A Brief History of First United Methodist Church
Niceville, Florida (Part 2)

Our Church History From 1963 to 1983

In 1961, Pastor A.C. Britt left our church (earlier data indicated he left in 1963).

In 1962, Reverend William J. Hughes came to our First Methodist Church, and he served from June of 1962 until June of 1963. He was the first pastor to have a full-time secretary.

In June of 1963, Rev. Sam E. Hudgens became pastor. Under his leadership, progress and expansion continued. A drive was conducted for the sale of bonds to finance a new centrally heated and cooled building containing 18 classrooms, a fellowship hall, and restrooms. The total cost of the building was $66,830.18; cost of the furniture was $2,913.12; the cost to close the Vestibule was $1,402.31.

In June 1965, the building was ready for occupancy. In June of the same year, the old sanctuary was torn down, rubbish cleared away, and a parking area paved. Appropriate shrubbery artfully placed completed the setting.

In 1965, another significant change occurred. The Official Board voted to change the name of the church from Niceville Methodist Church to "First Methodist Church of Niceville."

In 1966, the parsonage was completely remodeled. This renovation included new ceiling, a complete paint job, wall-to-wall carpet, rewiring, an additional bathroom, and a utility room. The total cost was $3,402.78. The WSCS donated to the parsonage new curtains, a dining room suite, a bedroom suite, and a new stove. Rev. Hudgens' pastorate ended in June of 1967.

In June of 1967, The Reverend Fletcher R. Herlong came from the First United Methodist Church of Pritchard, Alabama. The Rev. and Mrs. Herlong (Mary) had two children, David, and Rosemary.
In 1968, another change occurred with regard to the name of our church. The name was changed to First United Methodist Church. The word “United” now in the name comes from The Evangelical United Brethren (EUB) Church, which united with The Methodist Church in 1968.

Rev. Herlong served here until June 1969, when he chose to go into another field of Christian ministry. He and his family moved to Columbus, Georgia, where he served as director of The Halawalka Spiritual Retreat Center.

In June of 1969, the Reverend John T. Parker and family (Mary, his wife; married daughter, Maria; Sylvia, then 15; and John Thomas, then 9) came from Thomasville, Alabama. During his tenure, Rev. Parker and his family endeared themselves not only to the people of his church but to the entire community. In a very meaningful and fruitful ministry for five years, Rev. Parker was then assigned to the Cokesbury United Methodist Church in Pensacola, Florida. He left this church in 1974.

In June of 1974, Reverend Douglas L. Newton was appointed to the First United Methodist Church of Niceville, and he remained here for nine years (from 1974 - 1983). He came from Enterprise, Alabama, where he had served the St. Luke United Methodist Church. The Newton family moved into a beautiful new parsonage which was begun during Rev. Parker's ministry and completed in August l974. The lot for the parsonage was given by Mr. Pat Bryne, a friend of the church. Mr. Rupert Miller was the contractor for the building of the new parsonage which was financed by the sale of church notes. John and Joy Macon served as treasurers for this building program and Jane Meigs, church lay leader, and Chairman of the Parsonage Committee, was appointed by the building committee to see that the decor, colors, carpeting, etc., were in good taste. Each person involved in the program did a beautiful job. There were many more persons involved including the United Methodist Women and United Methodist Men, and it was a project marked by wonderful Church cooperation and giving. This is evidenced by the fact that the parsonage was built for $45,000 but valued at more than $65,000 (when completed). Because of the need for additional parking space and for a recreational area, our church purchased and developed the property next to the old parsonage. The cost of the lots was $16,000, and the cost of the development was approximately, $6,500. Many people worked in various ways to help in the development of this additional property, which was a most enhancing as well as practical addition to church properties.

In 1979, under the leadership of the Rev. Douglas Newton, a new sanctuary was erected and consecrated. A new office complex, a chapel, Sunday School classrooms and a new kitchen, adjoining the large fellowship hall (which had been the sanctuary) were added.This addition was also financed by the sale of church notes.

Reverend Newton left Niceville in 1983.

Our Church History From 1983 to 2002