By NewsLine Staff
mail@floridanewsline.com

Mandarin United Methodist Church on San Jose Boulevard will celebrate its 150th anniversary (1874-2024) on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. The church is the second-oldest continuously operating church in the Mandarin community and among the oldest congregations in Jacksonville. The motto for the anniversary is: “150 Years and Our Story is Still Unfolding.”

“This anniversary provides an opportunity to give thanks for many generations who have faithfully worshiped God and served this community,” Mandarin United Methodist Church Senior Pastor Britt Gilmore said. “As we remember past challenges and accomplishments, we witness afresh the resilience, creativity and compassion of those who have gone before us. We hope this anniversary celebration may inspire us to love God and neighbor in a new season.”
Mandarin United Methodist was formed in 1874 at a similar time to when famous author Harriet Beecher Stowe had a home in the Mandarin community. The first pastor, Dr. Theophilus Wilson (T.W.) Moore, rode by horseback to the first church site. He went on to discover the nearby Fruit Cove community, become an expert on citrus, and serve as the fourth president of Florida Southern College.

The congregation has worshiped in three Mandarin locations during this time — just south of its current location at San Jose Boulevard and Loretto Road; north of Interstate 295 at the intersection of San Jose Boulevard and Old St. Augustine Road, and at its current location since 1960 at 11270 San Jose Boulevard. With this history, it is evident that Mandarin United Methodist Church has always been at the “heart” of the thriving Mandarin community. This church precedes the formation of the international United Methodist Church (1968) and the completion of the essential Buckman Bridge (1970) across the neighboring St. Johns River.

The congregation currently meets at the 10-acre location and has had a membership of more than 3,000 for much of the last two decades. In addition to the three church locations, there have been nearly 60 pastors serving this community, from Dr. Moore to Rev. Gilmore. In addition to weekly services and five years of worship at sister church Longleaf in St. Johns County, an assortment of activities has been vital to Mandarin, most prominently Upward Sports at the church’s gymnasium and fields, the well-known pumpkin patch, the crafts festival each fall, Christmas tree lot and Learning Ladders preschool.

The Nov. 17 celebration will be held during the 11 a.m., worship service and carry over to an old-fashioned dinner on the grounds at approximately 12:30 p.m. Lunch attendees are asked to bring side dishes and desserts and RSVP their participation to the church. Various singing groups will also perform, including the debut of a special 150th anniversary song. A short film covering the history of the church will also be shown.

Visit www.mumc.net for more information. 

Photo courtesy Mandarin United Methodist Church

Mandarin United Methodist Church in 1895, just 21 years after its founding.

  • Support community journalism! Subscribe to the Mandarin Newsline today!