David Knight, Rector of St. Simon’s on the Sound

Welcome to the online community for St. Simon’s on the Sound Episcopal Church. I am David Knight, and I have had the privilege of serving as the Rector (that’s Episcopal for “Senior Pastor”) since 2016.

St. Simon’s has been serving the community of Ft. Walton Beach and surrounding areas since the mid-1940s, with our first structure on our beautiful property on the Santa Rosa Sound finished in 1946. Our parishioners have long been involved in community support, helping establish such wonderful agencies as Children in Crisis (which provides housing and house parents for children in the foster system) and Sharing and Caring (a local food bank), along with several others, in particular ministries to help the homeless population.

We are a resilient people, having survived major hurricanes and a fire set by an arsonist. The people of St. Simon’s have responded to our own catastrophes and those of others throughout our history in generous and kind ways.

As an Episcopal church, we are part of the Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast, whose current Bishop is the Right Reverend Russell Kendrick, who grew up in St. Simon’s. We worship using the Book of Common Prayer, with a variety of beautiful music supported by our incredible choir, choir master, and organist. We offer communion (or Eucharist or the Lord’s Supper) every Sunday with weekday services, special holiday events, and the like. We have many ways for our people to serve in a variety of ministries inside the church and outside our walls.

Our church is growing with a significant increase in young families and children. We believe all means all, and all people are welcome to worship with us. We strive, although we often fall short, to love all of our neighbors and to be people of constant prayer. We also believe Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior and do all we can to follow his teachings in every aspect of our lives together.

We offer a variety of ways of making disciples of Christ as Jesus commanded us to do, through Bible studies, Children’s Chapel, and community events. Come join us, and I believe you will find a loving and welcoming community, doing all we can to know Christ and make him known.

May God bless you and those for whom you pray.

Father David

Welcome from Our Rector

Priest conducting a baptism ceremony at a church, with children sitting on the floor watching, and adults in the background holding hymn books.

A group of people gathered by the water participating in a religious outdoor ceremony. A man in a red shirt with a colorful stole is speaking at a table with chalices, a loaf of bread, and religious items. Others are listening attentively, some wearing religious or casual clothing. The table is covered with a patterned cloth, and there are decorative items and beverages nearby.

A religious ceremony is taking place in a church. A priest is standing at the altar, holding a chalice and a spoon, performing a ritual. Two girls and a woman dressed in white robes are standing nearby. The altar is decorated with a green cloth, candles, and religious items. A large cross is in the background with rays emanating from behind it, and sunflower arrangements can be seen in the background.