The Sarasota chapter of the First Church of the Nazarene was formally established in 1947. Its charter members held their worship services in the Women’s Club hall in downtown Sarasota.  In the first decade, the church purchased property at the intersection of 3rd Street and Links Avenue in Sarasota.  Many years later in 1967, the church acquired land in what was then the middle of cattle country but what we now refer to as “Fruitville Road”.  Once there, the church built an education building and sanctuary which remained as such until 1996.  That is when the new sanctuary was built.  The old sanctuary became the Activity Center, where we gather for fellowship, family life and for Manna Ministries, the compassionate outreach ministry of our church.  Our education building became the Loving Arms Preschool and Childcare, which was founded in the 1990’s.  Although we have seen many changes throughout our 64 years of existence, we continue to strive for growth while maintaining a small community-church feel.  

Easter, 1956

Church sign, 1965