Three pioneer families, the Russells, Pinders, and Parkers, labored to settle and organize the first community on Upper Matecumbe Key, and their Methodist faith tied the early settlers together as they began worshiping in their homes. In 1891, Richard Pinder organized the first Sunday School, and in 1894 he oversaw the building of their first wood frame church. By 1897, the church was moved by rafts to a more central location at the spot on what is currently Cheeca Lodge, where a cemetery was established and still remains. A devastating hurricane struck Islamorada on 2 Sept 1935, many people perished, and every structure on the island was damaged, including the original church. Soon afterward, survivors gathered where the church had stood and decided to rebuild quickly. Hugh Matheson donated land on higher ground, the congregation grew, and in 1957 the present church was built there. Descendants of the pioneer families who began worshiping together more than 125 years ago still worship together there today.