Salisbury Presbyterian Church HISTORY

_______________

OUR CHURCH HISTORY

Please email history information to Salisburypc.org Webmaster
or leave with the Receptionist in the church office.

CHRONOLOGY

1960's

1970's

1980's

1990's

2000's

THE 1960'S

August, 1964 - 4 families meet to form Salisbury Presbyterian Church.
September, 1964 - First Salisbury Presbyterian Church Worship service at Midlothian High School.
April, 1965 - Salisbury Presbyterian Church organized.
April, 1965 - Groundbreaking for the first sanctuary.
October, 1965 - First Sunday School and first worship service in new sanctuary.
April, 1966 - Dedication Service of the first sanctuary.
November, 1966 - Reverend D. Clyde Bartges called, first full-time minister (1966-1971).

THE 1970'S

July, 1971 - Completion of the Activities Building.
August, 1972 - Reverend H. Wilkes O'Brien called (1972-1976).
December, 1975 - First pajama service for children, first candlelight service.
February, 1976 - Sunday School addition completed. Dedication of Activities/ Sunday School Building.
December, 1976 - Dr. Samuel W. Newell, Jr. called (1976-1982).
Early, 1977 - First Children's Choir formed.
September, 1977 - Pipe organ installed and dedicated.
April, 1978 - First church musical - "Celebrate Life".
February, 1979 - Building Committee formed.
September, 1979 - Growth Fund initiated.
November, 1979 - Growth Fund completed - $401,000.00 pledged.

THE 1980'S

September, 1980 - Laying of the cornerstone for the present sanctuary.
May, 1981 - Dedication of the new and present sanctuary.
November, 1982 - Tracker organ dedicated.
November, 1982 - Reverend Jon W. Regen called (1982-1997)
June, 1983 - Hanover Presbytery meeting.
September, 1984 - Opened doors of the Salisbury Preschool
August, 1984 - Ann Stith (Hammack), DCE, joined Salisbury staff.
November, 1987 - Dr. Samuel Newell elected Pastor Emeritus, Salisbury.
October, 1988 - Dr. Paul T. Eckel of First Presbyterian Church, Atlanta, GA - First annual "Fall Preaching Event".
March, 1989 - Dr. Isabel Rogers, Moderator of Presbyterian Church USA, guest speaker.

THE 1990'S

April, 1990, 25th Anniversary of Salisbury Presbyterian Church celebrated.
July, 1990 - First Youth Mission trip (Mobile, Alabama).
November, 1990 - First Mission trip to Haiti.
1991-1992 - Winfried Agbenya, graduate student from Ghana, shared year with Salisbury Presbyterian Church.
March, 1992 - First Youth Musical Tour - "The Big Picture".
October, 1992 - "Fall Preaching Event" - Rev. Hugh Eichelberger, First (Scots) Presbyterian, Charleston, South Carolina.
April, 1993 - Congregation approved fund raising campaign.
October, 1993 - Construction initiated on new parking area.
October, 1993 - "Fall Preaching Event" - Rev. Todd Jones, First Presbyterian, Spartanburg, South Carolina.
November, 1993 - Taylor and Parish selected as contractors for new building.
March, 1994 - Marj Carpenter, future Moderator of Presbyterian Church USA - Witness Season speaker.
September, 1994 - Reverend Gordon Bidwell Mapes, III, Associate Pastor called.
October, 1994 - "Fall Preaching Event" - Rev. George Wirth, First Presbyterian, Atlanta, Georgia.
February, 1995 - Dedication Celebration Ceremony - laying of the cornerstone for the new Educational Wing.
April, 1995 - "Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" musical production.
May, 1995 - Mission Fair.
October, 1995 - "Fall Preaching Event" - Rev. Michael Curry, St. James Episcopal, Baltimore, Maryland.
October, 1996 - Presbytery of the James - Fall meeting.
October, 1996 - "Fall Preaching Event" - Dr. John Kuykendall, President, Davidson College.
January 1997 - December 1999 - Capital Campaign.
February, 1997 - First Stephen Ministers commissioned.
April, 1997 - "Habitat for Humanity" H.O.P.E. House.
April, 1997 - "Lazarus" musical production.
July, 1997 - Rev. Jon Regen retired (1982-1997).
September - October 1997 - "Youth Endowment and Elevator" Campaign.
October, 1997 - Dr. Robert E. Palmer named Interim Pastor (1997 - March 1999).
October, 1997 - "Fall Preaching Event" - Dr. Cynthia Campbell, President, McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago, Illinois.
1998 - Salisbury Presbyterian Church Foundation established.
April 1998 - "Godspell" Musical with cast of 100+.
October, 1998 - "Fall Preaching Event" - Dr. John Killinger, President of the Mission for Biblical Literacy.
Advent, 1998 - Wednesday night suppers/ devotionals began.
March 14, 1999 - Dr. Robert E. Palmer, Interim Pastor, left. (October 1997 - March 1999).
March 15, 1999 - Rev. Robert Carlson named Stated Supply Pastor (March 15 - June 30 1999).
June, 1999 - Rev. Jon Regen elected Pastor Emeritus, Salisbury.
July, 1999 - Rev. Bruce Lancaster called.
October, 1999 - "Fall Preaching Event" - Rev. Edward Andrews, St. Nicholas Buccleuch Parish, Dalkeith, Midlothian, Scotland.

THE FIRST DECADE OF THE 21st CENTURY

2000 - Long Range Planning Committee established.
May, 2000 - SPC's First Mission Trip to Appalachia.
July, 2000 - San Francisco Youth Choir Mission Trip.
August, 2000 -The Salisburypc.org Virtual Ministry goes on line
September 24, 2000 -Celebration of the 35th Anniversary of Salisbury Presbyterian Church.
October, 2000 - "Walk With Him" Stewardship Campaign.
February, 2001 - Junior Choir Presentation of "Jonah and the Whale".
February, 2001 - The SPC Congregational Care Committee initiates the Fellowship Special Events Calendar and Activities.
April, 2001 - The first distribution of funds by the SPC Foundation Board of Directors, with the approval of $3,700 for SPC Outreach made available to the Haiti Bible School Mission Team.
April, 2001 - SPC's Second Mission Trip to Appalachia.
May 4-6, 2001 - The Music Ministry presents "Jesus Christ Superstar".
May 24, 2001 - The Engelbrekt Motet Choir of Stockholm, Sweden In Concert at SPC.
October 22, 2001 - Initiation of the Bible Study in the Workplace series with "Leadership and the Bible" lunch and study sessions for downtown SPC members. Led by Gordon Mapes.
October 28, 2001 - First "Walk With Him Mission Possible" Mission Fair.
November 18, 2001 - First "Grand Illumination" of the SPC Angels.
April, 2002 - SPC's Third Mission Trip to Appalachia.
April 14, 2002 - First Youth Alternative Worship Service
July, 2002 - Youth Choir Mission Trip to Toronto, Canada, including the videotaped Skydome Toronto performance. This "Skydome" video is the first video added to our Salisburypc.org Website.
July, 2002 - Completion of the church office renovation.
August, 2002 - Dr. Nancy Forinash called.
November, 2002 - Second SPC Angel Grand Illumination followed by the NBC12 About Town Interview and our SPC online Angel Video.
April, 2003 - The SPC Music presentation of the "Children of Eden".
October, 2003 - The creation of the SPC Men's Ministry and their sponsorship of the First Men's Ministry "Get Acquainted" Fellowship Breakfast.

Welcome

Our History

Our Church Directory

How to find us

How to join us

Our Facilities

Our Website Index