(November 15, 2025) Pasadena Community Church family and friends came home to share stories of the past and share excitement for our plans during our 100th anniversary celebration. Even as PCC plots a future for our campus and ministries, it is important to remember the struggles that nearly closed the church many times over the decades.
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The original Pasadena Church was built in 1925 on two lots donated by a local businessman. The first service was held on March 25, 1925. The first sanctuary consisted of the entire center section of the present Hamilton Auditorium, which was not fully completed when the first service was held. A couple of years after the opening, a hurricane damaged the sanctuary.
The next few years were difficult for the new church. First, the Florida real estate market boom collapsed in early 1926. Prosperity vanished, millions lost, and many residents were forced to return to their northern homes. As the new church struggled to grow and finances were difficult, the church used many creative methods to raise money and to increase awareness of the church. Then in 1928, a severe hurricane swept over St. Petersburg causing a great deal of damage to the city, its residents, and more specifically to the church building. The small church pressed on, not only repairing the building but contributing shoes and money to the Red Cross for local residents.
After hearing J. Wallace Hamilton speak at a District Conference in Dade City in December 1928, three members from Pasadena knew they had found their future pastor. Dr. Hamilton, who was from Pembroke, Ontario (about a 2-hour drive east of Ottawa, Canada’s capital city) started speaking at the church in June of 1929. At that time, the church membership was 46 with 40 enrolled in Sunday school. Then came the stock market crash in 1929, followed by the great depression of the 1930’s.
In 1932, during the peak of the financial difficulties, serious consideration was given to closing the church. There were very few winter visitors and many citizens of the area were in distress. After considering this however, several leaders from various denominations decided that Pasadena Church would be a community church, serving the entire community including Pasadena, Lake Pasadena and the Jungle area, which though 7 miles away from the City, was growing. Immediately $3,200 was raised from some prominent businessmen to complete the initial building interior, purchase 100 chairs — and membership started to grow.
As the 1930’s progressed, conditions were still severe; however they were slowly starting to improve. Church attendance gradually improved. The church was slowly changing from a predominantly winter church to an all-year-round church. Membership approached 100 with average Sunday school attendance around 58 as 1935 arrived. Sunday services were crowded and all financial obligations had been met.
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