It was the fall of 1945. World War II had just ended, and our servicemen were streaming homeward. Tampa was no exception to that flood tide. With the expansion of the area, particularly to the southwest, Dr. Harry Waller, District Superintendent, saw an opportunity and challenge in the fast growing Palma Ceia section.

Of course, there was a great deal of groundwork to be done. There was no building, no members, and no money. Prospective members needed to be located and visited, and a church site had to be selected. It was a most formidable challenge.

The matter of finding the right location was particularly vital. To a great extent, it would determine the area from which Paul could expect to find his membership. A number of days were spent in "surveying" the whole area, and gradually it became apparent that the site needed to be somewhere in the general neighborhood of the intersection of Bay to Bay and Dale Mabry. However, no specific site in that area seemed to be available. Paul went ahead with his visitations, meanwhile continuing the search.

By mid-February 1946, a group of some ten prospective members was assembled, and met at the home of Mrs. Kickliter to make plans for getting the church under way. The following month, a group of 13 met at the home of Mrs. A. F. Mickler and resolved plans for our first worship service, to be held on Easter Sunday. It was at this meeting that Paul gave his first short sermon to us - impromptu and brief, but extremely effective. At that moment, we knew that we had, indeed, founded a church.

We had a church, but no church building. Through the assistance of some of our members, arrangements were made to use the facilities of the Palma Ceia Theater (now Palma Ceia Masonic Lodge) on MacDill Avenue. Those of you not raised in the pre-WWII era will not understand how drastic a step that was. Methodism had a rather straitlaced attitude at that time, and although its members were not forbidden the pleasures of the movie theater, the thought of holding church services in such a location was most radical. However, we adjusted ourselves to the thought, since there was simply not another place available to hold the fifty or so worshippers we optimistically expected for that Easter Service.

The logistics of that endeavor were most interesting. We were allowed to use the building for our worship services, but we had to be all cleared out and have the place in order for the 1:00 p.m. movie. The regular janitorial service used by the theater was scheduled for 10:00 a.m., so we had to make our own arrangements for cleaning the theater prior to the worship service. At 8:00 a.m. Russell King, with a revolving group of volunteers, met to clean out what seemed to be tons of popcorn boxes and candy bar wrappers. While that was going on, Paul was busy setting up the altar - a table with a cross on it, flanked by two floor baskets of flowers. Linnie Livingston and others of the ladies collected whatever flowers were available in their yards to fill the baskets. With that, we were ready for services. (Needless to say, a quick trip home for a shower and a change of clothes was a necessity.)

That first service, Easter Sunday, April 21, 1946, was a tremendous success. Estimate of the minister and Head Usher Herb Livingston, Sr., were a bit at variance, but we finally agreed that some 350 people had been present. In our wildest imaginations we had never anticipated such a turnout. Mr. Wagner's sermon was a new experience for all of us - brief, as became his trademark, but meaningful to everyone. It was a good example of what we came to expect as regular fare.

We even had music. A piano was available in the theater, and Mrs. Earl (Jo) Houston volunteered to become our pianist. There wasn't a choir that first Sunday, but through the efforts of some of our members under the leadership of Eva Byron, there soon was one. Jo stayed with us for many years as pianist, and when plans were eventually made to purchase an organ, she took lessons so that she could continue as our organist.

Following that first Easter service, attendance continued to remain above our expectations, and by the end of May, our membership roll totaled 115.

On May 19, 1946, we added a Sunday School, meeting at 9:30 a.m. It began with an enrollment of 41 students. Teachers were Mrs. A. R. Clark, Junior Class; Mrs. John Wallace, Intermediate Class; Pete Cline, Young People's Class; and Paul Wagner, Adult Class. Sunday School Superintendent was Russell King. The activity grew at a rapid pace. In a short time, there were classes meeting in each of the four corners of the theater, one in the center section, and the Junior Girls met in the Ladies Rest Room. We did not have the best of facilities, but there was a wonderful spirit of enthusiasm that managed to overcome almost any obstacle. It was truly an exciting and exhilarating time.

There was no place for a nursery in the facilities, and it was several months before we hit on a solution. Two of our choir members, Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Foreman, volunteered the use of their home and yard, and Eleanor Cline volunteered as nursery keeper. Since their home was a mile or so from the theater, it was necessary for her to collect tots as they arrived at the church, put them in her car, and drive to the Foreman's home, returning in time for the parents to collect their children as they left church. In our modern day emphasis on safety and insurance, that would be unthinkable - but it worked!

Meanwhile, our search for a site found a solution. One of the charter members, William C. Pierce, donated two lots at the northeast corner of Bay to Bay and Dale Mabry. Two adjacent lots were available for sale, and these were purchased for $1250.00, with the financial assistance of the Florida Conference. The site problem was now settled. Obviously, those four lots would be more than sufficient for our needs for all time.

In order to get the church organized and running, a Board of Stewards was appointed. Officers of that first board were John M. Hammer, Chairman; Maynard Ramsey, Secretary; and Pete Cline, Treasurer. Under their leadership, positive steps were taken to start the building. of a church facility on the space which had become available. As a first step, it was suggested that we try to acquire one of the military chapels available at Drew Field, which by this time was closed.

Eventually, it became clear that this approach was not feasible, so the idea was abandoned, and plans were begun to construct our own building. In the meantime, our concept of the amount of land we would need for the facility had undergone a change. We now recognized that the original four lots which we had acquired would be completely inadequate, so arrangements were made to purchase four additional lots facing on Empedrado Street. In connection with that purchase, we had to overcome the existing zoning restrictions, which limited the area to residential buildings only. An act was placed before the State Legislature expanding the zoning restrictions to include church structures, and with its passage, we were in a position to start building on our eight lots, a full acre of land.

In the meantime, the church membership continued to grow at a rapid pace. At the Quarterly Conference of Nov. 3, 1946, a total membership was reported of 165, with total giving reported for the June/Oct. period of $2896.88. That sum was far too small to support all of the church expenses, but thanks to the help of Hyde Park Methodist Church, we were able to stay afloat financially.

Along with our regular budget giving, we made an appeal to our membership to start a building fund. By the end of 1946, we had already drawn plans for our first unit. This was to consist of a multipurpose room designed to seat 175 people for worship services ( and 125 for church suppers), with a kitchen and four classrooms attached. A further part of our plans was that this was to be built with no mortgage.

We would proceed only as funds became available. This building was completed and occupied on Sunday, Aug. 29, 1948, ending two and a half years in the theater. The raising and investment of $35,000 was a tremendous accomplishment for that young and growing membership.

With our own building, and at last an actual office for our pastor, the need was immediately evident for a secretary. One of our own members was recruited for the job, Mrs. S. J. (Lillian) Ozburn. Lillian was the spark plug of our staff until her retirement in 1977.

The steady growth of the church could be most visibly appreciated each Sunday morning. The sanctuary was very quickly filled to capacity, with every available seat taken. One of the innovations Mr. Wagner initiated was to have a layperson assist at the lectern in each service, with the minister limiting his participation to the morning prayer and the sermon. This proved to be extremely popular with the congregation, and added a sense of participation in the worship not found in any of the other local churches of the time. Needless to say, there were a lot of men who found that to be a terrifying, yet exhilarating experience over the years. This practice continued until the arrival of our first Associate Minister, Edwin S. Davis, in June 1954.

After our move to our own building, Mr. & Mrs. Sterling Ridout, who operated a plant nursery, volunteered to furnish the flowers for church each Sunday. This continued for the next decade as a personal and most meaningful contribution to their church.

In those days, the structure was not air-conditioned, and the congregation was well equipped with individual fans, furnished by one of the local funeral homes. An interesting fact was noted - when the sermon began, those fans were moving vigorously. As the sermon progressed, that movement slowed and almost stopped. We often teased Paul that we could tell how effective his sermon was by simply watching the fans. If they were completely stopped, we knew that he was really putting his message across.

Groundbreaking for our first building, 1948. Paul Wagner, Minister,
turns the first shovel of dirt, as members of the congregation look on.

Once we were established in our own building, our next thought was to construct a proper sanctuary. A campaign to raise funds got under way in March 1949, and by January 1951, sufficient money was on hand to begin building our present structure.

Groundbreaking ceremony for our sanctuary, 1951.
Jack H. Nelson wields the shovel, assisted by Paul Wagner and Paul Singleton, Jr.

The architect selected was a member of our own congregation, Frank Patterson. The guiding giant of the project was Jack Nelson, Chairman of the Building Committee. Several of the Board members, contrary to earlier thinking, wanted to seek a mortgage and push toward rapid construction of the sanctuary. To that, Jack gave an emphatic "No!" He was determined that the church would be mortgage free, even if that meant leaving the structure only partially complete. He had his way. On March 2, 1952, we moved into our new sanctuary - incomplete, but already beautiful, and debt free.

By August of that year, additional funds were on hand to complete the sanctuary. By this time, the congregation was too large to be accommodated in the social hall, so we moved once more to the Palma Ceia Theater, where we remained until Dec. 21 of that year. By then, the construction had progressed far enough for us to again hold services in our own building, although the construction process continued until April, 1953. At that time, the completion of construction was celebrated with the installation of our Rose Window.

Dedication ceremony for our sanctuary, 1953.
At the microphone is Paul Wagner, joined on his left by Bishop Roy Short

One of the features of the completed sanctuary was the mahogany forming the chancel area. During our planning stage, Wally F. Walker brought to one of our services a friend from Honduras. He was so impressed with the vitality of the growing church that he volunteered to send enough mahogany from Honduras so that we could make an altar and a lectern. When the lumber arrived, there was enough to do not only that, but to construct the entire chancel area, with a surplus left over. In later years, when it was decided to remodel the choir loft, some of that surplus was used. We understand that there is still a small supply of that mahogany on hand, should we ever need it.

Services in the completed sanctuary, 1953.
Note the folding chairs down the center aisle. Chairs were also placed in both outside aisles
to accommodate the large number of worshippers. This was a regular occurrence on almost every Sunday.

What was happening to the congregation during those years? The following tabulation is incomplete, but it gives a picture of the continuing growth.

June 1947 ... 250 members
April 1948 ... 375 members
April 1949 ... 465 members
April 1951 ... 800 members

Eventually, in 1966, the membership reached its peak of 2800 members, but that is not part of our present story.

Simple growth of membership numbers does not give the whole picture, however. The activities of the church were many and varied, and the strength of the organization was reflected in their growth.

The Sunday School had literally mushroomed during those early years. In order to cope with the enrollment, it was necessary to hold double sessions, concurrent with the worship services. Even with that arrangement, more space was needed. At that time, there was an old, two-story home available on the southwest corner of Bay to Bay and Dale Mabry. Considerable doubt was expressed as to the wisdom of having a Sunday School facility across that busy intersection from the main church structure, but it offered a quick and relatively inexpensive solution to our immediate problem. A Church Conference was held as to whether we should make that purchase, and opposition melted when one of the members rose to speak in favor of the purchase, with the provision that the structure be named "Wagner Hall." It was a mark of the esteem in which Rev. Wagner was held that this suggestion made approval of the purchase overwhelming. Despite its limitations, that building served us in good stead. With its space, we were able to find room for a peak attendance of 850 students over a three year period. At that time, it was replaced by the West Wing of the present Church School building, opened for use in 1957.

Another vital group was the Women's Society of Christian Service. This group originated in January 1947, under the leadership of Mrs. Paul J. Wagner. The first organizational meeting was held at the Palma Ceia Golf Club, with fifty ladies attending. This group was formed into two circles, with Mrs. Jack (Kay) Nelson and Mrs. John (Sarah) Hammer as Circle Leaders. President of the organization was Mrs. Marion (Helen) Miller.

The two circles immediately involved themselves in money raising projects, both to cover their mission projects and to add to the building fund of the church. As soon as the kitchen was available in our first building, a series of suppers was begun. These were not only money-raising events, but were social events that were immensely important in helping members to become better acquainted. Their role in aiding the church to grow as a unit cannot be overemphasized.

In 1948, the WSCS held its first Annual Bazaar, which was again designed to foster fellowship and raise funds for the organization's projects. By 1951, there were five circles organized, and by 1959, there were eleven circles with more than three hundred members. The power of organized women to accomplish great goals has long been recognized, and it is no exaggeration to state that much of the strength of the early church lay in the WSCS.

A group of the Church School at Camp Florida during a summer program.

In 1954, the WSCS set itself toward a special goal, to establish a fund as a scholarship for a young person who was studying for the ministry or some other form of religious work. To support the project, each year one of the members would open her home for a silver coffee or tea. These were most delightful events, and drew their attendance not only from our membership, but from other parts of the community as well. The Scholarship Fund established has assisted many young people over the years, and continues as an annual presentation. This scholarship is not a loan, it is a gift to a young person dedicated to his religion, and many men and women in church work today owe a debt of gratitude to these devoted women who have given so tirelessly of their time and efforts.

One of the early emphases stressed by Mr. Wagner was that, as a church, we had a responsibility to our community. We needed to reach out and share. This outreach took many forms. The most active, perhaps, was the Scouting program. To serve the young people of our church and of the community, our first Boy Scout troop was organized in November 1948, under the leadership of Mark Fletcher with Herb Livingston, Sr. as Church Representative. Following that, a number of Girl Scout, Brownie, and Cub Scout troops were organized.

By 1955, there was a total of nine troops operating. In addition to the Boy Scout Troop and the Cub Pack, the girls had three Brownie Troops, four Intermediate Troops, one Cadet Troop, and one Senior Troop. Marge Clark was leader of the first Girl Scout Troop, and as the number grew, she commented that it was often difficult to find a place for all of them to meet.

Neighborhood Chairman for the girls activities was Harriet Torbert, and Eleanor Cline served as Church Coordinator. At that point in time, Palma Ceia had more troops in operation than any other organization in the area. The names of the individual troop leaders are no longer available, but the long hours of dedicated service they gave are forever imprinted on the lives of those developing children - many of whom are now the adult leaders of our community.

Scout Sunday was an annual event, when the Scouts attended in uniform, and were given a part in the Worship Service. It was always a thrill to see their youthful enthusiasm and devotion to the very best that they knew.
But Scouting was not our only community involvement. A Drama Club was organized and provided many evenings of entertainment for our members and friends. A Square Dance Club was formed, lasting for a number of years, with Frank Patterson as Caller. Alcoholics Anonymous was given free use of our facilities for their weekly meeting, serving individuals from the entire area.

It was an active time. Very seldom could you find an evening when there was not some group or another using the church buildings.

One innovation in our church was the formation of "Couples Clubs." Groups of ten couples each were formed, under the concept that they would meet in a different one of the couples home for dinner each month. These dinners were not the responsibility of the hostess, but were left to a food committee, appointed for each meeting. A menu was planned by the committee, and the work of preparation was farmed out to as many of the couples as seemed necessary. The only task of the host couple was to provide the facility, and to arrange for entertainment after dinner. The entertainment was varied, and often hilarious, with everyone sharing in the fun. No formal record was kept of the number of clubs organized, nor who their members were. A good guess is that, at their peak, there were more than 15 groups organized and operating, involving at least 300 people. This proved to be a most wonderful way of making close friends within a church that was rapidly growing too large for anyone to really know the entire membership. It served to introduce new members to a small circle, so that even in the midst of a crowd of strangers, they found familiar and friendly faces with whom to share their worship.

Oh, yes - How were these groups financed? Very simply - they were not. Each month, the total cost of the food brought by each couple was determined, and everyone paid a prorated share of that amount. Where else could one find such a good meal at such a price, and have a wonderful evening of fellowship thrown in?

Interestingly, although the initial concept provided for the annual reshuffling of the groups, to provide a better mix of the congregation, most of the groups refused to split up. Several of the Couples Clubs are still in operation today. How many, no one knows, since no records exist to indicate who is in a group, and who is not. There are even some former members of Palma Ceia, who have since moved to other churches, who still maintain their membership in their Club.

A vital part of our church came into existence with the organization of the Men's Club in the spring of 1949. For several months, Wally F. Walker worked to stimulate the interest of the men in that activity, and presided at its first meeting on April 4, 1949, a dinner held at the Bayshore Royal Hotel. Mr. Wagner addressed the club briefly, and urged the men to develop a program which would strengthen the overall program of the church, and advance all causes for community wide betterment.

The second meeting was held on May 2, at which time the following officers were elected:

• President ....................... Wally Walker
• Vice President .............. Max Hill
• Secretary ....................... James L. Thornton
• Treasurer ....................... John E. James

Various operating committees were appointed and a set of by-laws was drawn up. These by-laws continue to the present.

1. The purpose of this organization shall be to foster and promote friendship and good fellowship among the adult male members of the church.
2. To engage in such projects and activities as may be determined and decided upon from time to time which would be for the welfare and benefit of the church and of the community.
3. Regular meetings shall be held on the first Monday of each month from September to June, inclusive, except that the meeting in September shall be held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday.

On June 6, the first regular meeting was held, with the new officers presiding. The principal speaker for the meeting was Mr. Edwin L. Jones of the J. A. Jones Construction Co. of Charlotte, N.C. His topic was "The United States and the Atom Bomb Today." The timeliness of that topic and its appropriateness to a gathering of church men set the tone for the many speakers and programs which followed.

Two special nights are observed each year, a Father-Son Banquet, and Ladies Night. Both are considered to be highlights of the year.

As a part of the mission of the club, a number of successful fund raising projects have been carried out. All of these projects had as their ultimate goal specific improvements to the church or aid to some worthy community cause.

The most successful of the projects began during the presidency of Carey Miller, who organized a Pancake Marathon. This takes place on a Saturday, and lasts from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. In the intervening years, untold numbers of men have labored to prepare pancakes, sausage and bacon for literally thousands of members and friends. While much of the work involved is hot and tiring, a sense of fellowship and cooperation prevails that is truly inspiring. It is a great day for working, socializing, and consuming huge stacks of delicious pancakes. Through this continuing project, many thousands of dollars have been raised and donated to fulfill needs of the church.

The work of the Men's Club is not limited to the raising of funds nor the attendance at meetings. The spiritual aspect of life is constantly emphasized. This is particularly expressed through the Club's efforts to send a group of laymen to the annual Men's Retreat at the Conference Leesburg facilities. This has been a most meaningful experience to dozens of men who have been privileged to participate.

Another community activity that continues to the present is the Palma Ceia Methodist Day School. This school was founded in 1955 by Mrs. Charles (Helen) Morton, Mrs. A. Preston (Anne) Smith, and Mrs. Fred (Eunice) Carter. These enthusiastic ladies saw a need for a church-sponsored kindergarten, since there was then only one such school in the Palma Ceia area. After discussing their plans with Paul Wagner and the Official Board (and securing a loan of $100 from the Church) the Day School became a reality.

That fall, classes were begun in Wagner Hall, with thirteen students enrolled. (Three of these belonged to the teachers.) "Miss Helen" was the director and teacher of the 5-year-olds, "Miss Anne" was the teacher for the four-year-olds, and Mrs. Carter was the music instructor. Tuition was $13 per month. By the end of the first school year, there were thirty-five children attending, and the $100 loan had been repaid. The school was off to a successful start that has never diminished.

From the beginning, the teachers had introduced to the preschool child an academically sound program, where each one would be loved and accepted as a unique child of God. Each child was nurtured in body, mind, and spirit through music, stories, play, and creative activities.

Those first teachers could not have imagined the growth and success which was later to be realized. That initial loan of $100 has grown into an annual budget of over $124,000. The four-hour kindergarten has grown into full day-care, with hot lunches for the children. The original director has been followed by Anne Smith and Dot Miller, supported by a large number of devoted teachers, continuing to express the same philosophy of love and concern on which the school was founded. Most exciting of all, is the thought of the second and third generations of children who have now received their first taste of school at Palma Ceia Methodist Day School.

In November 1954, a unique tradition began. Paul Wagner and Rabbi David Zielonka had become acquainted in joint community activities in which they participated. From that acquaintance, a decision was made to have a joint Thanksgiving Service. The first of those services was held at Palma Ceia on Thanksgiving Day 1954, with Mr. Wagner leading the service, and Rabbi Zielonka of Temple Schaari Zedek giving the message. Lay members of both congregations participated in the service and as ushers.

This service met with such approval that it was decided to have it as an annual affair, alternating each year between the Church and the Temple. This tradition, begun as a most unusual combination of Christian and Jewish worshipers, has continued to the present day. The guest minister is the speaker of the day, and the lay members of both congregations participate in the service.

What were the reasons for the wonderful success the church enjoyed in those early days? Certainly there was no single factor. The growth of the community in that period was of large significance. The leadership of a challenging and stimulating young pastor was vital. But most of all was the spirit that was engendered among the membership. This was our church, one that we created and built, one that gave us new insights into ourselves, one that challenged us to be all that we were.

Much of that is captured in the Pastor's report to the Quarterly Conference in May 1950. "Tonight our church is exactly four years and three weeks old. This conference year has brought 169 new members into the church, and I am sure before I make my final report to Annual Conference, this number will be increased.

"I am happy to say that throughout the four years of our history, our church has moved steadily ahead by the enthusiastic support of many who never had more than a nominal church affiliation. The majority of our Stewards and Trustees have never served previously on a Board in any church, and we are trying to reach and use a vast multitude of those who have never been active in any church work."

That spirit within the church lives on today, at times a bit subdued, but ever ready to tackle the problems of today with a determination to create a living memorial to our faith.

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