HISTORY OF PASCO COUNTY

Dade City Churches

St. Mary’s Episcopal Church

According to a web page, this church was organized on the west side of Lake Pasadena on October 10, 1891, and constructed a sanctuary in 1892.

According to The Historic Places of Pasco County, “Organized in 1891, St. Mary’s originally served Anglican settlers at Lake Pasadena. Its first resident priest, the Reverend James Neville-Thompson, was ordained there in 1892. After the great freeze in 1895, the building fell into disuse while remnants of the congregation held services at the Lock home in Dade City. In 1909 the structure was moved [to Dade City] by mule train. The sacristy was added in 1921, the chancel in 1927, and the body of the church was enlarged in 1975.”

An early document of the Florida Episcopal church reports, “Brooksville has lately had the temporary services of the Rev. Justin Field, who has also given some services at Lake Buddy, near Dade City, recently organized as a mission, with twenty communicants.” Rev. Field preached at Brooksville for about three months in 1892, according to an article about him. Another early Florida Episcopal church document, probably written by Rev. Field, has: “In addition to my regular work, I have visited and officiated at Brooksville and Lake Buddy, two Sundays at each place—opening for service a small church at Lake Buddy, and organizing the mission. In that connection I visited the new town of Inverness, the county seat of Citrus County ....”

The following is taken from East Pasco’s Heritage (1976) and was written by Dorothy Lock and Edward Garren.

St. Mary’s Mission Church held its first service on October 10, 1891, in its building on the west side of Lake Pasadena, with forty souls present. Even after the freeze of 1894-95 devastated the early citrus culture, a faithful few members held services, using the Presbyterian Church building in Dade City. Rev. J. H. Weddell came at intervals from Thonotosassa. The present lot on Magnolia Avenue at Eleventh Street in Dade City was purchased in 1909 for $300. The church building from St. Mary’s Road, Pasadena, was moved and rebuilt for $619. St. Mary’s Episcopal Church of Dade City was dedicated and consecrated in 1910.

The sacristy was added in 1921. During the boom days, 1924-27, St. Mary’s prospered with Dade City. The chancel was added, and new pews and lights were installed. An organ, violin, and bass viol supported the choir. During the hard times of the thirties, the congregation held together. By 1938 Leach Parish Hall was built of native rock, with stained glass windows from Rev. Weddell’s abandoned church in Thonotosassa. In 1948 the first rectory was built. A Wurlitzer organ was acquired in 1952 as a memorial to Christopher A. Lock. In 1957 St. Mary’s progressed from a mission to full parish status.

Freeman Hall was built in 1959. This building houses many events in the life of the parish social get-togethers, choir rehearsals, civic meetings, and parish councils. In 1973 Bamford Hall was remodeled from the old rectory into Sunday School classrooms. In 1974 the sanctuary was greatly enlarged. Also in 1974 the annual Arts and Crafts Fair was begun, enriching the culture of east Pasco County, and raising funds for missions, charities, and a new pipe organ. Membership has doubled in the past five years. The congregation of St. Mary’s is at present under the leadership of the Very Rev. R. James Barnhardt, who is also Dean of Tampa Deanery, Southwest Florida Diocese of the Protestant Episcopal Church.

The church is located at 37637 Magnolia Avenue in Dade City. The web site of the church is here.

Mount Zion A. M. E. Church

Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church was born in hearts and minds of a few dedicated Christians of the "A. M. E." persuasion during the Spanish American War, circa 1898.

Much of its history or its origin has been lost, never to be recovered. However, through much research, personal contacts and diligent efforts, it has been creditably established that one of the leading spirits in the movement was Rev. Amos Thompson, an A. M. E. Minister and resident (home owner) in the community.

It was he who led the first three Trustees, Rufus Johnson, George Young, and B. T. Green, in purchasing the first parcel of land that the Church owned. Today, the Church’s Annex sits on that piece of land. The purchase was made in the year 1903. Mr. H. H. Hinley and Mrs. L. M. Hinley were the original owners. The transaction is recorded m the Courthouse of Pasco County, Book 22, page 5,521.

Later, two lots, adjacently located, were purchased by a new board of Trustees: G. B. Burroughs, A. Bailey and J. R. Eagle. The cost: $75.00 each. it is recorded in Book 25, page 110. The validity of this statement was proven and attested to by four of the oldest living members: Sisters Etta Howard, who became a member of the Church in 1902, Francis Harvin, Lillie Nance, and Bessie Hester.

Due to the lack of written records, we are not certain as to who was the first pastor. However, from information gathered from many sources, it seems factual that it was either Rev. Bell, Rev. McCrary Hawkins or Rev. Amos Thompson.

It is interesting to note that Rev. Amos Thompson, natural father of Mrs. Francis Harvin, was an active leader in the community and one of the first freeholders of blacks here.

Now that the two lots were acquired, there was a new addition. The congregation settled down to a new life of growth and development. The Citrus industry and land had already been established in the county, attracting many new people, and the coming of World War I, simply accelerated the influx; hence, Mt. Zion, along with St. Paul and St. John Baptist Churches received their share of new comers. Almost overnight its membership doubled. This growth and expansion in membership naturally brought on the need for more space, a new Church.

The answer to this need was the coming of the Rev. W. W. A. Pickett as Pastor. Within no time, so to speak, the new Mt. Zion edifice as she stands today became a reality. The new structure was completed in 1920. The Fathers and Mothers who built it need to be congratulated for a job well done.

Some of the laymen of the Church were: Rufus Johnson (First superintendent of the Sunday School), George Young, G. V. Burroughs, A. Bailey, J. R. Eagle, Ben Baisden (land owner and foreman of Lake Buddy), Andy Johnson, Ossie Howard, B. T. Green, James Gregg, Will Harris, Sr., Henry Hester, Angeline Baisden Curklin [Kirkland], Lillie Nance, sis. Jones, Nancy King, Mary McBride, and Hattie Tate.

Those living today who have been members of Mt. Zion over fifty years are: Aretha Burroughs, John Ollie Johnson, Cora Bennette, Simeon Howard, Cora Hill, Rebecca Mitchell, and Dorothy Baker.

Bishops who have presided over the Eleventh Episcopal District are: Bishops W. J. Gaines, J. A. Handy, B. T. Tanner, M. B. Salter, L. J. Coppin, John Hurst, J. S. Flipper, H. Y. Tookes, A. J. Allen, J. H. Gregg, C. A. Gibbs, D. W. Nichols, S. L. Green, W. F. Ball (former Pastor), E. C. Hatcher, G. N. Collins, Wayman Blakely, G. D. Robinson, H. N. Robinson, S. S. Morris, P. R. Cousin, and Frank C. Cummings (present).

Presiding Elders who have Presided: Revs. Macklyn, A. Jackson, W. W. A. Pickett, J. A. Brown, S. A. Ferrell, W. D. Horton, A. A. Williams, W. D. Petters, D. A. Anderson, J. A. Roberts, G. A. Rutledge, J. C. Williams, W. M. Roberson, Blaine, W. S. White, H. E. Green, Le Roy Kennon, M. D. Potters.

Pastors who have served: Revs. Bell, McCrary, Amos Thompson, D. D. Dickerson, Archie Redman, J. D. Washington, W. W. A. Pickett, J. W. Dukes, R. D. Nimmon, J. A. Walker, sr., J. D. Jones, W. F. Ball, Chisholm Banapart, Lavanden, H. J. Kiney, J. B. Young, S. E. James, E. D. Dempsey, R. W. Wilson, G. J. Oates, R. H. Damer, I. D. Ford, W. L. Byrd, A. J. Covington, J. W. Burno, Jessie Brown, T. D. Davis, W. M. Burke, W. Jenkins, T. P. King, C. L. Cook, Al Trudell, James Crews, James Kerney, Preston Adams, K. D. White, Jr., and Nathan Mugala (present).

St. Rita Catholic Church (1976)

By WILLIAM FINGERHUT

St. Rita Catholic Church was established as a mission in 1913. Since there were few Catholics in Dade City at that time, the mission was largely supported by the Catholic Extension Society and individual benefactors from the North. The Order of St. Benedict, of St. Leo Abbey, cooperated in the founding of this church. At the request of the Rt. Rev. Michael J. Curley, Bishop of St. Augustine, and under the direction of Abbot Charles Mohr of St. Leo, the monks of the abbey organized missions through Hernando County, which at that time included Pasco and Citrus counties. The priests and brothers of the abbey have served St. Rita continuously since its beginning.

The first Mass was celebrated in St. Rita on March 4, 1913. The small mission church was only twenty feet wide and thirty feet long. The Bishop was detained by bad roads in his journey from St. Augustine, and failed to arrive in Dade City in time for the service. Father Augustine Feller, of St. Leo, conducted the dedicatory Mass in his stead.

The mission progressed rapidly; within two years, in 1915, plans were made to enlarge the church. The enlarged structure, basically the present St. Rita, was consecrated on March 4, 1917. The bishop was present for this opening service. Soon other improvements were made, including the installation of stained glass windows, imported from France. The vestibule and bell tower were added, and the parish hall was completed for social activities.

In the earliest years of the mission church, pastors resided at St. Leo Abbey and traveled to Dade City on horseback. The following pastors have served St. Rita and its parish: Fathers Augustine Feller, Aloysius Dressman, Francis Sadlier, Edgar Lang, John Schlicht, Ernest Schultz, Andrew Metzger, and the present pastor, Benedict Weigand. Father Sadlier later became the second abbot of St. Leo. Father Schultz and his successors have maintained their residence in the church rectory on North Fourteenth Street.

The original St. Rita Church, which has served the Catholics of the Dade City area for so many years, will not be a landmark much longer. A new church complex is now under construction just east of the old structure. The new church, necessitated by the growth of the parish, will have a seating capacity of 300. Included in the new complex will be a chapel for weekday services, and facilities for social activities and religious education. The stained glass windows and some of the statues of the old church will be installed in the new edifice, establishing a link between the past and the future. The completion of the new St. Rita Church in 1976 will be another milestone of Christian progress in our city.

The church web site includes a history page.

Bethel Primitive Baptist

In the June 10, 1921, Dade City Banner Elder M. L. Gilbert, one of Florida’s pioneer preachers and pastor of the congregation for more than three decades, recounted the early years of this church: “The Primitive or Old School Baptist was constituted in July 1888 some two miles north of Dade City. They are a faithful, humble, and consecrated congregation of believers meeting for demonstration services and worship regularly on the fourth Sunday and Saturday before in each month. Since 1910 they have met for worship on Church.”

According to The Historic Places of Pasco County,this building was originally a schoolhouse and was built about 1885. In May of 1896, the congregation voted to buy the Indian Lake schoolhouse and lot for $10.00. It was moved to the present location in 1910 and subsequently expanded. An addition to the front conceals its historic architectural character.

The following is taken from a 2005 Tampa Tribune article by Carol Jeffares Hedman.

The building at 37315 Church Ave. that is now Bethel Primitive Baptist Church was built about 1885 as a schoolhouse in Indian Lake.

Bethel Primitive Baptist, also known as “old school” Baptist, was formed in July 1888 about two miles north of Dade City. For several years, the congregation met in the Blanton schoolhouse on the fourth Sunday and Saturday before each month.

In May 1896, church members voted to buy the Indian Lake schoolhouse and 1-acre lot for $10. It was moved to the Church Street location in 1910 and expanded.

An addition to the front hides its historic architectural character. The oldest portion is the one-room sanctuary that has a front-facing gable roof and five wood, triple-hung sash windows that represent frame vernacular architecture.

A concrete block vestibule with a lower gable roof was later added to the front of the old schoolhouse building that was transformed into the modest Bethel Primitive Baptist Church.

M.L. Gilbert was one of its pioneer pastors and served the congregation for more than three decades. He also made his home on Church Street.