50-year anniversary: Of mice and women
SUN PHOTO BY BARBARA BEAN-MELLINGER
Dressed for St. James Episcopal Church's vacation Bible school’s island theme are, from left, the Very Rev. Cesar Olivero, rector; Kathleen Hudson; Frances Harris; Eulalee Dandy; and Ann and Greg Scotten.
SUN PHOTO BY BARBARA BEAN-MELLINGER
St. James Episcopal Church and Port Charlotte United Methodist Church bought the land between them and turned it into New Beginnings Park. In addition to holding special services there, the park is open to the public and can be rented for weddings and other events. It also includes the Stations of the Cross.
PORT CHARLOTTE — St. James Episcopal Church isn’t the only church to celebrate its 50th anniversary this year. But it may be the only one, though, that celebrates a church mouse as part of its recorded history.
Like many area houses of worship, the group that planned to start an Episcopal church in Port Charlotte was given a 5-acre parcel of land by General Development Corp., which developed much of Charlotte County. The congregation celebrated its first service in its own building on Easter Sunday 1962.
