The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1951-08-04
History Of The First Presbyterian Church
Key

L
born in the City Hall, the 18th Of
April, 1909
During an eight day evangelis-
tic mission, April % to May 2,
the Rev j w. Roseborough of
st. Johns Presbytery held an or
ganizafional meeting and receiv-
ed into=-tie First Presbyterian
Church twenty-six by letter and
four ON confession of faith. This
was the Beginning of what has
proven q long hard struggle to
keep ttse-ehurch alive. The pru-
dent INTERPRETATIONS Presbyter-
ian spirit-of its members enabled
it to survive some discouraging
periods and in doing so it has
contributed much to the moral
and spiritual welfare OF the city.
In these early days Key West
was isolated from the mainland
but twas a thriving little city.
Despite the financial panic of the
first Roosevelt administration,
business was beginning to pick
up. With the cigar factories and
sponge industry, prospects for the
future were rosy and bright.
While-thsse industries have long
since been removed, the mo frost
climate has been drawing card.
With the super highway spanning
the many expanses of water, tour
lists flock here the year round.
While an increasing number OF
newcomers fall desperately in
love with the bainy weather and
establish homes on this tropical
isle. In fact Key West has grow
ing pains, and as a vacation spot
or for residence, this city ranks
among the best in Florida or else
where.
Early III the last century the
many immigrants from the Ba-
hamas and other long time resi-
dents began TO think about the
need Of church. Many had been
trained in q church and so sought
to establish one here. The Rev.
Sauson Brunot of Pittsburgh. a
priest of the Episcopal Church,
was the first resident minister
to arrive. He organized ST. Paal's
Episcopal Church in 1882 and this
church continues the largest IN
the; city Many of the immigrants
had belonged 10 the Wesleyan
Methodist Church so they built
and Brought over a minister in
1887. Since then this church has
been released To the colored peo-
pie and il is now the Trinity Pres
byterian Church.
The Baptist Church was organ
lied in l64l and few years later.
in l845, the Methodist Episcopal
Church, South was organized and
is now. known as the FIRST metho-
dist, or the Old Stone Church
II was in is47 that Father Cor
coran came To KEY West and es-
tablished 81. MaFy's a the Sea
10 provide Tor ibe ppgp3e nf Cath
Ollie faith. Fl. CoaxgTa1 died Of
yellow fegSg ia 1851 and WIS sac-
ceeded. by. " ] r Kn'by. In IT,
intervening years Taa2y f1ttss-(
churches have csstrst to the city
until to-day Key N'egf boasts of
some thirty churches and eflapels
SPECIAL MISSIONS
Geogsaphrs3 as well as econ
oulic cefidi,aons have made il dif-
ficuit for $40 churches 10 carry Oh
their program One IF ths diff
ulties for the Presbyterian Church
has been 10 persuade 8 minister
10 continue AZ pasatYf "A ftrgt il
was the isgsiat5on 81 the Key
when IL Mas sgaposlsitsls t. Feacsl
the mainiarss except by water
then lister by 5@ihfaad afid ferry
which discouraged ministers as
il made good stfa9esis and lia,'af
les inaccessas93s T'tle depression
Of the zC's ants fi,s bltgtd e6 ghs
sponge industry, 3ogatstef with
fhe ifaglgfeF ~ sbs eigsu factories
10 ptnkE Is;esstgsss 40 ssstglattaussso /
10 ae 20 iseyss sie sirafyiit /
PEBBLE ngovEa SSi5s ina III times
the wcsk NJ tie siaatSh xsas dis