Navarre, FL, February 27, 2010:   The Rev. Anthony MacWhinnie II began his duties as priest at St. Augustine of Canterbury Episcopal Church today. The Senior Warden of the vestry, Pamela Apps, presented Fr. MacWhinnie with the key to the parish, and then the congregation celebrated the traditional Ash Wednesday service and imposition of ashes.

Fr. MacWhinnie is a native of Pensacola and grew up in and around Warrington. When he says he “grew up in the Episcopal Church” he really means it. His house was literally next door to St. John’s, Warrington and his mother was the church secretary for three years. For years, also, he was the only young person there and thus was the only acolyte, so he served at many weddings, church services and funerals.

He grew up loving the outdoors and especially all things connected to fish and fishing. He earned a degree in biology from the University of West Florida, and then worked as a fisheries biologist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Reasech Institute. He attended seminary at the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest in Austin Texas, and then became vicar at St. Thomas by the Sea Episcopal Church in Panama City, Florida before accepting the call to come here.
Father MacWhinnie’s philosophy, he said, has been shaped in part by being a new priest in difficult financial times.
 
“A wise preacher once told me that ‘Ministry is what happens in the interruptions’”, MacWhinnine said. “Even in the midst of all this financial turmoil and uncertainty, people's lives continue.  People get sick.  Loved ones die.  Babies are born, baptized, confirmed and eventually married. The budget can wait.  People come first.”

“We are blessed and delighted to have Father Anthony MacWhinnie as our parish priest,” said Senior Warden Pamela K. Apps. “Father MacWhinnie gained instant rapport with the parish membership upon meeting them.  Father MacWhinnie is a local and so his fondness of all things Florida touched our hearts and we knew that his passion for the Lord and love of this area would be a good match for the personality of our membership.”

St. Augustines' is very active in the community participating in many local events, Apps added.  “Father MacWhinnie comes to the parish with many ideas on how we can expand our community relationships and build on our reputation as the "little church that does big work."  So we are excited and look forward to a long relationship together.”

St. Augustines' invites the community to come visit us on Sundays with services at 8:00AM and 1030AM with Sunday School at 9:15AM and meet our new priest and see why we love our parish and share in our love of God, country, and community.

Fr. Anthony McWhinnie accepts the keys to the parish from Senior Warden Pamela Apps.