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Our History

In the year 1918, Oldsmar, a new town situated on the arm of Tampa Bay wanted a church organization. The town was founded by Ransom E. Olds of the Reolds Corporation in Lansing, Michigan and Mr. Fred Cook a Methodist layman of Detroit. The Rev. G.E.Bennett of Tarpon Springs, the nearest Methodist minister, was authorized to hold services on Sunday afternoons in an unfinished bungalow, which was also used for school purposes.

At the following session of our Conference, Rev Dr. L.H. Shumate, of Sebring, Florida was appointed as pastor of Oldsmar, together with Port Richey, another new organization, and he was expected to build a church in Oldsmar. In the meantime, services were continued at the bungalow until the completion of the bank building. After which all church services were held in the Assembly Hall on the second floor of that building. The church building was completed in 1925 with difficulties due to the National Depression. The Spanish style church was dedicated on March 8, 1925 by Bishop Richardson and was built upon lots donated by R.E. Olds.

The parsonage property was also acquired during these years. It is interesting to recall that the unfinished bungalow where our first services were held, was finished and made the parsonage. The old sanctuary, where our Manahan Hall is presently located, served well for many years until repairs out-weighed a new structure. Rev. A.C.Riviere institued plans for a new church in 1956 and Rev. W.E.Bryant completed and dedicated it in the spring of 1957. The pews from the old spanish church are still in use in the "new" church.

In 1962, Rev. E.D.Conway thought the old barracks building used as a Sunday School room needed replacing and Manahan Hall was started. Rev. Joe Johnson completed it and dedicated it in 1966.

Under the Rev. Samuel Montgomery, a new Youth Room was added in 1979 and the adjoining house plus two parking lots in 1980.

The first name of our chuch was "The Methodist Episcopal Community Church of Oldsmar" and were part of the newly formed Tampa District.

In 1997, Rev. Sharon Patch started a campaign for a new sanctuary.  The larger sanctuary is modern in design, but hopefully captures the history and essence of our church heritage. The old sanctuary will decrease in size and be used for smaller services, such as memorials.

Rev. Schmidt joined our church in mid-2000 and had the honors of having the inaugural service in the new sanctuary on August 20, 2000.  He remained pastor until being called to start a new church in New Port Richey in mid-2003.

 

Pastors of OCUMC

G.E. Bennett

1918-1919

Dr. L.H.Shumate

1919-1921

B.F. Sheffer

1921-1922

H.H. Black

1922

George Northrup

1922-1924

Rolla E. Hiller

1924-1927

J.V. Robinson

1927-1928

Dr. L.H.Shumate

1928-1933

Dr. A.A.Mahoney

1933-1934

Franklin Eifert

1934-1935

Paul R. Barnhart

1935-1936

M.A. Soper

1936-1937

W.G. Taylor

1937-1938

Joe W. Patton

1938-1941

J.T. Bradburn

1941-1946

J.T. Blackburn

1946-1947

J.T. Phillips

1947-1950

Rolla E. Hiller

1950-1954

A.C. Riviere

1954-1956

W.E. Bryant

1956-1957

L.R. Pronty

1957-1958

J.S. Blackburn

1958-1961

E.M. Greenfield

1961-1962

E.D. Conway

1962-1964

Joe O. Johnson

1964-1970

George Hill, Jr.

1970-1971

Emil Kessler

1971-1975

Robert K. Turner

1975-1976

Samuel Montgomery

1976-1988

Gary Beam

1988-1991

Frank Smith

1991-1993

Sharon Patch

1993-2000

Christopher Schmidt

2000-2003

Sallie Vandervort

2003-present

Click here to see photos of our pastors

 
 

Community United Methodist Church  207 Buckingham Ave. East, Oldsmar, FL 34677