PCUSA

Our History

The First Presbyterian Church of Sarasota, is located in beaatiful downtown Sarasota. We were organized February 16, 1906 by Rev. J.W. Roseborough, a Florida Synod Evangelist, with eleven charter members. Licentiate, Rev. Charles Kingsley had oversight of the infant congregation. The new congregation met in the homes of Mrs. M.A. Prime and Mr. K.M. Hebb, two of the early members. Previously-ordained Elder W.M. Grigsby and Deacon K.M. Hebb were the first officers.

The Ladies Aid Society, organized in June 1907 (at the home of Mrs. J.W. Harrison) raised three hundred dollars to buy property on the corner of Orange Avenue and Fifth Street. Trustees K.M. Hebb, R.I. Kennedy and George B. Prime were elected October 8, 1907. On October 6, 1908 five hundred dollars was borrowed from the Home Mission Erection Fund. The cornerstone for the concrete block structure was laid November 22, 1908. The structure was not completed until February 13, 1913. In 1922 the congregation became self-supporting with membership of seventy.

The decision was made early in the 1920's to move the church from its Orange Avenue location. In 1925 the church property was sold for $175,000. The present property at the end of Oak Street was acquired for $30,000. Until a house of worship was erected in 1928 at the cost of $20,000, worship services were held in the Mira-Mar Auditorium, the old Central School auditorium, and the Edward's Theater. The new building dedication occurred in February 1929. Membership had grown to three hundred.

In 1950 the current sanctuary was built. In 1954 the congregation voted to relocate the church school section to the East Courtyard at the rear of the original sanctuary, add a second story to the relocated section, air-condition the worship building, and construct a manse south of the Sanctuary. By 1956 in addition to the approximately five hundred members, the church provided services for hundreds of tourists during the winter season. In 1970 a second manse was purchased across the street.

The education and office additions were built in 1976. They were located to the north and west of the original Sanctuary building. At this time the old basement was filled with dirt; the first floor of the original Sanctuary building was converted into Fellowship Hall with a second floor; and an elevator installed. The second floor became the Cowden Library and Conference room.

Renovations were made to the Chancel of the main Sanctuary's interior in 1991 along with the demolition of the south manse to provide room for a new Fellowship Hall, new Courtyard, and Youth Loft. At the same time other remodeling occurred throughout the existing buildings. A new Parlor and Chapel were created from the former Fellowship Hall.

First Presbyterian Church has assisted in establishing seven other Churches in Sarasota. Members volunteered to go from First Church to assist in the establishing of Whitfield, Bee Ridge, Pine Shores, Northminster, and Church of the Covenant, Christ Church Long Boat Key, Peace Presbyterian.

Five sons of the congregation have become Pastors. Three daughters of the congregation were trained in Christian Education at the Presbyterian School of Christian Education in Richmond, Virginia.

Rev. C.W. Latham (January 28, 1916-1924)
Rev. (Major) Augustus E. Barnett (October 1,1924-October 1, 1927)
Rev. B. Lowry Bowman (September 21, 1928-September 1942)* (December 1945 - December 1952)
Dr. John E. Abbott (November 1942-December 1945) Service during Dr. Bowman's absence as U.S. Army Chaplain
Rev. J. Moody McNair (February 1954-November 1969)
Rev. John H. LaMotte (December 1969-December 1983)
Rev. Douglas Blair (March 1985-March 1987)
Rev. C. James Hinch (August 1988-December 1994)
Dr. Susan Forester DeWyngaert (May 1997-March 2011)

Rev. Robert Ford
Rev. Lawrence H. Richards
Rev. Day Carper
Rev. James V. Morrow
Rev. Robert H. Teed
Rev. Joseph Albright

Rev. Paul H. Moehlman
Rev. Maurice L. Stone

Rev. William L. Painter
Rev. Robert J. Sherman

Reports Available for Members

2010 church directories are now available in the church office. Also available are the Volunteer Booklet, Presbyterian Women Yearbook, and prayer lists. Statistics or other financial information may be requested from the President, Treasurer or Finance Moderator. For your convience you may click here to receive our annual report for 2010. You may also inquire at the front desk or ask any staff member for assistance.

Links to Other Resources

About links to other web sites: All web sites listed have been carefully selected. Views expressed at these sites are not necessarily shared by First Presbyterian Church of Sarasota, Florida, nor do these links in any way represent an endorsement. While these web sites have been screened, we are unable to assume any responsibility for secondary links located at the different sites. If you discover anything at these sites that is inappropriate or objectionable, please send an e-mail to the Web Manager.

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