The history and growth of the Church of the Good Shepherd and the City of Lake Wales seemed to parallel in the early years. The community was founded in 1911, but did not become a city until 1925. The City grew with the "Land Boom" which affected most of Florida in the early and middle 1920's.

Credit is given for the founding of the Church of the Good Shepherd to a group of ladies who initiated a program to form a mission in Lake Wales. In 1924-25, Mrs. P. A. Wheeler enlisted the good offices of the Rev. Evan H. Martin of Bartow to visit Episcopalians who were interested in establishing a mission in Lake Wales . The first services of this group were held in 1925. The mission congregation held services in several available buildings in Lake Wales until 1926 when the lot on which the present church is located was purchased.

After purchasing the lot, the treasury was at a low ebb but the congregation was anxious to have a church. Contributions enabled the purchase of building materials but there wasn't enough to hire professional builders. A dozen or so men of the congregation volunteered their services and building was started on Wednesday, March 31, 1926. By Easter Sunday, April 4, 1926, a rough floor was laid, studding was up, part of the siding was on, and some of the roof rafters were in place. The first service was held in the new, but unfinished church building, on Easter in 1926. About 50 members were present.

It was not until later in 1926 that the congregation could afford windows and doors to completely enclose the building. During this construction period, a gentleman stopped by to observe the activity. Learning a church was being built, he offered to furnish a bell. This gentleman's mission in life was furnishing bells for little churches which could not afford one. A belfry was added to provide for the unexpected gift.