Brief Church History

 

            From nine members meeting in homes on Sunday afternoons to a downtown church -

            what is the story?

           

           In 1849 the Georgia-Florida Conference initiated a survey resulting in the

           organization of The Methodist Society under the direction of Rev. Leroy G. Leslie,

           circuit rider. 

          

           The Rev. Ira Patterson, pastor of the Manatee Methodist Church organized the

           Braidentown Methodist Mission in 1893.  The Mission became a church in 1896

           with 14 charter members and eleven more joining the same year.

 

           Dr. John Crews Pelot, Manatee Church, gave the land and the congregation occupied

           a tent for two years until  "The Little White Church" was finished in 1898.

           A two-story parsonage was built adjoining the church, which was superceded

           by one on Sixth Ave. West in 1925.  The present parsonage was built in 1972.

 

           The present Sanctuary was built during the ministry of Rev. Smith Hardin who

           preached the first sermon in 1923.  Completion of the Education Building

           was in 1956. The renovation and air conditioning of the sanctuary was completed

           in 1957 and the Fred L. Martin Chapel became a reality.  An elevator was added

           in 1974. A complete interior and exterior renovation and remodeling of the Church

           was completed from 1999-2001.  Renovation of the Riverview Blvd. Parsonage was

           completed in the fall of 2002.