FUMC History
Methodism in Panama City began in 1906, when those of the Methodist faith joined with the Baptists and Presbyterians in forming a Union Church. On Sundays, they occupied the small building that was the town’s first school. It was located at Park Avenue and Luverne, north of where McKenzie Park is today. Members of three faiths gathered each Sunday for Sunday School and had preaching services whenever a visiting minister was available.
Methodist members began meeting in homes in 1907. They were recognized then by the Central Church as a mission of the St. Andrews Bay Charge. Other missions were Sulphur Springs, Thompkins, Nixon, Vicksburg, Millville, and Parker. The Panama City mission was officially organized on July 28, 1907. Rev. E. W. Roberts was the first pastor to serve.
During the 1908 pastorage of H. C. Haistens, services were held in the new First Baptist Church, located at Fifth Street and Grace Avenue.
The lot for the First Methodist Church was donated by the Gulf Coast Development Company. It was located at Fourth Street and Magnolia Avenue. The Church construction was contracted to Elias Ayars, an early Panama City contractor. However, Ayars died before the building was completed and men of the Church pitched in and finished the job. The building included the sanctuary facing Magnolia and a two - story Sunday School building in the rear. Rev. J. C. Buttram was pastor at this time.
Two stained glass windows were donated by R. L. McKenzie in memory of his wife, Belle Booth McKenzie, and her daughter, Jewel Booth. Pews were donated by Mr. and Mrs. William Harris. A bell was installed in the Church steeple to call members to worship each Sunday. The bell is on display on a frame located behind the present Church. One of the Sunday School rooms was equipped by J. R. Asbell in memory of his mother, Sally Asbell. The pastor, S. B. Stout, preached the dedicatory sermon in the Church September 17, 1911.
A parsonage was constructed on Church property at Fourth Street and Luverne Avenue in 1912. Rev. J. W. Mathison, father of Si Mathison, was pastor and the first minister to occupy the two – story parsonage.
Charter members of the First Church were: Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Ellis, Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Plate, Mr. and Mrs. George W. Reddick, Mr. and Mrs. Henry W. Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. Crawford Adams, Miss Mary Lizzie Dickson, Mr.and Mrs. L. H. Howell, Mr. and Mrs. J. E. McKenzie, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Moore, Miss Hettie Patton, Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Sapp, Mr. and Mrs. E. F. Boyer, Mr. and Mrs. R. O. Hannah, Mr. and Mrs. A. M. Douglas, Mr. and Mrs. J. H. King, Mr. and Mrs. E. S. Pratt, and Mr. and Mrs. C. F. Hartsfield.
Church officials began planning a new Church in 1943. D. H. McNeal was the pastor when the lot for the present Church was purchased in that year. Rev. Brunson Atkinson was pastor when the architect was employed to draw plans for the new Church at Fourth Street and Palo Alto. Ground was broken in 1947 for construction. Services continued to be held in the old Church until it burned in December, 1949. Services continued at the Ritz Theater until the new facility was occupied. Rev. Carlisle Miller preached the first sermon in the new Church May 7, 1950.
The educational building and chapel were constructed in 1953 from funds donated by Raymond Jones of J. A. Jones Construction Company. The chapel was dedicated to Mr. Jones on March 8, 1953 by Bishop Clare Purcell.
Later the sanctuary was heavily damaged by fire. Under the supervision of G. W. Hobbs, it was restored to its present state, including new stained glass windows. The Trinity Center was the latest addition to the Church when it was added in 1986.
