A Downtown Congregation Rooted in 1823
First United Methodist Church of Jacksonville sits four blocks from the north bank of the St. Johns River in the heart of downtown Jacksonville, where Methodist circuit rider Reverend John Jerry first "set up shop" in 1823 on the second floor of a dry goods store. The congregation purchased the property at 225 East Duval Street in 1846, and Methodists have been telling of the love of Jesus on that corner for nearly two hundred years. Today the church is led by Senior Pastor Rev. Tiffany McCall and a small, close-knit staff, and it carries a simple mission statement: "To be Love Period. Love God, Love Neighbor, Love Self."
The Sanctuary, with its classic architecture, soaring columns, white marble, center aisle, and stained glass windows, anchors a campus that includes an Educational Building dating from 1922 and a Fellowship Hall known as the Spirit Cafe, with a fully equipped kitchen, Wi-Fi, and PowerPoint capability for meetings and gatherings of every size.
Traditional Worship on Sundays and Fridays
Sunday worship begins at 11:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary on the corner of Newnan Street and Duval Street. The service is traditional in every sense: hymns lifted up by the Sanctuary Choir and accompanied by a thirty-rank M.P. Moeller pipe organ installed in 1964, congregational singing from hymnals placed in every pew, and a sermon that aims to present the timeless truths of the Bible in a way that is easy to understand. On the first Sunday of each month, the congregation shares in Communion. Everyone is welcome to participate, whether Methodist or not, as long as they love the Lord and repent of their sins; communion is served in individually wrapped wafer and grape juice.
Those who cannot attend in person can join the same Sunday service on Zoom, and a YouTube livestream is available as well. A second gathering, often called Morning Prayer or the Breakthrough Prayer Meeting, meets in person at 10:00 a.m. on Fridays for those who want a midweek touchstone.
First-time guests are gently told, "On your first visit, we ask that you do not give - simply be our guest." There is no dress code; most long-time members prefer a more formal look, but a skirt, pants, or a nice shirt will fit in just as well. Reserved sections in the pews are rare and always marked.
The Sanctuary Choir, the Organ, and a Joyful Noise
Music is central to worship at First Church. The Sanctuary Choir is open to all singers from high school age upward and sings in varied styles during the morning service, drawing on classical works, spirituals, and hymn anthems. Two major works are performed each year, in Advent and in Lent or Easter, alongside cantatas and oratorios at Christmas and Easter. The choir rehearses at 9:45 a.m. on Sunday mornings before the 11:00 a.m. service.
The thirty-rank M.P. Moeller pipe organ, installed in 1964 and updated at the console in 2006, is a three-manual instrument with a MIDI processor that expands its capabilities, and it is used for services, weddings, concerts, and funerals. Three grand pianos - in the Sanctuary, the choir room, and Fellowship Hall - and a three-octave set of Schulmerich handbells round out the music program, with a handbell choir of ten to twelve ringing in the seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter.
First Kids on Sunday Mornings
Children are a visible and welcome presence at First Church. The First Kids ministry gathers on the first floor of the Educational Boyd Building, in well-equipped children's rooms staffed by background-screened and trained volunteers who love children and bringing them closer to God. A typical Sunday begins at 9:45 a.m. with games, crafts, and books in the children's rooms while parents attend adult Sunday School classes. The kids join the adult congregation at the start of the 11:00 a.m. worship service for the first part of the service, then step out for a special Children's Message before returning to their own rooms for a lesson, guided craft, and activities until 12:15 p.m. Snacks and treasure-chest surprises are part of every session, and each gathering blends four ideas: Grow Together, Proclaim the Word, Serve with Love, and Worship.
The Sunday morning rotation is led by Kitty McGill, the church's Children's Ministry director.
REFRESH Youth and Recharge Saturdays
REFRESH Youth, led by Youth Minister Tiffney Funches, exists to reintroduce Christ to young people in a space defined by love, fellowship, and spiritual transformation. The gathering's invitation is open: youth and families are encouraged to come as they are, experience a true encounter with God, and leave transformed.
The program's signature rhythm is Recharge Saturdays, a monthly meet-up held on the third Saturday of each month from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall and Chapel. Geared toward 11- to 18-year-olds (with parents and guardians encouraged to attend), the gatherings explore life skills, community, and prayer together. Friends are always welcome.
Wednesdays at First Church: Fellowship, Wellness, and Growth
Wednesdays are the church's midweek hub. The Fellowship Hall fills up for an informal family meal, Christian fellowship, and teaching, and everyone is invited. Church committees meet, the youth group comes together, and the night is structured to nourish both body and soul.
On the second and fourth Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m., Dr. Latrese leads Wellness Wednesdays, with yoga, mental health classes, and general wellness sessions designed for body, mind, and spirit. The full Wednesday calendar (meals, classes, meetings, and youth gatherings) is available as a downloadable PDF from the church.
Small Groups for Every Stage of the Journey
A network of classes and small groups meets the church's conviction that growth happens in relationship. The Connections Class gathers on Sunday mornings for Bible study and conversation. The Let's Talk Life Group is a young-adult gathering at Edward Waters College for candid conversations about fears, hopes, dreams, social change, faith in vocation, identity in Christ, and questions about God. A Young Adults Leadership Cohort meets on Mondays.
Daughters of Destiny is the church's women's ministry, Eileen's Workshop is a sewing and crafts ministry, and ACTS - Actively Caring Through Sharing - gathers members who want to put faith into action. Tuesday evenings at 6:00 p.m. bring a Bible Study hosted on Zoom.
Celebrate Recovery: Healing Through the Beatitudes
Celebrate Recovery has been a ministry at First Church since 2011. Modeled on the eight recovery principles found in the Beatitudes, it is a biblical and balanced program designed to help people overcome hurts, hang-ups, and habits through shared experiences, hopes, and strengths. The group meets on Saturdays, and ministry leader Alfred "Preacher" Johnson can be reached through the church office for current information.
"All You Need Is Love" Wedding Ministry
The Sanctuary at First Church, with its classic columns, white marble, center aisle, and stained glass, serves as a venue for Christian weddings of every size. Beyond hosting weddings for the wider community, the church runs an "All You Need Is Love" wedding ministry for couples facing financial hardships. The program offers pre-marital counseling with the pastor, potential loaner garments, a professional photographer, and assistance with vow renewals and baptisms. A local charity, such as the Sulzbacher Center, Salvation Army, or Family Promise, completes a non-binding referral form, and the church handles the rest; no details of the financial hardship are required.
A Heart for God and a Heart for the City
First Church frames its life around two convictions. The first is gospel faithfulness: the church teaches that God is with us, that the congregation is the living body of Christ, and that the Spirit of God calls all people to freedom. The second is a deliberate love of Jacksonville. The church's vision statement names the city directly: First United Methodist Church is called by God to do a bold new thing in Jacksonville, aiming to be a place of healing for hurting souls by creating safe, grace-filled communities that prioritize spiritual wellness and equality.
That outward focus takes shape through One Church One Child of Florida, a faith-based partnership that works with the Florida Department of Children and Families to recruit adoptive and foster families for children in state care. Members also serve at the Downtown Ecumenical Services (D.E.S.C.), the Sulzbacher Center for the Homeless, and Volunteers in Medicine, and they serve in the life of the church itself as ushers, greeters, Sanctuary Choir members, and front-desk volunteers. Anyone sensing a call to a ministry that does not yet exist at First Church is encouraged to reach out to Pastor Tiffany.
Two Centuries of Fire, Rebuilding, and Faith
Few downtown congregations carry this much history in their walls. A larger building replaced the original chapel in 1858. During the final months of the War Between the States, the Methodist Church at this location served as a sanctuary for daily prayer and worship by Union troops, and after the war ended, a convention of Florida Unionists met in the building to choose delegates to the Republican National Convention. Another sanctuary was erected in 1890. The Great Fire of 1901 left only two brick walls standing, and those walls were incorporated into the new sanctuary built in 1902. In October 1930, fire struck again, sparing the memorial windows and walls but destroying the sanctuary, which was rebuilt in 1931. The current Sanctuary was built in the mid-1960s.
Throughout the years, the Methodist Church was at the center of the growing metropolis, drawing parishioners from nearby urban communities and every suburb of the city. The facilities provide plenty of space for the nursery, young children's ministries, and Sunday School classes, and First Church still considers its main purpose to be ministering to people of all shapes, sizes, ages, and ethnic heritages from all of Jacksonville - giving it a cosmopolitan atmosphere where love and understanding of one another prevails.