Page 145 - some-stuff-i-wrote-and-some-stuff-i-didn't-(2011)-h-morris-williams

Some Stuff I Wrote and Some Stuff I Didn't (2011) H. Morris Williams

Also, it is of interest that Dr. Pasco, who served the church later for a year, and S.

E. Phillips were admitted as young preachers. This Rev. Phillips was the father of
the late Senator Phillips.

The first land owned by the church, of which there is any record, was purchased
from Silas Niblack. It consisted of a city block, and is now occupied by the
Methodist parsonage, Mrs. T. P. Jordan’s home, and the home of Miss Bertha

Hensley.

The present parsonage was built while R. H. Barnett was pastor, in 1891. The first
parsonage was a much smaller building nearer the center of the lot.

About 1916, while J. S. Chapman was pastor, the parsonage was partially
destroyed by fire. Since then it has been remodeled several times, but the main part
of the building is the original.

There is no record of the time of erection of the first church. The property was

bought in 1852, and since a conference session was held in Lake City in 1856, the
church must have been built sometime between the years of 1852 and 1856. This
was wooden frame building with a tall belfry in front, and steps the length of the
porch led from the sidewalk. Two doors opened from the porch directly into aisles.
There was a slave gallery in front of the building. It was in this building that the
First Presbyterian Church was organized, in 1856.

About 1886, while R. L. Honiker was pastor, a more modem church building was
erected. It was still a wooden building, facing west on Marion, but in the same
location as the former building.

In 1905, the Boards of Trustees and Stewards saw the need of building nearer the
business center of the town. Land was purchased (the north half of the block)
between Columbia and Alachua streets. During the pastorates of Dr. I. C. Jenkins

and Dr. R. Ira Barnett, the present church was erected in 1907.

Rev. E. C. Calhoun saw the need of an adequate and northern Christian Education
Building. This construction was undertaken by J. A. Leslie, who was elected
chairman of the building committee. Plans were begun which culminated in the
present, three story, brick Christian Education building, Wesley Hall, located south

of the Church. Although Rev. Calhoun did not live to see his dream realized,
Wesley Hall stands as a monument to him. The first service was held in the
Education Building Easter Sunday, April 17, 1927. Rev. B. F. Rogers was pastor

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