History

History information is some background and history about the location. This is meant to be a basic summary. Below the history records you will find sources in which you can click on to find out more information. There may be multiple history records per location.

In 1865, the Civil War was ending. The New York Stock Exchange opened its first permanent headquarters on Wall Street. The first U.S. pipeline carrying oil was laid in Pennsylvania.

And, in what is now Osceola County, in the area now known as Shingle Creek, a group of settlers including Henry Overstreet, were forming the Shingle Creek Methodist Church.

The church is celebrating 150 years, but for the most part, it is business as usual in the small community church, said Pastor Arch Fisher, the 52nd individual to hold its pastor title.

No one knows the exact date the church, now located at 2420 Old Vineland Road in Kissimmee, got started, but a congregation of some sort occurred in the area between 1856 and 1860, with the church itself beginning soon afterward.

It was Overstreet, one of the earliest pioneers in Central Florida, who essentially got things started when he, his wife, Mary, and their eight children came to the area in a covered wagon from Georgia.

Overstreet and the other residents originally had worship services under a brush arbor they erected with the first wooden church following. He deeded the 10 acres for the church and cemetery. According to historical records, it had split log floors, and the Overstreets were the church's first members. A circuit-riding preacher named Rev. R.L Reaves served as the first minister.

The log church eventually burned and, in 1893, was replaced with a plank building that over the years was also used as a school. It also was not an organized church until that year. While Rev. J.A. Hendry was pastor, the wooden sanctuary was built and a Methodist Episcopal Church South was organized and was recognized as Shingle Creek Church. The wooden sanctuary was used until 1964, when the current sanctuary was built.

While the original building is gone, the Shingle Creek Cemetery, located behind the church, remains. Some of the grave markers date back to the mid 1800s, with names that are familiar to long-time Osceola residents - Bronson, Yates, Spence, Tyner, Padgett, Ivey, Overstreet, Keen, Lemons, Short, Prescott, Ingram, Prevatt, Cromarties, Johnston, Burkhart, Steffee, Iverson. Members of the Shingle Creek community are still using the cemetery.

In 1968, the Methodist churches merged with the Evangelical Brethren Church becoming the United Methodist Church.

Added by: sdonley on 01/23/2018 DB#:380
Source(s):
http://www.aroundosceola.com/shingle-creek-methodi...