Seminole Heights United Methodist Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Seminole HeightsUnited Methodist Church |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | United Methodist Church |
| District | Gulf Central District |
| Province | Southeastern Jurisdiction |
| Leadership | Rev. Tiffania Icaza Willetts, Pastor |
| Status | Active church |
| Location | |
| Location | 6111 North Central Avenue, Tampa, Florida |
| Territory | Florida Annual Conference |
| Website | |
| www.semheights.com | |
|
Seminole Heights United Methodist Church
|
|
|
U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
|
 Location in Florida
Location in the United States
|
|
| Built | 1927 |
| Architect | Frank A. Winn, Jr. |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Part of | Seminole Heights Residential District (ID93000751) |
| Designated CP | August 5, 1993 |
The Seminole Heights United Methodist Church is a beautiful and old church building in Tampa, Florida. People also call it Seminole Heights Methodist or Seminole Heights UMC. It was built in 1927 and is still used today by its Methodist community.
This church is special because it's built in the Gothic Revival style. It's also an important part of the Seminole Heights Residential District. This district is a special area recognized for its history and unique buildings. You can find the church at 6111 Central Avenue, right where Central and Hanna Avenues meet.
Contents
Discovering the Church's Design
The land where the church stands today used to be home to Seminole Heights Elementary School. The school later moved to a new spot across Hanna Avenue. This move made space for the church to be built on the old school grounds. Both the church and the elementary school were built around the same time. They also share a common building material: yellow brick.
Who Designed This Church?
The church was designed by a very talented architect named Frank A. Winn, Jr. He was well-known in Tampa for creating many important buildings. Some of his designs are even listed on the National Register of Historic Places. For example, he also designed the Old Lutz Schoolhouse. In 1927, the same year the Seminole Heights Methodist Church was built, Winn also finished a large Sunday school building for another Methodist church in nearby Tampa Heights.
Winn chose the Gothic Revival style for the Seminole Heights Methodist Church. This style looks like the grand churches built in Europe many centuries ago. Because of Winn's design, the Gothic Revival style is one of the main reasons the Seminole Heights Residential District is famous for its architecture.
What Makes It Special?
When you look at the front of the church, you'll see a set of stairs leading up. These stairs take you to the main entrance, which has a covered porch called a portico. This porch features three beautiful arched openings. Inside, the main worship area is very large and open. It's filled with light from twelve tall stained glass windows on both sides.
Outside, between each window and at the corners, you'll notice strong supports called pilasters. These look like columns attached to the wall. The church's main floor is raised, which allows for a unique basement area underneath. This basement, called "Allen Hall," is not common in buildings from this area. The yellow brick walls are decorated with white cast concrete details. The building is topped with a steeply angled roof, known as a gable roof.
What Happens at the Church?
A Place for Worship and Fun
The Seminole Heights United Methodist Church is an active part of the United Methodist Church. This is a large Protestant Christian denomination. Its members gather for worship services every Sunday. They also have other meetings during the week. These include Bible study, programs for kids and teens, music practice, and community dinners.
The church hosts many fun events throughout the year. They have outdoor movie nights, flea markets, and craft fairs. They also organize special seasonal events. These include an Easter Egg hunt, a pumpkin patch in the fall, and several community events around Christmas. The church also runs a pre-school and day care in a building next to the main church.
Serving the Community
Besides being a place of worship, the church building is also used for many community events. For example, Seminole Heights Elementary School uses the church for its yearly concerts. The building also hosts regular meetings for groups like Twelve-Step programs. Local community groups, such as the Old Seminole Heights Neighborhood Association, often hold their meetings there too.
