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About First Presbyterian Church of Miami
The First Presbyterian Church of Miami is the city's
oldest organized congregation. Early in 1896, The
Reverend Henry Keigwin, synodical missionary representing
the Presbyterian Church U.S.A., reached Ft. Dallas
(now Miami), a very small community not yet incorporated.
April 1, 1896, three months after he began holding
services in a rough board restaurant, the First
Presbyterian Church of Miami was organized. Services
were held first in a tent donated by Memorial Church
of St. Augustine. Within a year this was replaced
by a "Pavilion" with a floor, doors and
a shingle roof. Both were shared with the Baptists
and the Methodists.
In 1898, Henry M. Flagler, pioneer builder and developer
of Florida, took a personal interest in the siting
and the construction of the first church building.
On the corner of S.E. Flagler and Third Avenue,
it was completed in 1900. Its congregation, swollen
in the winter by tourists, was made up mainly of
families drawn to the area to build and operate
Mr. Flagler's Royal Palm Hotel and his FEC Railroad.
In the 1926 hurricane the steeple of this building
was destroyed and never replaced.
The rapid growth of Miami and the needs of a growing
church led, in 1947, to leasing of the downtown
property for 99 years and relocating the church
to 609 Brickell Avenue, a central location across
the river on an avenue of beautiful homes and with
ample parking. This sanctuary was finished in 1949.
Additions in 1954 and 1964 completed the building
as you see it today. The Flagler Memorial Chapel
is a replica of the Flagler Street structure and
the pews, pulpit, stained glass windows and fixtures
are from the original church.
Outreach above and beyond the norm include William
Jennings Bryan's Sunday School class 1914-1925 and
sole support for missionaries Sarah Faris and the
Edward Clark family 1920-1957. First Presbyterian
Church of Miami helped with support and organization
of several local churches:
1920 - Westminster Presbyterian Church (now sold);
1922 - Second Presbyterian Church (later Central);
1926 - First Presbyterian Church of Coral Gables;
1941 - Coral Way Presbyterian Church;
1953 - Pinecrest Presbyterian Church
In 1956 First Spanish Presbyterian Church and in
1974 El Cordero Presbyterian Church began as missions
in our building.
Times have changed. Brickell Avenue is now the center
of hemispheric banking. The temple, First Presbyterian
Church of Miami, has been totally renovated without
any major effort on the part of the congregation.
It was all due to insurance money because of Hurricane
Andrew. It is now our part to insure that this magnificent
cathedral stands out as a beacon in Downtown Miami,
attracting people from all walks of life, natives
and foreigners alike, so that His name may be praised,
bringing hope and spiritual blessing to all who
enter. |
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For
some more photos
& history - click
here
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