Winter Park in Orange County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

First Congregational Church of Winter Park

Photographed by Diane Murphy, December 11, 2025

1. First Congregational Church of Winter Park Marker

Inscription.
In 1884, Winter Park's first church was founded and became the first New England Congregational Church in Florida. Built on land donated by city founders Oliver Chapman and Loring Chase, First Congregational played an essential role in Winter Park's early history. In 1885, Congregationalist leaders from First Congregational founded Florida's first college - Rollins College and the church's founding minister. Dr. Edward Hooker, became the college's first president. While the campus was being built, students attended classes at the church, called by the ringing of the church bell, which now resides in the tower at Knowles Memorial Chapel on campus.

The church and city grew and prospered together, and over the decades. The church has seeded vital community organizations such as the Welbourne Nursery and Preschool, The Plymouth Senior Living and The Mayflower at Winter Park. During segregation, the church actively promoted social justice in central Florida, and remains a welcoming home and sanctuary for perspective theology.

Erected 2025 by City of Winter Park, Florida.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Civil Rights • Education • Landmarks • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1884.

Location.

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28° 35.764′ N, 81° 20.926′ W. Marker is in Winter Park, Florida, in Orange County. It is at the intersection of South Interlachen Avenue and East New England Avenue, on the right when traveling south on South Interlachen Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 225 S Interlachen Ave, Winter Park FL 32789, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Orlando

and in Central Florida.

It is also in the American South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Woman’s Club of Winter Park (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Fiftieth Anniversary (about 600 feet away); Winter Park (approx. 0.2 miles away); Rollins College Fiftieth Anniversary (approx. 0.2 miles away); A Bit of Winter Park Real Estate History (approx. 0.2 miles away); Charles Hosmer Morse (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named Charles Hosmer Morse (approx. 0.2 miles away); Freight Depot (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Winter Park.