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DID YOU KNOW?
Early History of the
Church of the Annunciation
The history of the Church of the Annunciation was written by Terry Hussey. She and Chris Collins, who also played an important part in its publication, handling all the photos and serving as technical advisor, have done an incredible job in the preserving the history of our beautiful church!
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The Rev. Gerald Lowe
The Rev. Gerald Kenneth Lowe was appointed vicar by Bishop Louttit on March 4, 1956. Rev. Lowe was ordained in 1933 and served for ten years as Dean of Christ Church Cathedral in the Falkland Islands. He served for ten years in the Diocese of Albany, followed by 2 years at St. John’s Church in Brooksville, Florida. Fr. Lowe brought his wife Marjorie and children Audrey, Robin, Geraldine, and Angelica. Born after he arrived on the island was his son David.
128 people were present for Fr. Lowe’s first Sunday. Services were a Low Mass at 8 am, Catechism class at 9:30, followed by Morning Prayer at 11 am. Father Lowe established a crypt, built by Captain Stiles Hochstettler, inside the altar, where ashes of members could be kept.
At the Annual Meeting in January, 1959, Fr. Lowe addressed the parish about the desperate need for more space. His family with four children was living in the tiny vicarage, a portion of today’s kitchen, and space was needed for Sunday School and meetings. His suggestion was to remodel the present vicarage space and build a new vicarage at the north end of the building. By February the vestry had obtained a loan of $20,000 from the First Federal Savings and Loan for 20 years at 6%. They also applied to the diocese for a loan of $10,000.
The vestry again acted as contractor for the new vicarage and George Harris Jr. was the working foreman for the new vicarage. Vestry member Bernard Crookes built a new pulpit, lectern, prayer desk, credence table, hymn board, and gate for the Communion rail. It is noted that in the near future city water would become available, and it will have to be connected to the kitchen and vicarage.
Parish Status
On October 18, 1959, the new vicarage was dedicated with a service of Evensong, followed by a potluck supper. Less than a year later, by action of the diocesan convention in May, 1962, Annunciation Mission is declared a parish. Fr. Lowe was the first rector. The diocese declared that the parish must now pay the rector’s full salary of $4,500. Attendance for the little parish was growing from 100 in 1956 to 160 on Easter of 1960 to 207 on Easter of 1964.
During Father Lowe’s ministry at Annunciation, the church saw great growth and had a flourishing Sunday school. In 1962 a parish hall was added. But rapid growth isn’t easy, and in February, 1963, the treasurer informed the vestry that the balance in the church’s account was not sufficient to meet current expenses. They had to increase their loan, and then were further relieved of financial problems by a significant bequest from the estate of Martha Hall.
In November, 1963 the vestry approved combining all the church’s indebtedness into one loan with the First National Bank of Bradenton of $30,000 for 15 years at 5%.
The church had new pews, pew cushions, and carpet, as well as a new tile floor in 1968. An historical first was the election of Mrs. May Harris as the first woman vestryman. Yes this is the same May Harris who went door to door, seeking out Episcopalians in order to start a church. The little church now had 214 communicants (far more than we have today).
Financial troubles weren’t over however. In October, 1968 the treasurer reported just $146 in his checkbook, with $71 in bills awaiting payment, and the parish was $1016 behind in payment of their diocesan assessment. There were fewer than 60 pledges for just under $14,000.
“We have been in better shape,” said Fr. Lowe at the Annual Meeting of January, 1969. They owed the bank $1000, plus the mortgage of $23,603. The roof had been leaking for months and several small repairs had been made, but they now had to replace the whole roof. They borrowed $3,000 from the Island Bank at 7%.
In June, 1970 there was a philosophical discussion taking place. Some are seeking accelerated reduction of the church’s indebtedness, while others feel that any extra funds should be used for greater outreach. The thinking here is that the interest is low, and the debt will be repaid long before the end of the useful life of the facilities which will benefit future generations.
By action of the diocesan convention, the parish must pay health insurance ($254 a year) and life insurance ($92/year) for the rector for the first time in 1971. Membership was up to 252 communicants.
In March, 1972, the Harrison house abutting the church on the southeast side was for sale at $26,000. Owning this property would complete the square of church owned property. Sine there was no need for the property at that time; it could be rented for up to $1200/year. By the time the vestry finished discussing the pros and cons of purchase, the house was no longer on the market. Two years later when it came on the market again, the price was $37,000.
In May, the vestry voted to provide air-conditioning for the upstairs living area and one bedroom of the rectory. They also approved revamping the front entrance (on Second Street) of the church using the Babcock Memorial Fund, eliminating two four-inch steps. The E.C.W. paid for air conditioning the parish hall. So many times in the church’s history it has been the women’s group that provided the funds for church improvements and enhancements.
By September, 1973, Father Lowe remarked at the annual meeting that “due to the almost non-existence of children in the parish, the church school cannot grow or progress.” The island has changed. No longer an inexpensive place for young families to live, Anna Maria had become a resort community with retirees and renters.
In January, 1974, Father Lowe completed his 18th year as rector. “There are no children in the congregation and hence no Sunday School,” he told the Annual Meeting. Among accomplishments for the year he listed the improved vestibule, painting the exterior of the church, a garden repository for cremated remains, painting the interior of the church, parish hall, and washrooms, installation of an amplification system, and great improvements to the garden area.
In January 1975, Father Lowe reported to the Annual Meeting that Annunciation had 352 communicants, about 150 households. About 20 of these give regularly but will not pledge. All but 27 of the remaining families have pledged for a total of $21,750. Father Lowe had made 560 home visits this year and conducted 121 services. This was to be his last Annual Meeting. Father Lowe planned to retire in January, 1976. Father and Mrs. Lowe received permission from the vestry to move out of the rectory and into the new home they have purchased in Bradenton for the last year of his ministry at Annunciation.
to be continued...
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