Holiday Party Will Have Historic Setting

If you value historic ambiance in your holiday parties, it could be tough to beat the event with a name that's almost as long as its venue's history: the 100th Anniversary Celebration of the Sanctuary Lofts (formerly Tyer Temple Methodist and First United Methodist churches) and Tampa Heights Civic Association Annual Holiday Social Dinner.

The THCA is accustomed to holding its holiday party in old buildings — such as the Trolley Barn at the Heights last year — and event co-organizer Atelier Architecture happens to be celebrating the centenary of the building  it resides in. The coincidence has resulted in a convergence of occasions that the THCA and Atelier couldn't pass up.

The event is from 6-9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15, in the main building, or sanctuary, of the old church 502 E. Ross Ave. Food and drink will be provided, but guests are welcome to bring a covered dish.

Vivian Tennison, co-owner of , said historic photographs dated 1910 show the church under construction. Though the Hillsborough
County Property Appraiser indicates the building was completed in 1911, a cornerstone shows 1913. “We may have to have another (centenary) in 2013,” Tennison said with a laugh, “which we would be fun.”

Recently a composite of the church's history has taken shape, due to the efforts of Atelier, THCA, and a group of University of South Florida grad students taking a community research class.

According to Tennison, the building started life as the Tampa Heights Methodist Church. A reputed fire in the 1940s required the roof to be rebuilt, possibly explaining the removal of the sanctury's original cupola.

By late 1960s, with segregation still in full swing in Tampa, three separate congregations were using the church — the original white Methodists, a Cuban congregation, and a black congregation called the Tyer Temple.

“With urban renewal and construction of I-275,” said Tennison, “the white congregation diminished and eventually many of those people came up to Seminole Heights Methodist Church, and then some when out to Temple Terrace Methodist, and also the downtown Methodist church.” By 1969, Tennison added, the Methodist Conference turned it over to the Tyer congregation entirely. They too dwindled over time and eventually could no longer support it.

A little more than 10 years ago, Atelier bought the building to renovate it. “Our business function primarily is historic preservation and renovation for adaptive reuse of abandoned buildings,” said Tennison. Before long, the small architecture firm decided to move in to the church from a renovated former car showroom on North Franklin Street downtown. Atelier also refurbished the church's Sunday school building into 32 loft apartments.

Tennison working in a historic church affords a unique ambiance. “It's
wonderful,” she said. “It's very restful and contemplative. It's a great place to work. We really enjoy it.”

For more information on the holiday social, call 813-223-1948.