First Presbyterian Church of Orlando, 2003

First Presbyterian Church of Orlando, 2003

First Presbyterian Church of Orlando

Orlando (Fla.)

Buildings--Florida

Churches--Florida

Presbyterian Church--Florida

Presbyterianism--History

Presbyterians--Southern States--History

The First Presbyterian Church of Orlando, located at 106 East Church Street in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2003. The building was constructed in 1889 in the Carpenter Gothic style. The church was organized in 1876 with Reverend Henry Keigwinas the first pastor. It first congregated in the Union Free Church, as well as a room in the local courthouse. From 1884 to 1887, the congregation met in a church on West Central Avenue. When that church was lost in a fire, they chose to move to the east side of town. The church purchased the property bounded by Church Street, Jackson Street, Magnolia Avenue, and Rosalind Avenue in 1889 and still remains there as of 2011.

In 1902, the Congregational Church of Orlando merged with the First Presbyterian Church. In 1912, the sanctuary was enlarged to seat 1,000 congregants. A second tower was added at that time as well. In 1914-1915, a major renovation was undertaken that completely changed the look of the building. The congregation added stained glass windows and the church was covered with stucco. It was changed from a traditional Gothic style to the newer Spanish Colonial style with white stucco, curved arches instead of Gothic, pointed features. The original peaked roofs were hidden with the use of curvilinear elements. The stained glass windows, which were designed and made by the Jacoby Art Glass Company of St. Louis, Missouri, were preserved after the building was demolished in 1958 and are stored in the Heritage Center at the church and in the Meditation Room at Westminster Towers. Murray S. King served as the remodeling architect, while Frank Meyers was the contractor.

Cook, Thomas

Original color image by Thomas Cook, 2003: Private Collection of Thomas Cook.

2003

Cook, Thomas

Thomas Cook Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.

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First Presbyterian Church, Orlando, Florida

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Originally created by Thomas Cook and published by RICHES of Central Florida.

Copyright to this resource is held by Thomas Cook and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.

Cepero, Laura

Private Collection of Thomas Cook

"First Presbyterian Church of Orlando." First Presbyterian Church of Orlando. http://fpco.org/history.

Rajtar, Steve. A Guide to Historic Orlando. Charleston, SC: History Press, 2006.

Antequino, Stephanie Gaub, and Tana Mosier Porter. Lost Orlando. Charleston, S.C.: Arcadia Pub, 2012.

1 color digital image