City proclamation honors St. Simon’s deep roots in Fort Walton Beach community life

Fort Walton Beach, Florida – For 80 years, St. Simon’s on-the-Sound Episcopal Church has been more than a church building in Fort Walton Beach. It has been a place where faith turned into meals, volunteer hours, school support, and quiet help for families who needed someone to show up.

That long record of service was recognized Tuesday night, when the City of Fort Walton Beach joined the congregation in celebrating the church’s 80th anniversary. During the City Council meeting, Mayor Nic Allegretto read a proclamation honoring St. Simon’s, which was founded in June 1946 and has remained part of the city’s civic and spiritual life ever since.

The proclamation traced the church’s roots to land donated by Liza Jackson, a gift that helped establish what would become a lasting community anchor. From that beginning, St. Simon’s grew into a center of worship, fellowship, and outreach, building a presence that reached far beyond Sunday services.

Over the decades, the church has supported local schools, advocated for children in foster care, and worked with community organizations including Children in Crisis, Sharing & Caring, and the Okaloosa Public Schools Foundation. Its programs have also helped provide food and essential resources to families and students, reflecting a ministry grounded in practical service as much as prayer.

“The City of Fort Walton Beach proudly recognizes the 80th Anniversary of St. Simon’s on-the-Sound Episcopal Church, which has faithfully served our community since its founding in June 1946,” the proclamation stated.

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City leaders also praised the church for its “unwavering commitment to helping others,” pointing to the many ways its members have strengthened the wider community through volunteerism and charitable outreach. In the city’s words, St. Simon’s has “enriched the lives of countless residents and helped strengthen the fabric of our community.”

The anniversary recognition was not only a look back at eight decades of history. It was also a public thank-you to a congregation that has remained steady through changing times, changing needs, and generations of Fort Walton Beach families.

Netta Holley and Kelley Fuller attended Tuesday night’s meeting to accept the proclamation on behalf of St. Simon’s on-the-Sound Episcopal Church.

Mayor Allegretto’s proclamation closed with gratitude for “eighty years of faithful service, fellowship, and community leadership,” placing the church’s anniversary not simply on a calendar, but in the continuing story of Fort Walton Beach itself.