Bradenton in Manatee County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

First Presbyterian Church of Bradenton

Photographed by James R. Murray, March 19, 2015

1. First Presbyterian Church of Bradenton Marker (side 1)

Inscription.
(side 1)
The First Presbyterian Church of Bradenton is the oldest congregation in the bounds of the original Village of Bradenton and the oldest south of Tampa. In 1885, land was deeded to five trustees for the planned Braidentown Presbyterian Church. Meanwhile, the future congregants met for Sunday School on a dock at the west end of Prospect Avenue, today’s 15th Street West. The Church body was constituted April 4, 1886 with thirteen members by the Reverend James Shearer, Evangelist of St. Johns Presbytery. PCUS. Services were held at the “Duckwall House” on the river on Old Main Street, now 12th Street. In 1887 William B. Tresca began construction of the first church building, on the south side of Manatee Avenue and east of present 9th street. The first church officers elected were David Duckwell as Elder, with W.O. Wilson and C.O. Muller, Deacons. (Continued on other side) (side 2)
(Continued from other side) In 1894 the original wood frame church building was moved west to the corner of Prospect and Manatee avenues. For thirteen years the congregation worshipped here. In 1907, the church was again

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moved a short distance east to the next block. In order to construct a new brick church. The congregation continued here, between 14th and 13th Streets, in the wood frame church until the brick church was completed in 1912. In 1949, the congregation, now called the First Presbyterian Church of Bradenton, (due to the change of the city’s name), engaged John Rasmusen to build the current sanctuary building which sits directly on Manatee Avenue. Two property acquisitions, the Mower property in 1965 and the Knight property in 1968, on the north side of the church, allowed the Activities Center to be built. First Presbyterian Church is in the Peace River Presbytery and was in the Southern Presbyterian Church is in the Peace River Presbytery and was in the Southern Presbyterian Church (PCUS) until 1983 when it united with the PCUSA (Northern) Church.

Erected by Manatee County Historical Commission.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical date for this entry is April 4, 1886.

Location. 27° 29.738′ N, 82° 34.554′ W. Marker is in Bradenton, Florida, in Manatee County. It

First Presbyterian Church of Bradenton Marker (side 2) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James R. Murray, March 19, 2015

2. First Presbyterian Church of Bradenton Marker (side 2)

is at the intersection of 15th Street West and Manatee Avenue West (State Road 64), on the right when traveling south on 15th Street West. Marker is across the street from the sanctuary building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1402 Manatee Ave W, Bradenton FL 34205, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Florida’s Gulf Coast

and on Tampa Bay.

It is also in the American South

and on the Gulf Coast.

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 Carnegie Library (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Honorable R.B. "Chips" Shore Courthouse Grounds (approx. 0.2 miles away); Courthouse Square (approx. 0.2 miles away); Bealls Centennial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Florida Highway Patrol School

First Presbyterian Church of Bradenton Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James R. Murray, March 19, 2015

3. First Presbyterian Church of Bradenton Marker

View of the marker across the street from the sanctuary

(approx. 0.2 miles away); Bradenton General Hospital (approx. ¼ mile away); 9th Avenue West Bridge (approx. 0.4 miles away); Bradentown Depot (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bradenton.

Also see . . . First Presbyterian Church of Bradenton. Church website homepage (Submitted on March 20, 2015.)

Photographed by James R. Murray, March 19, 2015

4. First Presbyterian Church of Bradenton Marker

Long view of the marker location

Credits. This page was last revised on March 4, 2022. It was originally submitted on March 19, 2015, by James R. Murray of Elkton, Florida. This page has been viewed 944 times since then and 68 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 19, 2015, by James R. Murray of Elkton, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.