Holy Trinity Anglican gets its start at facilities of Ortega Presbyterian, a PCA congregation.
Two pastors named David have joined forces in Ortega.
The Rev. David Burke, pastor for 14 years at Ortega Presbyterian Church, is helping the Rev. David Austell launch Holy Trinity Anglican Fellowship.
After the ordination of a gay bishop a few years ago, some Episcopalians nationwide switched to the more conservative Anglican denomination. The Ortega area doesn’t have an Anglican church, the pastors said. The two closest would be one that meets at Bishop Snyder High School near Cecil Field and Grace Church Anglican on Fleming Island.
“We believe it is the anointed time and place,” Austell said. “To have an orthodox Presbyterian Church hold out its hand to a new Anglican Church is just nothing short of God’s hand, God’s heart.”
In January, Austell’s church began holding services at 4:30 p.m. Sundays in Burke’s 50-year-old, 50-member church at 4406 Longfellow St. Burke’s services are at 10:45 a.m. and 6 p.m. Sundays. Austell said he has about 40 members so far.
“We realized that we are called to be a unified church,” Burke said. “We are common in our faith. Ecclesiastically, we’re different, but we have the same core beliefs and commitment.”
Both congregations are raising funds for First Coast Women’s Center, a crisis pregnancy center, and Austell, a first-time pastor, said Burke, ordained in 1976, has helped him with sermon ideas and church business.
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