The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1954-09-11
ld Methodist Church VIII Mark
Hob Anni'ersa,y This October

y
Mr.. Samuel Kemp came to this is
land from the Bahamas. He was a
Wesleyan Methodist. Along with a
number of others he went to the
court house to hold services of wor-
ship. Father Kemp served as
pastor of this small congregation,
the first Methodist group in Key
West.
Through the labor of his own
hands and with the assistance of
some of his neighbors Mr.. Kemp
erected small building on prop
perry he owned on Eaton near VIII
liams. This was the first church
building of the Methodists in Key
West. It soon was given up for a
larger one twenty by thirty feet
on Caroline Street between Simon.
ton and Elizabeth. The formal or
ganization of the First Methodist
Church seems to have taken place
on this lbcation in 1874.
Rev. Richardson coIorfvl Figure
Amolg the early pastors of The
First Methodist Church was that
very cdorful figure, The ! W. Sia-
mon Peter Richardson. II was un-
der hb pastorate that the present
site FIR The First Methodist Church
was occurred. Three deeds were
grained in 1916. The first to a
boad of trustees presumably for
4 church, the second to Mr.. Rich
ar6on himself, for a cemetery,
ang the third to the board of trus-
teS for a parsonage.
I was in the same year that Key
Vest suffered one of its most ter
rtic hurricanes. The walls to new
some church had been erected but
Re roof had not been put on. Mr..
richardson, realizing the great
Aeed, went up the Mississippi Riv-
er preaching on the streets in var
ious cities and collecting money for
. new church in Key West. So
successful were his endeavors that
that building stood for q great
many years, only to be torn down
to make way for the present tenn
pie.
Conversions Laid " Years AGO
Under the leadership of the Rev.
John c. Ley plans for the present
building were brought about. The
corner stone was laid October 70,
1877. After 16 years of sacrifical
labors and giving, the church was
declared free from debt and dedi-
Gated in 1893. The church office is
IN possession OF the original reports
of the secretary of builing COM
mittee.
A good deal of the stone in the
feet thick walls of this church
was cut from what Is now one Of
he largest cisterns in the city, be-
tween the building and Simonton
Street.
The sanctuary has one Of the
finest selection of stained glass
windows to be found anywhere.
During the past year the inside of
he church has been painted and
redecorated. New carpets have
been laid.
Recently 10 new electric fans
have been installed. This magni-
iicent building. beautiful in sim
plicity, in design has been declared
'ne OF the most worshipful church
es in the state of Florida.
"old Stone Church"
Because of Che nature of the
building of the First Methodist
Church it has been known around
he city for many years as "The
Did Stone Church." Besides serv-
ng the regular congregation a
great many service personnel and
touriStS come to worship here while
n Key West.
Those of another day who went
before us planned and worked far
more wisely than they knew, that
his lovely physical temple might
serve as meeting place for God
Ind man.
In 1924 largely with the assis-
.ance of the late Mr.. Benny Lopez
he ground was secured for the
present Sunday School building. In
1881 under the pastorate of DR..
John G.. Stradley, new building
vas erected to house the educa-
.ional work of the church.
The facilities of this building
,erve the needs of many groups
n the church and community life
or fellowship and recreation, be-
sides Sundays and afternoons a
great many evenings find groups
meeting in the social hall.
9TH and 5fh Generation Members
As evidence of the way of the
Old Stone Church as served in Key
West for a century and more is
he fact that among its present
membership are people who are
fourth and fifth generation men,
bers.
On the otherhand one finds those
who are new in the community,
taking their places in the Christian
fellowship of those who love God
and seek his viii.
The First Methodist Church Of
KEY West has the honor of being
The Oldest church of its denomi-
nation in the Miami district, but
she IS still youthful at heart. Her
membership and officials are in