St. Francis Episcopal Church, nestled in the pine trees, on beautiful Dauphin Island , Alabama, is a warm and welcoming place to be. Episcopalians on the island organized formally as the Episcopal Society of St. Edmunds in 1974. The group met at both the Methodist and Catholic churches on Key Street. Hearing that the church family of St. Paul’s in Irvington, Ala. had too few members to continue and that the building was for sale, the Episcopal Society purchased the church as the establishment of a permanent home. The 70-year old building was brought in section by trucks across the Dauphin Island bridge and then the process of transformation began!

Church members and other volunteers worked to restore and add to the structure. A parish hall was built with a connecting breezeway, trees and shrubs were planted. The church was dedicated to God on December 2, 1986 by Bishop Charles Duvall.

The Rev. A. Ellis Wilkins, one of the main builders and repairers of the church, became our first Vicar. He retired in June, 2000 and was succeeded by the Rev. Dr. Walter Leroy Elam, III, a capable leader for our church.

Parishioners of St. Francis are a mixture of island residents, “snowbirds” , and visitors of many faiths who are drawn to the church by its beauty, friendliness and the community activism of the membership. Since, we have no full time staff – we work together to maintain our buildings and outreach activities.

St. Francis Episcopal Church Mission Statement

Our mission is to be a house of
Worship for all people where the
Love of Christ is proclaimed by:
      . Living out our faith
      . Respecting individual gifts and talents
      . Serving our Parish family and the community
      . Being Christ’s lighthouse
Thereby furthering God’s kingdom.