Cokesbury began as a small gathering of fourteen people in the home of Byron and Sara Mae Settle on January 14, 1960. The group grew to some 47 people who met in individual homes, the Lions Club, and even funeral homes. Plans were soon made for a sanctuary on the corner of 65th Avenue and 18th Street in Margate, FL. By March 4, 1962 the first worship service was held in the new building – only the beginning of a very busy decade for the new church!
In 1964, Cokesbury was named church of the year by the Palm Beach District of the Methodist Church. And then in 1968 the Evangelical United Brethren Church and the Methodist Church merged, becoming the United Methodist Church. The merger of these two denominational churches was a great step forward in healing racial differences that began to fracture Methodism in the early 1800s. It was also a recognition that Methodists, as Christians, are of the same body of Christ, and that spiritual formation is best done together where iron can sharpen iron.
The first major expansion of Cokesbury’s facilities was in 1969 with the addition of the classrooms and fellowship hall encompassing a courtyard. For their long service to the church, the Settle Family received the honor of having the fellowship hall named after them.
Cokesbury continued to grow and by the early 1980s it was clear a new sanctuary would be needed. And so it was, and dedicated on October 7, 1984, with ten stained-glass windows depicting the life of Jesus along the front and sides of the sanctuary.
The former sanctuary was converted into our current day offices, reception area, library, and chapel in honor of Donald Lowe, an active and prominent member. Interestingly, the current library was once a kitchen. The bay window for serving meals can still be seen when you are in the office, though boarded over long ago. In the early 2000s the chapel was converted into a multipurpose community room for groups like Alcoholics Anonymous and troops of boys and girls scouts. The stained glass wall of Lowe Chapel, visible from 65th Avenue, still adds great beauty to the room, allowing the room to still be used for services.
In 2005, Hurricane Wilma crossed over the Florida Keys heading northeast towards Everglades National Park. As it passed over land it decreased in power, but the stronger southern edge of the storm was headed straight for Broward County, and Margate. The higher ceilings of the sanctuary sustained serious damage, causing extensive water damage to the interior of the building. A complete remodeling of the sanctuary was finished in late 2006. A new organ was purchased not too long after that, with many delightful music concerts and talent shows enjoyed by the local community to help raise funds for the new instrument.
In 2010 Cokesbury celebrated 5o Years of Ministry in Margate with a Year of Jubilee, remembering with joy all the lives we have encountered and stories of faith that have been lived out among our gathering. In these difficult economic times we are all rediscovering what is truly important in this life, a lesson we became familiar with when Wilma came through. To God, there is no more important thing on this earth than a relationship with you, with each of us. Amidst the confusion and upheaval in our day and age, we can know this: The Lord of Heaven and Earth sits on his throne, and he loves each of us, and all of us, greatly.
There are countless stories of faith and healing, service and love that come from the many followers of Christ who gave of themselves in community over the years at Cokesbury. We hope to count you among them.