History :
The Christ United Methodist Church story is not a long one, but it is filled with God’s blessings for which we give Him the glory.

At the 1975 session of the Florida Annual Conference it was decided to build a new church in east Venice. With folks from Venice-Nokomis, Grace and Englewood United Methodist Church, a survey was taken and it was determined there would be enough interest in the area to begin this new work. In March of 1976, the Rev. Mike Shirley and family moved to an old parsonage owned by Venice-Nokomis to begin what would become a ten-year appointment at this start-up church. The first service was held at the Venice Gardens Community Center on Easter Sunday, 1976 with 110 persons in attendance. Those were exciting days carting, setting-up, tearing down and storing all the chairs, altar-ware, hymnals and everything needed for worship service! As the membership and attendance grew steadily, the need for our own building became more apparent.

The first building on our current site was what we now call the Family Life Center. It was completed in 1977 with the first service on Sept. 25. As a sanctuary building was being considered, there was considerable debate whether to build for a capacity of 400 or larger looking ahead to growth. God in His wisdom led us to build the larger sanctuary believing that the growth was sure. Are we not glad they took this step of faith? The beautiful sanctuary we enjoy today was completed and first used for Christmas 1985. The church grew as the community around it began to develop. No longer surrounded by cow pastures, the Venice Golf and Country Club built around three sides of our property.

Pastor Shirley left Christ United Methodist Church in 1986 after ten fruitful years. We were blessed with the appointment of Rev. Ken Miller who moved here with his family and would serve faithfully for the next 12 years. Our current Sr. Pastor, Steve Miller, and his family moved to the parsonage June 1998. In 2004, we were so honored and blessed to have the Rev. Larry and Regina Potts appointed to serve as our Associate Pastor. Larry brings a wealth of experience, skills and gifts to our church and we are truly blessed to have the Potts with us.

God has been incredibly good to Christ United Methodist Church in these 29 years. May we continue to be faithful as we serve Him together in the years ahead.