in the late 1880s, the rt. rev. edwin g. weed, third bishop of the episcopal diocese of florida, found three families of episcopalians when he visited defuniak springs and from that nucleus st. agatha's was born. the first baptism was in 1890 in a private home. construction of the church building began in 1895. at easter when the women of the mission wanted services in the unfinished church they asked the men of the church to read morning prayer. the men refused stating that the church had not yet been consecrated and no men in the parish had yet been licensed as lay readers to conduct services. the women took matters into their own hands. they decked the lath that was awaiting plaster with flowers and greenery from floor to ceiling. they proceeded to read morning prayer. this was long before women became eligible to be licensed as lay readers. the church has the only pure pipe organ in the county. it was hand built by a parishioner and completed in 1990.