Immanuel Anglican Church in Destin has welcomed Fr. Rob Cornelison as its new priest, making him the seventh resident priest to lead the congregation since its founding in 1928.
- Cornelison brings 30 years of ministry experience spanning Anglican churches, diocesan staff positions, United Methodist churches, police and fire chaplaincy, and leadership roles in parachurch organizations.
The new priest previously served as senior pastor and rector at Holy Trinity Anglican Church in South Haven, Michigan, near Grand Rapids. He was ordained as an Anglican priest in December 2014.
Cornelison holds a bachelor’s degree in Christian education from Seattle Pacific University and both a Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry from United Theological Seminary.
Beyond his pastoral duties, Cornelison serves as director of field operations for Ekklesia Society, where he developed and released a trauma healing program informed by neuroscience and based in inner-healing prayer. The program has directly impacted more than 30,000 people in Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Dominican Republic.
- Cornelison and his wife, Wendy, have seven adult children and one grandchild. He was commissioned for his new role by Anglican Mission in America Lead Bishop Philip Jones on Aug. 31 at All Saints Anglican Church in Dallas.
The church, located at 250 Indian Bayou Trail near the Destin dog park, has deep roots in the community. It began in 1923 when English-born Clement E. Taylor moved to what was then simply called “East Pass” and held the first meeting in Willy Marler’s fish house barrel shed.
After years of meeting in various locations, including shared space with a Methodist church and private homes, the congregation made progress on building a church until the Great Depression hit in 1929. John Maltezzo had donated all of his property north of the road for building a church but died without realizing his dream of attending services there.
When U.S. Highway 98 opened for traffic in 1934, used materials were transported from St. Catherine’s in Pensacola, which was being demolished. Foundation blocks of heart pine, the altar, pews and other items were salvaged and brought to Destin by truck. Services were held in this wooden church from June 1937 to 1953 when the main building of the concrete block structure was completed.
- The church body grew, and so did the building, adding a kitchen and fellowship hall, then later an octagonal sanctuary. In the 1970s, according to church history, “the Holy Spirit fell and the body of St. Andrews-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church was on fire with God’s Spirit and Power!”
The congregation became Immanuel Anglican Church in 2000 and moved locations. They worshiped in the Destin Community Center for five years until their land and buildings were ready near Indian Bayou.
Sunday worship services are held at 10:15 a.m., with Holy Eucharist offered weekly to all baptized followers of Jesus. The church works with the cross-denominational Church of Destin in community outreach efforts.
