History of St. John's

History of St. John's United Methodist Church

Certificate of Organization
The St. Johns Methodist Church of Sarasota Springs, Florida, having been duly constituted according to the provisions of the Discipline of The Methodist Church, is hereby welcomed into the fellowship of The Methodist Church to share its privileges and its obligations in the proclamation of the Christian faith and the extension of the kingdom of God.

Given under my hand and seal this Fourth day of June in the year of our Lord 1959. Anthony Moore, Bishop.

The first service was held in 1958 at 10:45 a.m. in the Sarasota Springs Realty Corp. building in the office of Sid Fisher and C. T. Lind.
St. Johns Methodist Church, 4555 Bee Ridge Road • Sarasota, FL 33580. The First Service was held on February 26, 1961.
In 1968 the Methodists merged with Evangelical United Brethren Church. Our church name was then changed to St. John’s United Methodist Church.
St. John's United Methodist Church, 5800 Bee Ridge Road • Sarasota, FL 33583. The First Service was held in 1981.
St. Johns Methodist Church, 6611 Proctor Road • Sarasota, FL 33241. Breaks Ground on June 25, 1999 and was completed in August 2000.

To read the original History Report from December 1958 through November 1962 look here.

Nominating Committee • March 29, 1959

Nominating Committee: The Rev. Claude Tucker is shown discussing plans for officially organizing the Methodist Church of Sarasota Springs. Seated: Rev. Claude Tucker. Standing from left to right:Mrs. J. Gilbert Smith, Ken Brown, Mrs. L. P. Kanode and Charles Aderholdt.

Organizational Service: March 29, 1959. Wilson-Hughes Funeral Home, 3731 Tuttle Avenue. 110 in attendance. Dr. Harry H. Waller, presided. Mrs. Raymond Healet, acted as secretary. 45 members received by Rev. Claude O. Tucker. 4 Baptisms. Church named St. Johns Methodist.

Building Fundraiser • March 6, 1960

CLEAR MESSAGE of the meeting last night of members of St. John’s Methodist Church is on the blackboard—the church wants to raise $12,000 in five days to make funds available for the start of its new sanctuary on Bee Ridge Road. From left are publicity chairman Bill Thomas, campaign chairman Gilbert Smith, building Committee chairman Cliff Cyphers and the Rev. Claude Tucker.

The seeking funds are for a place of worship which is to be erected at 4555 Bee Ridge Road. Architect Frank Martin has designed the new building.

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