History

  The parish was named for Saint Edmund, King of Norfolk in England from 855 to 877 A.D.  He was martyred by invading pagan Danes because he refused to renounce his Christian faith.  In 1892, all Episcopal churches in Florida were one Diocese. Transportation and Florida weather made the supervision of the whole state by one bishop impossible. The State was divided into North and South at the 1892 General Convention of the Episcopal Church.  The Missionary District of Southern Florida was born. The Church of Saint Edmund the Martyr in Arcadia, Florida was founded in 1893 when land was purchased for 136 dollars. St. Edmund's was one of the first churches begun under the leadership of Bishop Gray, the new bishop for the area. The Rev. Chris Gray, rector of St. Mark's, Venice is his great grandson. The first worship service was held in 1895 and the chapel (now the parish hall) was built in 1897.   The current parish hall served as the church until 1930 when funds provided by the Women of the Church caused the present church structure to be built. The church building is unusual for Florida, incorporating elements of English church architecture from the Norman period such as the lancet windows in the transepts and at the rear of the church.