First United Methodist Church
Tampa, Florida
On July 26, 1846, the first Methodist church in Tampa was organized with seventeen founding members. They worshipped in a primitive structure built of driftwood from nearby Fort Brooke. They called it the “Church-by-the-Sea”. This structure was destroyed in the great storm of 1848. The undaunted band of Christians completed a new building in 1853 naming it the Little White Church. After that church and its records were destroyed by fire, the Methodist congregation built a distinguished sanctuary which served the church and community well for seventy years. It was replaced by the neo-gothic structure by which you stand. We welcome you to this church, dedicated to keeping the spirit of God in the heart of Tampa.
This marker is given in Loving Memory of:
FRANK Von LUDWIG SIEVER, Jr.
By:
his wife, Elizabeth and Family
Marker is on East Tyler Street east of North Florida Avenue, on the right when traveling west.
Courtesy hmdb.org
