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    St. Paul's Episcopal Church of Key West, Florida

    St. Paul’s Episcopal Church seeks to meet the traditional needs of contemporary Christians. Whether you are seeking a church home, a place to visit and worship while on vacation, seeking a site for a destination wedding or simply curious about who we are, we welcome you to our website. Read More

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    Music at St. Paul's

    Music is an integral part of our ministry, both as part of our services and as outreach to our Key West community. Our organist performs daily noontime concerts that are free and open to the public, alternating his performances between piano and organ. The pipe organ at St. Paul’s is an impressive instrument with which to glorify God. Our chime of bells, which dates to 1891, was recently restored and rings out not only on Sunday mornings but three times most days as our organist plays hymns he has himself transcribed. Read More

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    Community Outreach and Involvement

    There are many outreach ministries here at St. Paul’s, both within the church organization and through individual church members who have leadership roles in community-based organizations and social agencies. St. Paul’s Church and Parish Hall are also used for a variety of community activities, including theatrical and musical rehearsals, music lessons, Elder Hostel events, support meetings such as AA and NAMI, and parties and private receptions. Read More

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    Christian Education

    We have a fairly small, wonderful group of children in our Sunday School program, and Christian education for our young people is viewed as a high priority by our congregation. Children are able to participate in other parish activities: Many of our Sunday School members participate in the Children’s Choir, which performs approximately six times a year during the 9:00 am service and on Christmas Eve. Read More

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    St. Paul’s Liturgical and Spiritual Life

    St. Paul’s liturgical life is centered in the Eucharist, and a substantial portion of the laity participate in the liturgy at three Sunday services: 7:30 am, Prayer Book Rite I; 9:00 am, Rite II sung Eucharist with choir and incense; 11:00, Rite II with hymns. Three vergers take turns coordinating and leading the 9:00 am liturgy, while another twenty or so parishioners of all ages participate as Eucharistic ministers, ushers, lay readers, thurifers, crucifers, and acolytes.

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St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Key West

Rector Rev. Larry D. Hooper

Welcome to St. Paul's Episcopal Church

Letter from the Rector

St. Paul's is a warm, friendly, diverse, and inclusive community. Many of our members have deep family island ties (we call them "conchs") while many others are regular communicants only during several months of the year ("snow birds"), but are nonetheless active and devoted participants in parish life. During the winter season our attendance and participation swell.

Our membership also includes a regular trickle of newcomers who have fallen in love with our island life and have settled here, as well as military families who may be here just a few years. Like Key West itself, whose official city motto is "One Human Family," our congregation welcomes diversity in all its manifestations, including race, background, and sexual orientation. As our mission statement says, we are a community "serving the traditional needs of contemporary Christians."

Our 490 members find Christ's presence through beautiful liturgy and music, thoughtful and instructive preaching, and caring outreach to our local community. Average Sunday attendance is about 220 communicants over three services, a number that often includes at least a few visiting tourists. All who seek Christ are invited to share Holy Communion with us.

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Summary Description of St. Paul's, Key West

Founded in 1831, St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Key West is the oldest church community south of St. Augustine.

The church and adjacent campus provide a landmark centerpiece to downtown Key West and are open daily to allow visitors to enjoy prayer and reflection in the calm beauty of our stained glass windows or the free lunchtime concerts offered by our gifted organist.

The parish observes a traditional approach to liturgy complemented by music, and the church and parish hall are frequently used for musical and other community events.