The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-10-30
MILESTONE IN HISTORY OF
PROTESTANISM IN THE CITY

fore the congregation during the
buits'--'- construction. 49,
For nearly che hundred years Pen
sacoiiaus have worshiped In tho First
church. And In IT, new home. the
strong cooperation Of all classes Of
It's membership bespeaks for It con
tnued long life snd prosperity.
Description % Ediflee.
Even In the big csnters Of popula-
ton Of the country IL would b dIm-
cult to ind a church building 30 id
mirably constructed architecturally
ard otherwise as tho First church.
Plans for the building were furnished
by . Cleveland, Ohio. architectural
arm while the work was done By To-
cal contractors.
The construction material Of the
building IL Pennsylvania brown sand
stone. with white stone facings. The
interior Is finished In oak, with dark
oak seats. The ceiling II finished
IN white messaline and suspended
from 1t are electric lights. furnishing
when lighted beautiful myriads OF
brilliant light.
rho building Is divided in several
different apartments, on the instiu-
lecture hall, dining hall. gymnasium
into an additional dining hall or au-
boiler rooms. First or main floor:
Main auditorium. Sunday School au-
fitorium, seventeen class rooms,
ladies' parlors, pastors apartments,
choir gallery, balcony, organ loft, etc.
The structure cost $4,000 and its
site $4,000. - ------ 1870.
Church oAscess. -.-z----
Those who are best pleased to en-.
ter the new church and worship In
1t are the church officers and the pas
tor. Rev. c. w. Gavin. who have
worked faithfully to sec this day.
The officers of the church are az fol-
lows: Pastor, Rev. C. w. Gavin, Sun.
day school superintendent, J. A
Avent. Building committee: T. A.
Jennings, chairman; Rev. G. w.
Gavin, business manager: A. M. Nc.
MILAN, w. C. Dewberry, T. e. Drawn.
er, ". G.. Mackey. and D. r.. Saunders !
The board Of stewards is composed
of the following: w. G. Dewberry,
chairman; A. r.. Johnson, D. r. Saun.
ders. w. c. Mackey. c.. L. Hall, j.
A. kirkpatrick, Jesse Mackey, ]. c.
Crowson. Richard McAllister, G. G.
Hartsfield, F. e. Brawner, Robert
Stuot, and n. A. Suaraz. , i
All Of the foregoing have been un.
firing in their efforts to erect an edi.
fee lat would prove 3 credit to the
community and a At place in which to
WORST - @-*.- - -.
History o. Church.
TIE history Of the First Methodist
Episcopal church. south, of Pensacola
ts that Of Methodistism in Pensacola.
This is also largely true of protestant.
ism, for it was the first formal or
gan1zation Of protestant church or
other religious body in the city.
The first Methodist church building
was erected at the corner of Tara
COMA and Intsndencia streets: Il was
then simply known as the Methodist
church. The old building was de-
stroyed by are in the early fifties and
later in 1864, when the ravages OF
the Livil war overlook it and the
church paid it's toll to that great
tragedy with itself
The edifice was rebuilt for the
third time. A part of the property
being sold to defray part Of the
building expenses After this - the
church prospered and grew to be the
prinripal religious body in the city.
In 1880 1t had attained .suficient
strength to entertain the Alabama
Conference, Methodist Episcopal
church, south, with which it IL and
has always been affiliated.
In 1881 the church property vas
exchanged for site at the corner of
PaIafox street and~Garden street, on
which AN elegant structure was erect
ed, to be RACED about three years
ago to make way for the new San
Carlos hotel. -.~-" J., -
The present site on Wright street
was purchased and the new edifce
erected. -".'
During the time Of the churcf's
location at the corner Of Palafox and
and Garden streets it was known as
the Pa1afox street church. Recently
the name has been again changed to
that of the First Methodist Episcopal
OH r.s,1, ,e 1n