Canon Clark with acolytes from St. Luke’s at the Washington National Cathedral | Photo: Cathedral Church of St. Luke, Orlando
The Rt. Rev. Dr. Justin S. Holcomb appointed Canon Richard Davis Clark as canon acolyte warden on Jan. 28 at the 2024 General Meeting of the Cathedral Church of St. Luke, Orlando. The requisite for conferring the title of “canon” on any member of the laity is a long and valuable service to the church.
Clark is a cradle Episcopalian, baptized in 1946 and confirmed in 1955 at All Saints, Jacksonville. He became an acolyte at age 13 under the mentorship of the Rev. William Eckman at Grace Chapel Parish (now San Jose, Jacksonville).
Canon Clark (center, front) with other acolytes at St. John’s Cathedral, Jacksonville | Photo: Courtesy Richard Clark
He remembers a point system Eckman used to reward the acolytes for service. Each job carried a different number of points: carrying flags, torches, cross, banners or helping to set the table, with a goal of 150 points to receive a crucifix. Clark earned his first 150 points and remembers kneeling for the presentation of the cross. Eckman gave him an extra blessing, and it was then that he felt a calling to service in the church.
Clark went on to earn the 500 points that made him eligible to take the Master Acolyte Exam. To become a master acolyte, the examinee had to score a minimum of 85%. He passed with 99.5%. After his examination, he served eight more years under Eckman’s ministry.
He moved to St. John’s Cathedral, Jacksonville, to serve under the ministry of the Very Rev. John Mangrum, then dean, serving for seven years and taking the position of acolyte warden there. While at St. John’s, he took his first group of acolytes to the National Acolyte Festival at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.
In 1993, Clark; his wife, Virginia; and their children made a move from Holy Cross, Sanford, to St. Luke’s. The Very Rev. Dr. G. Richard Lobs III, then dean of the cathedral, asked him to be an acolyte, and before long, he became assistant acolyte warden. In 1999, Clark wrote Lobs to ask if he could be the acolyte warden. The dean commissioned him to that role and gave him four assistants.
The National Acolyte Festival, Washington National Cathedral, Oct. 7, 2023 | Photo: Cathedral Church of St. Luke, Orlando
During his time at St. Luke’s, Clark has been instrumental in bringing the acolytes to the National Acolyte Festival, a trip they have made several times. In 2023, five acolytes raised $2,800 to travel to the festival, held Oct. 7. Although none of them had previously attended the event, they had such a great time that they are already planning next year’s trip, he said.
“Teenagers remember these memories, and it undergirds their faith,” he added. “It is something special we do for them.”
Clark and Sid Glynn of All Saints’, Lakeland, former longtime verger for the Diocesan Convention, used to plan Central Florida Diocesan Acolyte Festivals at St. Luke’s. They would hold a Eucharist service with acolytes from all the churches of the diocese processing with their regalia, and then they would all go to Wet ‘n Wild. Clark recalls it as a “great” diocesan youth event.
As he begins this new phase of service to the church and to acolytes, the new canon acolyte warden looks both backward and forward. Of his original desire to become an acolyte, he said, “Spiritually I am drawn to high church liturgy, but the most important factor was Father Eckman’s mentorship and love for us, his acolytes.” He described how Eckman would have the acolytes over for a meeting, serve his famous Boston Baked Beans and coleslaw, and spend hours explaining the liturgy to them. All the acolytes loved this priest.
Not only did Clark find his love for the church through Eckman’s life and ministry, but he also found Christ. He prays his ministry to the acolytes at the Cathedral will be seen in the same light by the young men and women whom he has served over the years and continues to serve, now as diocesan canon acolyte warden.