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Immaculate Conception Old Roman Catholic Church was founded
in 1980 as St. Joseph's Old Roman Catholic Church.
The congregation met in Spring Hill for several months and at Sea
Pines Community Center for several years.
Archbishop John J. Humphreys of the Diocese of Florida consecrated Bishop
John Greed to lead the Church. Its name was changed in 1984, and the current property and building were purchased about 1994.
Archbishop
Humphreys leads Our Lady of Good Hope Old Roman Catholic Church in Pinellas Park Florida which serves as the mother Church
and he helped to get fixtures for the new Church. A member of the Pinellas Park congregation helped to acquire the pews for
the Church.
Immaculate Conception members, Robert and Marlene Mathias and their sons-in-law built and donated the beautiful
marble altar and the communion rails.
The Rev. Fr. Maurice Manton has led Immaculate Conception ORCC since Febeuary
29, 2004. A native of Minnesota, he moved to Florida in 1998. He was ordained to the Diaconate in May of 1999 in the Anglican
Church and joined the Old Roman Catholic Church in April of 2000.
After nineteen months of study, Fr. Manton was ordained
to the sacred priesthood November 9, 2002 at Our Lady of Good Hope and served as an assistant priest there for one and a half
years when he was assigned to the Hudson Church.
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"Our members are Catholics that like the traditional Mass with
a mixture of English and Latin," Fr. Manton said. "We want to see growth and reach out to younger people and bring more families
into the Church"
Fred Jackson serves the Church as acolyte and Crucifer.
Charles Hili serves the Church as acolyte
and Thurifer
As the Church grows, aditional men may be called to serve.
Archbishop John Humphreys serves as President
and Fr. John Marochi serves as Vice-President. Fr. Manton serves as Secretary and Treasurer of the temporary board. A new
board will be voted in at the choice of Bishop Humphreys. This board will serve for a period of one year.
The Old
Roman Catholic Church, Ancient Diocese of Caer-Glow is not affiliated with the Old Roman Catholic Chruch of North America,
however the Bishops meet as an Independent organization. The Old Roman Catholic Church is not affiliated in any way with
the many groups that call themselves "Old Catholics."
We are not affiliated with the Diocese of St. Petersberg nor
are we under the authority of the Vatican. However, in all of our Masses we give respect to Pope Benedict 16th and follow
the dictates of the Roman Curia wherever possible. The Mass we celebrate is the Mass from the council of Trent that has been
the standard Mass for more than five centuries.
For more imformation, please send an e-mail to: frmanton85@earthlink.net
and request the booklet: "The Old Roman Catholic Church, Who We Are."
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