North Tampa Church of Christ wants to build its new home atop an old church site, near a historic Lutz cemetery.
By TIM GRANT
Published August 27, 2004
LUTZ - For four decades it has been a landmark on N Florida Avenue.
Now the North Tampa Church of Christ is poised to move north, onto the grounds of another landmark.
Members have asked for a rezoning that would place the church next to a cemetery that dates back more than 100 years.
"The potential growth of our congregation and the ability to reach more people is in the growing New Tampa area," said church elder Ronnie Jackson. Jackson said they have about 135 members. The rezoning calls for a building to accommodate 250.
The new church will occupy 15 acres just south of County Line Road. It will replace an old church built by pioneer families who settled the area when sawmills and cattle pasture ruled the landscape.
That church burned and was never rebuilt.
"We are going to put a church back where a church once was," said Minister Neal Pharr, spiritual leader of North Tampa Church of Christ.
Part of the 15-acre purchase includes a historic 3-acre cemetery that dates back to the 1800s. Although the church also bought County Line Cemetery with the land purchase, the members have no power to make any changes to the cemetery without approval of the cemetery's trustees.
George Regler, a trustee of the cemetery at 3800 County Line Road, said they will insist that the rugged, rustic facade stay untarnished.
"We want it to look ancient, like an old country cemetery," said Regler, 82. "If it's manicured, it's not a country cemetery anymore."
Regler, a descendant of Lutz pioneers, said only the offspring of the community's early settlers can be buried there. Many of its grave sites are unmarked and scattered about with no clear-cut row pattern.
A Confederate flag marks the grave of one Lutz pioneer. One of the earliest marked graves is that of Mary Jane Orr, who died Aug. 10, 1897. One of the most interesting tombstones, however, is that of Tom Ellis, who died July 4, 1909. It curses the man who fatally shot him.
Mine enemies spoke against me. They lay and waited for me. Therefore let them be counfouunded (sic) and perish that were against me and be covered with shame and dishonor who sought to take my life which was so brutally stolen by Preston Gillette.
Pharr said the congregation intends to respect the old cemetery.
"We are going to be good neighbors," Pharr said. We feel it will be a good marriage between a church and a cemetery."
Members say the building where the nondenominational congregation currently worships at 12720 North Florida Ave. has been there since 1963, but the church has not always had the same name.
Jackson said it was originally called Florida Avenue Church of Christ. When the congregation merged five years ago with Northeast Tampa Church of Christ, it was renamed North Tampa Church of Christ.
The idea of relocating further north sprang from that merger.
"We want to get more into a suburban community where there are more homes," Pharr said. "All the growth is up there."
County commissioners are scheduled to vote on the church rezoning Dec. 14. The members do not expect much opposition. They are completing a master plan for the property now and expect to start construction early next year.
