Roser Memorial
John Roser built the first church on Anna Maria Island in 1913. The church still sits on Pine Avenue and opens its doors to residents and visitors alike.
The first house of worship on the island, Roser Memorial Community Church was built by George Roser in memory of his mother. Roser created the Fig Newton in 1891, which he eventually sold to Nabisco, but Roser Memorial Community Church still stands on the same site in Anna Maria. Pastor Gary Batey leads Sunday's worship service at 10am, which incorporates a children's church school and youth church school. The chapel is also open for prayer during the week from 8am to 2pm and on Sundays from 9am to noon. The church also runs an All Island Youth group, a weekly fellowship group for those in grades seven to 12, which meets Wednesdays 6-8pm. Adult bible study takes place on Tuesday evenings at 7pm and Wednesday mornings at 10am (November to March) in Fellowship Hall. There is also a Joyful Noise Choir, for second, third, fourth and fifth-graders, which practices every Wednesday from 3-4pm, with an adult choir meeting every Thursday at 7pm in the Roser Church Colman Building. roserchurch.com