The Glenwood Community Church
The Glenwood Presbyterian Church at 3190 Grand Ave., in Deland Florida has been a community church in the area since the late 1800s. It supported many sporting activities such as tennis, golf, shuffle board, it had a school and many other activities to support the community. Glenwood Presbyterian Church has always been a Christ centered hub in the community.
Glenwood Presbyterian Church history
Original Church building from 1886 and Today
Glenwood Presbyterian Church was organized in 1884 and met in the home of the Samuel Boyds. It was organized by Reverend J. W. Shearer, pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Deland Fl. In early 1890, Charlea, Frances and Etta Waterman donated the property for the Church and the Manse. (picture shown in horse and buggy below). Later In 1896, the Glenwood Presbyterian Church building was built (see picture above) on beautiful Grand Avenue (seen below), and is still used today as the fellowship hall. The church was founded under the St. Johns Presbytery until 1895 when it was transferred to the South Florida Presbytery, now the Florida Presbytery of the United Presbyterian Church U.S.A. The church was just a few minutes from Deleon Springs (picture below) which is now Deleon Springs State Park.
Charlea, Frances and Etta Waterman
Grand Avenue
Boat house and Deleon Springs
In 1894, the Glenwood Presbyterian church grade school was started. The school continued at the church until 1915 when the public school was moved off the church property. A Picture of some of the students from the early 1900s can be seen below.
The School
Glenwood Presbyterian Church School Kids
In 1890 the Ladies Aid Society was Organized which is now called the United Presbyterian Woman (UPW), a picture of the women can be seen below.
Glenwood Presbyterian Church Ladies Aid Society
The New Manse
In 1950, the church opened an account to finance the Manse (pastor’s home) with $56. In 1955 a grounding breaking for the Manse was performed. With that that in mind, in 1956, the people of Glenwood opened their homes to the public to view their unusual homes and charged $1 for the “Pilgrimage”. The intent was to pay off the $2000 mortgage of the church. The “Pilgrimage” netted $610 which went toward retiring the manse mortgage.
In May of 1958 the church voted to build a new church which would seat 225 people instead remodeling the old church. in 1960 the church broke ground for the new sanctuary which is where the church currently meets for services (seen below).
New Sanctuary for Glenwood Presbyterian Church
To date, Glenwood Presbyterian Church has had about 35 different ministers, below are pictures of a few.
Rev. West 1903 – 1907
Rev. Vromcim 1925-1928
Rev. and Mrs Carmmow 1946-1947
As you can see from above, Glenwood Presbyterian Church has been a anchor in the Glenwood community for many years and hopefully many years to come. Please come and join us.
Other Interesting Photos
The above photo is of Mr and Mrs Elmer Van Cleef in a Murray Auto circa 1902.