Digital subscriptions provided by the City of Gulfport THE GABBER.COM No. 2784
October 27, 2022 - November 2, 2022
From Horseback to the Pulpit By James Schnur
Early Circuit Riders on the Pinellas Peninsula Years before Hamilton Disston made plans to create Disston City, ministers traveled in small boats and along dirt trails to reach isolated locations. Long before the Orange Belt Railway connected lower Pinellas with the outside world, these ministers often spent a few days at one site before traveling to the next, with members of the flock conducting services between their visits. By the early 1870s, the closest Methodist circuit was at Clear Water Harbor, now downtown Clearwater. A new circuit began to serve the agricultural community in Seminole shortly after 1900. A small Methodist college moved from Leesburg to the historic Palm
JAMES SCHNUR
This year, the First United Methodist Church of Gulfport celebrates the 110th anniversary of its official organization. However, this church traces its origins to circuit-riding Methodist ministers who traveled along the Pinellas Peninsula long before 1912.
The First United Methodist Church has held services in this sanctuary since December 1951.
Harbor area, then known as Sutherland, in 1902. Known for much of its time at that location as Southern College, it became one of the first institutions of higher learning along Florida’s west coast and included a preparatory pre-college program.
DINE-IN •
Before Pinellas gained independence from Hillsborough County in 1912, advanced students from Southern College gained ministerial experience by riding the circuit by horse or boat, or sometimes by foot. Church continued on page 6
HOME LOANS
CARRY-OUT •
GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE!
FAST/EXPERIENCED/LOCAL
FRESH FLORIDA STONE CRABS ARE HERE!
CALL OR TEXT TODAY 727-777-6305
7490 GULF BLVD • ST PETE BEACH • 727-367-3309 • PJSOYSTERBAR.COM
ALL WESTERN MORTGAGE INC. NMLS 14210
DAVE TUCKER NMLS 307499