Friends of Curlew United Methodist Church

History:
We are the oldest church in the same location in Pinellas County, Florida. Organized in 1869, the founding membership had 22 members. Founding member, John A. and Mary Sutton donated the land and timbers for the original sanctuary and named the church after the large number of beautiful pink birds in the area..
The first sanctuary, built in 1869, burned to the ground just two years later. The congregation worshiped under some large oak trees, mainly the one they called the "Pulpit Tree," on the east side of the adjacent cemetery for almost a year.
The sanctuary used previously to our current sanctuary was constructed in 1902, remodeled in 1942, and moved in 1969 to make way for our current sanctuary. This beautiful wooden building sits on our property and has housed our Thrifty Spirit Shop for the last 11 years. Today's sanctuary was completed in 1969 just in time for our 100th Anniversary. In 2014, we celebrated 145 years of ministry in our community! God continues to work through our church family to make an impact for His Kingdom!