PHOTOS BY JEFF GARDENOUR/CFE
Caption 1 –
Father Jon Davis, a former nine-year executive director of Canterbury, welcomed guests again to the retreat’s annual dinner.

OVIEDO – The theme for this year’s Canterbury Annual Celebration Dinner was a “A Triple Crown Affair: Run Your Race, Make A Difference, Finish Strong.”

But board members will tell you that Canterbury, itself, will never stop running the race. After all, the spacious, picturesque retreat and conference center is 36 years young and counting.

“I think many Christians immediately think about St. Paul saying I’ve run the good race,” said Canterbury board member Charlie Pierce on Sunday, June 3, at the sixth annual dinner and silent auction. “I hope we all are running the good race. To me, the only trouble with the analogy is it implies a finish line. Well, we are not finished here at Canterbury. We have a long way to go.”

Things are going famously at Canterbury, which has come a long way since 2008 when the retreat fell on hard times with a downturn in the economy. Under Father Jon Davis’ recently completed nine-year tenure as executive director, Canterbury has bounced back with new business ventures and a rededication to being a sacred, spiritual space for all who come here.

“The beauty of Canterbury is that people have been here for so many years,” Canterbury board member Doug Dill said. “They love coming here, and just finding that place with Christ, and it’s so easily accessible here. In a world filled with of a lot of hub-bub, the more people that are exposed to it … will guarantee Canterbury being around for a long time.”

The energy and enthusiasm that is Canterbury 2018 was on full display June 3 when 160 people turned out for “A Triple Crown Affair” event, a play on the three thoroughbred horse races – the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes – that make up the Triple Crown. Attendees wore colorful hats, snazzy suits, and shoes; and mingled and chatted with one another in the reception area.

Enjoying the affair were Bishop Greg Brewer and his wife, Laura Lee; Marilyn Lang, widow of former Canterbury board chairman Tom Lang, who died in late April, and her daughters Sarah Caprani and Annie Dickman, along with her husband and son; Father Chris Brathwaite of St. Peter’s Episcopal in Lake Mary; Father Tom Phillips of Church of the Incarnation in Oviedo; and many others.

Marilyn Lang, the widow of former Canterbury Chairman Tom Lang, left, and her daughter, Sarah Caprani, were two of 160 guests to attend this year’s Canterbury dinner.

Many of the attendees came early for the event’s silent auction, which started at 5 p.m. and featured an array of fabulous items, including seven-night beachfront accommodations at the St. James Club, Antigua, gold-and-silver toned necklaces, artwork, tickets to Wonder Works and The Holy Land Experience, memberships to the Dr. Phillips Center for Performing Arts and the Orlando Museum of Art, and much more.

“I think it’s wonderful,” said Laura Lee Brewer. “The diocese has a real love for fellowship. We all love each other.”

Following the 1-hour silent auction, guests moved to the dining area, where Canterbury staff member Sue Grosso said a meat stew, pork tenderloin, roasted potatoes, string beans, plated salad, and more were served.

“I think this (and other) event(s) at Canterbury have improved dramatically,” said Deacon John Clark of St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church in Titusville. “I’m a retired chef. I think the quality of the food and the variety have been outstanding the last couple of years.”

Also headlining Canterbury on this special night was discussion of the Tom Lang Memorial Fund, established in the aftermath of his death. Davis announced that $12,000 has been raised in a little more than a month. Proceeds will likely go toward improvements at Canterbury, Dill said.

Guests mingle in the silent auction area at the 2018 Canterbury Dinner.

“I think the Diocese certainly appreciates the love Tom Lang had for Canterbury and his willingness to always be available to Canterbury,” Dill said. “One of things that Tom was passionate about improving was the kitchen area: commercial, appliances and that kind of equipment… so the staff can more efficiently turn out even better food.”

The food, scenery, events, worship, and friendliness all have been a part of Canterbury’s mission for years: a center for spiritual growth that offers hospitality in a sacred space. And that mission will continue.

“I think when you drive into Canterbury and you see these beautiful trees, the lake, I think you start to immediately get a sense that this is a place set apart, set aside for people to be nourished spiritually, to collect their thoughts, many have questions,” Pierce said. “It’s a good place for questions, to think. And it has a spiritual basis that is just beautiful.”