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You may have noticed: there are anchors everywhere at St. Clement’s. On signs, in artwork, and hanging right across from the main doors of the parish hall—a beautifully carved wooden one, draped with a stole. It’s not just decoration. It’s not branding. It’s a symbol with depth. For us, the anchor isn’t just about being grounded. It’s about hope. It’s about faith that holds steady when life becomes uncertain. And it’s about the calling we share to be steadfast in love, truth, and care.
The image of an anchor appears only once in the Bible, but it’s unforgettable. In Hebrews 6:19, we read: “We have this hope, a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul.” For early Christians, hope wasn’t vague optimism—it was trust in the faithfulness of God, even when the waters grew rough. The anchor became a hidden but powerful symbol of that hope, often carved into tombs or catacombs to say: we are held fast in Christ.
According to tradition, Clement of Rome—the saint for whom our parish is named—was martyred by being tied to an anchor and thrown into the sea. It’s a harrowing image, but also a potent one. Even in death, Clement’s faith didn’t sink. The anchor became both a mark of his witness and a sign that Christ’s love holds us fast, even when the world lets go.
The anchor at St. Clement’s isn’t just a nod to our name. It’s a reminder of who we are and what we’re called to do. We are anchored in Christ. Anchored in faith. Anchored in hope. And anchored in the kind of love that doesn’t let go when life gets turbulent.
That’s why you’ll see anchors across our parish—from the carved wood in the hall to the quiet presence on our website. Each one says something about us: that we want to be a church rooted in something deeper than the moment. That we hold fast to God’s love. And that we hold fast to one another.
Learn more about the symbolism of the anchor in Christian tradition from the Anglican Communion.
706 W 113th Avenue, Tampa, 33612
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