St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church
Inverness, FL • 2026 Parish Profile
Reaching out to the world with love in Christ’s name
Beginning the Search
At our organizational meeting of the Search Committee, we began an analysis of St. Margaret’s in terms of our history, where we are presently, and why we do what we do.
We began with congregational involvement at a Coffee Hour event on Sunday, August 17, 2025. This was held to identify their perspective on the top priorities in what to look for in the search for our new rector. We talked with parishioners personally, had confidential drop-in boxes, had mail-in information from shut-ins, and had posters using a “dot” system where individuals could physically place their dot on what they felt was most important.
We also had interactive involvement from attendees to the Coffee Hour on the subject of why they chose St. Margaret’s as their church home. We used the same interactive “dot” system and got a similarly great response.
Our summary findings were: 1) Top 3 qualities of new rector – Worship & Liturgy, Personality & Presence, Spiritual & Theological Leadership 2) Top 3 reasons for selection of St. Margaret’s as your church home – Relational & Emotional Connection, Worship & Spiritual Growth, Spiritual & Faith Alignment/Community & Belonging.
Worship and Liturgy
Eucharistic Mass is conducted each Sunday at 9:00am. It is a joyous service using the Book of Common Prayer and The Hymnal 1982. The liturgy is accompanied with music provided by our organist and choir. During Advent and Lent, the service follows Rite 1 with the remainder of the year following Rite 2. The entire service is printed in the weekly bulletin that is provided in print on Sunday morning and is also emailed to those interested on Friday preceding the service. The celebrant is assisted by an acolyte and two lay Eucharistic ministers. Also assisting are two ushers and a person directing cameras during Live Stream on YouTube. A clip of the sermon is posted on YouTube each week.
A healing prayer service is held by our deacon each Wednesday at 12:30 along with morning prayer at 9:30 a.m.
Our services and weekly Bible study are scripture based following the Episcopal lectionary calendar, generally using tract 2.
Acolytes and Lay Eucharistic Ministers
St. Margaret’s has a dedicated team of Acolytes and Lay Eucharistic Ministers.
This core group of church members works weekly to enhance the worship of the Lord for the benefit of the congregation gathered in His name.
These competent people work well together and comprise one of St. Margaret’s devoted ministries.
Choir
St. Margaret’s choir sings with their hearts. Although there may be only nine of us at the present time, we love making a joyful noise to the Lord! We are always open for new members, no audition required.
History and Community
St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church is located in the city of Inverness, FL, just steps from many of the City and County municipal buildings and near a variety of small, boutique shops and a thriving culinary choice of local restaurants. While our church received its charter from the bishop in 1873, the City of Inverness was not incorporated until shortly thereafter in 1877, the same year the County of Citrus was established. We are the oldest church in town! Our patron saint was selected for her Scottish roots which mirrored the cultural background of our original members, many of whom were the movers and shakers in this community in their day.
Inverness, FL, is recognized as one of the best small towns in the South, having earned the #3 spot in the USA Today 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards for 2025. It is a vibrant community with a historical downtown and a blend of cultural events with outdoor adventures such as the 46-mile Withlacoochee State Trail, used for walking and non-motorized bicycle traffic. Citrus County is known as part of Florida’s Nature Coast because it is teeming with so many outdoor activities and wildlife, with Florida’s beaches only an hour’s drive away. Here we celebrate hiking, biking, fishing, scalloping, stone crabbing, and just relaxing. Our many freshwater springs offer abundant opportunities for scuba divers, swimmers, kayakers, paddle boarders, and canoeists! We are famous for our manatees, especially in winter. We are 1 ½ hours from both Tampa and the outskirts of the Orlando resort area. Exploring our Citrus County towns and their individual areas offers a richly rewarding dining and shopping experience, and a variety of museums that showcase our rich cultural history and early Florida life!
Medical care is easily accessible with HCA Citrus Hospital conveniently located in downtown Inverness and Tampa General Hospital in Crystal River. Within one-hour thirty minutes both north and south of Inverness are the major regional medical center of Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa and University of Florida Hospital in Gainesville respectively.
Citrus County is in a growth spurt! Our population has surged from 153,010 in 2020 to an estimated 175,072 in 2025. According to the 2020 data from the US Religion Census, approximately 62.8% of the county’s population is unchurched, giving us great opportunities to expand our ministry. With this in mind, we hope to attract a pastoral candidate who is active within the larger community and able to help us respond to their needs.
Painting of the original St. Margaret’s Church. Same outdoor sign stands today.
“Parishioners & friends of St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church gathered together recently to tear down the old church to help provide more parking for the religious center. This edifice has stood since 1914, and will eventually be the site of a new parish house for the church.” – from Citrus Chronicle
Pictured is our Memorial Garden, which stands on the grounds of the original St. Margaret's Church.
Downtown views of Inverness today.
Downtown views of Inverness today.
Who We Are
For 132 years, St Margaret’s Episcopal Church has been loving and serving our neighbors by sharing the love of Christ, giving thanks and praise to the Father, and guided by the Holy Spirit to bring the word of Jesus Christ to all, showing God for us, Christ in us, and the Holy Spirit through us. Our mission statement is “Reaching out to the world with love in Christ’s name.”
Our congregational demographics mirror those of our county, with many having reached retirement age and beyond. Our members have come to Inverness from diverse cultural backgrounds, from within the United States and around the world. No matter the background, age, sex, or financial status, all are treated with dignity and acceptance to everyone we encounter.
Through activities actively involving our congregations, we have identified core values that include the following reasons that members decided to make St. Margaret’s their church home. The sense of welcome, family, well-being, and emotional attachment that exists within our congregation, coupled with spiritual alignment with scripture and meaningful worship, preaching, and teaching, seemed to be the most decisive factors. These same themes were indicated in their hopes and dreams for our next rector.
Evangelism and Outreach
St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church has a 132-year history of striving to meet the needs of its congregation and the surrounding community. The scope and range of these activities have been dependent on identified needs and available resources. In the past thirty years, these programs have included St. Stephen Ministry training, providing used furniture to those seeking housing, shelter during hurricanes, furnishing school supplies and clothing, and countless other projects to help those in need.
Currently, our community outreach includes our two-fold feeding ministry; families may pick up bags of food at four-week intervals, and a hot meal (Feed My Sheep) is served every Friday. This hot-meal program began in 1993 and has served as a model for other local churches. Outreach is not only done by organized groups in the church, like our pastoral care committee, but it also involves a personal commitment by parish members to help one another. Several members act as caregivers not only to family members, but also to those without family to help them. Some have welcomed needy individuals into their homes, furnishing them with food and lodging. Others act as mentors to assist those needing financial or medical guidance, provide needed transportation, and make visits to shut-ins.
No matter a parishioner’s age, many are willing to volunteer wherever help is needed following Christ’s words, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25:40
Altar Guild
The Altar Guild at St. Margaret’s started with the building of the original church which was dedicated and opened in 1897. Its long and faithful ministry has produced a legacy of service that serves as an inspiration to those serving now. We serve in weekly teams of 3 or 4 but can always count on everyone to assist on Holy days or for special services.
Our members keep the Sacristy well stocked, with service items cleaned and polished, and linens done with care. Our floral displays are done by outside vendors.
We have practiced flexibility and are quite open to change under the direction of our rector or to accommodate supply priests. The Altar Guild works seamlessly with our rector to produce a beautiful service that is a worthy testament for our Lord.
Children’s Ministry
Children's Ministry is important to St. Margaret's. In Children's Church, we begin teaching the story of Jesus. We try to create an engaging and fun learning environment for kids. Attendance ranges from 3 to 12 children per Sunday. Our classes are age-appropriate; even young children can learn the basics that Jesus loves them.
Our Children's Church activities have included: pumpkin picking, carol singing for nursing home residents, cookies and hot chocolate, Nativity Story presentation, trunk or treat at Halloween, and a very successful Easter egg hunt enjoyed by dozens of children.
Last year, we were inspired to offer a preparation class for First Holy Communion. A class of 4 children with their families celebrated the sacrament.
Vacation Bible School has enjoyed great success in the past with 12 to 25 children. Unfortunately, it was discontinued during the pandemic, but we hope to bring it back.
In the upcoming year, going forward, we hope to reboot our goals for Children's Ministry. We know that community outreach remains a vital part of this effort.
Trunk or Treat
When Autumn rolls around, we know it’s time for one of our favorite events, Trunk or Treat. Children and parents from our parish family, friends, and the community are welcome to participate. Families go from car to car collecting candy donated by church members for the costumed kids. There is much oohing and aahing over the costumes. It’s a great way for everyone to share the fun of Halloween.
Daughters of the King
The Daughters of the King is an Order for women of the Episcopal Church. Chapters of the order also exist in the Roman Catholic Church, the Lutheran Church, and some Anglican churches in North America.
Members pledge to pray daily, participate in worship, and render aid to the clergy as deemed necessary. The order was originally organized in 1885. Our bylaws prevent us from raising money.
St Margarets Daughter of the King order was certified on October 15, 1979, as #2172 and named the Augusta Brumby chapter. Ms. Brumby began the Chapter at the request of our priest at the time, Fr. Miller. She soon began to realize the value of the DOK, and it became a major part of her life. Prayer, service, and loyalty are the pillars of the DOK.
Over the years, Daughters have filled many roles at our church, most recognized being funeral receptions. Most active daughters have other roles at St Margaret’s, such as ushers, acolytes, feeding ministry, and Sunday school. Our total commitment is Service.
Feeding Ministry
For decades, St. Margaret’s Feeding Ministry has provided food to the needy in our area.
Our Food Pantry distributes prepared bags of non-perishable food, baked goods, and frozen meats according to family size to those who qualify. We do our best to accommodate individuals with special diet restrictions, vegetarians, and, in the case of the homeless, lack of cooking facilities.
Feed My Sheep serves a hot lunch each Friday, and all are welcome. The doors open at 10:30, and we provide coffee, beverages, cake, and a comfortable place where our visitors can visit with each other, our volunteers, and our Deacon. We begin serving lunch at 11:30.
Over the years, our feeding ministry has refined and improved its system of getting food to the hungry. We’ve adjusted our service area, day of week schedule, volunteers’ job descriptions, and food sourcing (congregational donations and USDA versus food bank). This year, we’ve begun offering gently used clothing and books for children and adults.
We welcome all. Our “Clients” often become friends, and some have chosen to join St Margaret’s.
Pastoral Care Commission
The mission of the Pastoral Care Commission is to supply comfort, emotional, social, and spiritual support to our parish family who are sick, homebound, and in times of need through the example of Jesus and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
We raise funds with various activities throughout the year; our annual Holiday Bake Sale is always a wonderful success. During the holidays, we display an Elder Angel Gift Tree and were able to visit shut-ins with Christmas gifts. It was a joy to go Christmas caroling to a local Assisted Living Facility, our neighbor, the Crown Court.
We had a well-attended Ice Cream Social and a wonderful afternoon tea. With funds from these activities, we purchase greeting cards, postage stamps, and supply candy-filled mugs for first-time Sunday visitors.
Coffee Hour
After our service each Sunday, we chat our way to the Parish Hall for Coffee Hour. Coffee Hour is one of our most effective means of welcome, communication, and outreach. At one table, a group might be casually discussing plans for an upcoming church dinner or event. At another table, someone might be sharing a humorous vacation misadventure.
Visitors and newcomers are warmly welcomed and find that St Margaret’s Family is just that. The warmth and affection don’t stop after their first visit.
We care about each other.
Workdays
Our Senior and Junior Wardens oversee the landscaping and gardening needs of the St. Margaret’s campus by a schedule of Saturday morning workdays staffed by energetic volunteers. We begin with a robust breakfast, then work on various projects throughout the seasons as needed.
The “Lay Weeders” are always busy, particularly in the memorial garden. We also paint, scrape, clean out our rental houses, etc. What is the saying? “Many hands make light work.”
