The Key West citizen., 1954-10-09
Spanish Cbmrrbes Merged To Form,
FL SaI,udor Methodist Church

West were the American pastors
Of the local American churches.
They baptized the children and
performed marriage ceremonies.
Many Cuban families inter-marri-
ed with Americans and many a
time these families were invited
and some of them converted.
When there were a nuraber in
terested in the Gospel, the Method
ist Church, South, appointed Rev.
erend ]. E. A. Van Duzer as the
first missionary to work among
the Cubans.
He was young and spoke some
Spanish. He continued to carry on
the work until his death during the
yellow fever epidemic in 1895.
He died on June Z of that year
and his last words before he pass
ed on we're 'Don't give up the Gu
ban mission.
Rev. Van Duzer is buried in the
City Cemetery near the main gate
on Windsor Lane. His grave is
marked by q marble plaque bear
ins his name.
cvban Pastor
The first Cuban pastor appoint
ed was Reverend Enrique B. So
meillan. He organized the first
Spanish Methodist Church in Key
West.
La Trinidad was the name given
to. the church which was organized
on June 2S, 1883, with 26 charter
members, some Of whom had been
baptized before in the American
churches.
The first name of q member re-
corded was that Of Domingo Milford
who was baptized on August 20,
1875.
Mrs. Verena Estevez de Leon is
the only living member Of the orr
ginal church. She is close to ninety
years old and makes her home
with her daughter, Mrs. Garcia.
Some Of the early pastors of La
Trinidad were the Reverends E.
J.. Holmes, S. E. Philips, Manuel
Deulofeo and Reverend Sands.
New orgsnixation
Another group was organized in
1916 under Reverend B. Carrera
with Reverend Francisco Boan as
his assistant.
This church was officially recog-
nized On December Is, 1872, with
Reverend Guillermo Perez in
charge Of the church as pastor and
il was he who suggested the name
'sEI Salvador"
FOR some time the two groups
met separately until their buildings
on Duval and Angela Streets were
sold and both groups merged into
one church.
The building which the church
now occupies was purchased from
Holy Innocents Episcopal Church
In 1915 when Holy Innocents parish
was merged with St. Paul's.
Other pastors who followed Rev.
erend Perez after he was trans
ferred to the church in Tampa,
were Reverend Ramiro Paula, Rev
erend L. Oser, Reverend Oscar
Rodriguez and the present pastor,
Reverend Manuel Figueroa.
Present Setvp
Fl Salvador Church has mem
bership Of ITO and 122 pupils in its
Sunday School.
The church sponsors q Boy
Scout troop and q Cub Scout pack,
~ well as a Methodist Mems Club,
q Ladies Missionary Society and a
Mothers. Club. It also has an ac-
tive YMYF group for the young
people.
The Wesley House is a communi-
" project of the Methodist Church
and works in cooperation with FL
Salvador Church.
The deaconesses Of the Wesley
House from the beginning of the
organization were members of El
Salvador Church.
Deaconess Della Wright served
as the first director Of the Wesley
House. The present directors are
Miss Arlene Merritt and Miss Bea-
trice Orrell.
Reverend Figueroa graduated
from the public schools in Puerto
Rico and the Evangelical Seminary
there.
He had pastoral charges in Cabo
Ro,o. Mayaguez and Aquadilla be-
fore he was transferred to New
York City.
n New York he was in charge
of the Spanish Evangelical Church
and was able to organize four
more churches in that city.
reverend Figueroa is in his
so,,rth year as pastor Of Ell Saliva
dor Church.
Cams OF Th0neht