Palmetto Presbyterian Church
6790 S.W. 56 St.
Miami, FL. 33155
305 - 666 - 0632
305 - 669 - 0577
cpadonais@aol.com
Palmetto's History
In the early 1950’s the area of South Miami was a fast growing community. Many young families were moving to this “edge” of south western Dade County and neighborhoods sprang up to meet their needs. One of the needs included the spiritual nurture of these families and the opportunity was quickly recognized by the Presbyterian Church in the United States . Another church was well established in the already older and prosperous neighborhood of Coral Gables sought to respond to the new growth adjacent to them by beginning a small mission church. The mission church began meeting in South Miami elementary school.
This small outpost grew rather rapidly and by 1955 petitioned the Presbytery
of the Everglades to constitute a new church, the Palmetto Presbyterian
Church, in accordance with the Word of God and the Presbyterian Church
in the United States . Services of organizations were held on June 12,
1955 , with 36 charter members, and Rev. V. Neil Wyrick, Jr. as the church’s
first pastor. Later in the same year a Young People’s Group was
formed and a church building fund started. In 1956, a charter was approved
by the Circuit Court and a building committee formed which selected and
purchased two acres of land on the south side of Miller Road , just west
of Ludlum Road , the present site of our church, which also included a
small house that was used for Sunday School use. A special building fund
was initiated at the same year, the goal being to raise $10,000 for a
down payment on the building of the first phase of our church structure,
which would be used at first as our sanctuary and later as our “Fellowship
Hall”. Ground breaking services took place on December 28, 1956
with the building being completed in 1959 at a cost of $75,000. Since
that time the church has periodically enlarged its facilities to keep
pace with the needs of its growing constituency.
The founding pastor proved to have the gifts of an evangelist, building
the membership of the church, overseeing its growth in attendance at worship
and Sunday School, and moving it toward self support and financial stability.
In 1970, a Church Sanctuary Planning Committee was formed to negotiate
for an architect and proceeding with the working drawings for the new
Sanctuary which would be the culmination of the church edifice. Ground
breaking ceremonies took place on February 28, 1971 . The Sanctuary was
completed in 1972 with the first worship service on Good Friday and the
dedication of the Sanctuary on June 4. In September, 1991, the church
completed the renovation of the interior of the Sanctuary by moving the
organ and choir area from the loft in the balcony at the back of the church,
to the front of the Sanctuary.
The program of the Palmetto Presbyterian Church has grown along with its
buildings. One of its first community missions was VBS. Beginning in 1955,
VBS is a tradition which continues today. Since that time the congregations
has added groups for women, retirees, singles, children, couples and musicians.
In 1969, the Palmetto Presbyterian Church became one of the co-sponsors
of the formation of the “Presbyterian Homes for the Elderly of South
Florida” with representation on the Board of Directors and Trustees.
Today Palmetto Presbyterian Church is growing in its community concern.
The church is proud to sponsor a Preschool educational ministry. Begun
in response to needs in the community, the church’s ministry continues
to respond to people and their concerns in all areas of life.
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Servicio
de Adoración:
Domingo – 12:00 PM
©Copyright 2004 Palmetto Presbyterian Church
WebMaster: Robertico14@hotmail.com