north. Its congregations reflect the diversity of Central Florida—urban centers, rural communities, coastal regions, and rapidly growing suburban areas. The diocese also stewards Camp Wingmann, a long‑standing ministry dedicated to children and youth, offering summer programs, retreats, and formation opportunities that nurture Christian leadership and discipleship.
Within the wider Episcopal Church, the Diocese of Central Florida is part of Province IV, the largest of the church’s nine provinces, encompassing dioceses throughout the southeastern United States and the Caribbean. Through this provincial and national network, the diocese participates in collaborative mission, leadership development, and global Anglican partnerships.
Grounded in its founding vision and strengthened by decades of faithful ministry, the Diocese of Central Florida continues to proclaim the Gospel, support congregations, and form disciples of Jesus Christ across a dynamic and growing region
The Episcopal Church
The Episcopal Church is the American province of the worldwide Anglican Communion, inheriting its theological, liturgical, and ecclesial identity from both the Church of England and the Episcopal Church of Scotland. Its development reflects the unique circumstances of the United States following the American Revolution, when Anglican parishes sought to preserve apostolic succession and Anglican worship while establishing a church compatible with the new nation’s political independence.
In the aftermath of the American Revolution, Anglican parishes in the newly independent states faced the urgent need to reorganize ecclesial life apart from the Church of England. With the end of British oversight and the disestablishment of the Anglican Church in several states, clergy and lay leaders sought to preserve apostolic succession, maintain Anglican worship, and establish a church governed according to American principles.
Delegates from multiple states convened the First General Convention in Philadelphia in 1785, marking the first formal effort to organize an independent American Anglican body. This convention adopted the name “Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America,” drafted a provisional constitution, and authorized revisions to the Book of Common Prayer to reflect republican governance and remove references to the British monarchy.
A crucial step in establishing the American episcopate came with the consecration of Samuel Seabury in 1784 by bishops of the Scottish Episcopal Church, enabling apostolic succession without requiring allegiance to the Crown. Samuel Provoost and William White were subsequently consecrated in 1787, completing the early episcopal leadership of the new church.
By 1789, the church adopted a formal constitution, canons, and a revised Prayer Book, establishing the bicameral General Convention—with the House of Bishops and House of Deputies—that continues to govern the Episcopal Church today.
The Episcopal Church now comprises 106 dioceses and one mission area in 22 countries, reflecting its global reach and continued participation in the Anglican Communion. It is governed by the General Convention, which meets every three years, and led by a Presiding Bishop, who serves as the church’s chief pastor, primate, and public representative.
Anglican Communion
The Anglican Communion is one of the largest global Christian bodies, comprising tens of millions of members across six continents. Its identity is rooted in the ancient Ecclesia Anglicana—the English Church—which has existed in the British Isles since at least the 2nd century CE. Over nearly two millennia, this tradition has developed a distinctive blend of Scripture, reason, and tradition, expressed through liturgy, pastoral practice, and episcopal governance.
Although Christianity in England predates the medieval papacy, the Church in England formally separated from the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome during the reign of King Henry VIII in the 16th century. This break, while politically charged, did not sever the church’s continuity with its earlier identity. The reformed Church of England continued to understand itself as the historic Ecclesia Anglicana, preserving apostolic succession, maintaining the threefold order of ministry, and shaping its worship through the emerging Book of Common Prayer. As the British Empire expanded, Anglican clergy, missionaries, and settlers established churches throughout the world. Over time, these churches matured into autonomous provinces, each with its own constitution, liturgy, and governance, yet united by shared heritage and communion.
Today, the Anglican Communion consists of 44 autonomous provinces and 5 extra‑provincial churches, present in 165 countries. Some provinces encompass entire nations; others span multiple countries or regions. Each province is self‑governing, yet all remain in communion with one another through shared faith, common liturgical tradition, and mutual recognition of bishops.
The unity is sustained through four "Instruments of Communion":
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Archbishop of Canterbury — the spiritual head of the Communion and symbol of unity.
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Lambeth Conference — a gathering of bishops for prayer, consultation, and teaching.
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Primates’ Meeting — gathering of the archbishops or presiding bishops of each province.
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Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) — a representative body of bishops, clergy, and laity that facilitates cooperation in mission, ecumenical relations, and global ministry.
These instruments do not function as a centralized authority; rather, they provide relational, consultative, and spiritual cohesion across a diverse global fellowship.