Saint Peter Catholic Parish began as a small and welcoming parish shortly after Mr. John H. Kelly, a Pensacola businessman, donated 9.91 acres of property plus $50,000 to the Diocese of Saint Augustine on January 17, 1974.  Bishop Paul Tanner, Bishop of Saint Augustine, accepted the property located just north of U.S. Highway 98 and 2.5 miles west of Hurlburt Field in south Okaloosa County.  This property was given to the Diocese in memory of his parents, Peter W. and Molly P. Kelly.  The stipulation in the deed was that a church had to be built on the property within five years or the property would revert to the Kelly Estate.  Mr Kelly also requested that the new church and parish be named Saint Peter.