St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church

St. Bartholomew's Church is the oldest church in Pinellas County. Built in 1887, it was designed in the American Gothic style and moved from its original location at 22nd Avenue South and 19th Street to here in 1970. The congregation eventually enlarged the church several times to its present size and it remains in use today.

Although St. Bartholomew's is the oldest church in the county, it was not the first. That was Anana Methodist Episcopal Church, which was a log structure built in 1883. That was torn down and replaced by a new church made of lumber. St. Bartholomew's was founded on April 20, 1887 and a small group of pioneers built the church out of heart pine boards at a cost of $673. The first pastor was Rev. Gilbert Holt White and he served until 1891. The church closed in 1910 and remained so until 1924 when some former members asked the bishop to reopen it. He agreed and St. Bartholomew's was enlarged. By 1946, the congregation had 148 members. By 1951, the number increased to 390 and the church had been enlarged again. Membership rose to 762 by 1959.

In the 1960s, membership began to drop as congregants moved to other parts of the city. It also became clear that St. Bartholomew's could not remain at its location in light of the updated appraised value of the church. The last services at the original location were held on August 3, 1969 and the church was dismantled starting in September (it was too tall to move as one structure). It was reconstructed through much of 1970 and also enlarged. The number of congregants rebounded in the 1970s and the parish hall and office building was completed in 1978. An education building was later erected in 1990.

"A History and Legacy." St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church. Accessed November 9, 2023. https://www.stbartsinstpete.org/history.

"St. Bartholomew's Church." The Historical Marker Database. Accessed November 9, 2023. https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=50444.