HISTORY OF FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.doc

8/17/2019 HISTORY OF FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.doc

1/11

THE HISTORY OFFIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

of WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA

First Presbyteria C!"r#! of West Pa$% Bea#! &as or'a i(e) byt!e Re*ere ) +ose ! P- Ca$!o" , D-D- o Febr"ary .., /0.. as a#o 're'atio of t!e Presbyteria C!"r#!, U-S-A- T!e %eeti ' &as!e$) i t!e Wo%e 1s C$"b of West Pa$% Bea#! &it! 22 #!arter%e%bers- +"st t&o years $ater, /2 of t!ese eo $e &it! t!e #o *i#tiot!at t!e #!"r#! s!o"$) !a*e bee #!artere) " )er t!e PresbyteriaC!"r#! U-S- 3So"t!er )e o%i atio 4, bro5e a&ay a ) or'a i(e)&!at &as to be#o%e Me%oria$ Presbyteria C!"r#!-

T!e #o 're'atio of 6First C!"r#!1 #o ti "e) %eeti ' at t!eWo%e 1s C$"b " ti$ O#tober 7, /0.2 &!e t!e e& #!"r#! b"i$)i '&as #o% $ete) o Iris Street &it! a Sa #t"ary seati ' /28 eo $e- A)e*astati ' stor% o Se te%ber /9, /0.:, )e%o$is!e) t!e #!"r#!str"#t"re a ) ri#e$ess re#or)s &ere )estroye)- T!is &as fo$$o&e)&it! a )e#rease i %e%bers!i o e year $ater fro% 78. %e%bers)o& to .;2 )"e to e7 for t!ea%o" t of ?72,888- A$so, t!e ro erty to t!e so"t! of t!e ba 5b"i$)i ' &as a#@"ire)- T!e first ser*i#e &as !e$) i t!e e&Sa #t"ary o No*e%ber /:, /0>7, %ar5i ' t!e first Protesta t &it essi )o& to& West Pa$% Bea#!-

A #!"r#! sa #t"ary &as fair$y easy to e *isio be#a"se t!e ba 5b"i$)i ' &!i#! &as o& o"r #!"r#! !o%e &as %o)e$e) after a #!"r#!i Nort!er Ita$y- Its ar#!e) &i )o&s &ere rea)y %a)e to !o"se t!ebea"tif"$ stai e) '$ass yet to be i sta$$e) i /098-

T!e bea"tif"$$y ste #i$e) #ei$i ' is art of t!e ori'i a$ ba 5 ) #or-T!e #o$ors are B$"e for Ho esty, W!ite for P"rity, Re) for Co"ra'e a )

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o$) for i#tory- T!e Stars a ) S" s re rese t Per%a e #e a )E $i'!te %e t-

T!e "r#!ase of t!e ori'i a$ Or'a 3 o& %"#! e $ar'e)4 &as%a)e ossib$e by a series of $a ) tra sfer 'ifts a ) t!e erso a$i terest of Mr- Mo$$er, t!e Or'a %a "fa#t"rer- Mr- Mo$$er &as so#a ti*ate) by t!e bea"ty of t!e b"i$)i ' a ) its a#o"sti# ro ertiest!at !e !a) a i str"%e t )esi' e) a ) b"i$t "st for t!is #!"r#!= a )at a re%ar5ab$y #!aritab$e ri#e

T!e a#o"sti#s i t!e sa #t"ary are #o si)ere) to be o e of t!e fi esti t!e #o" ty, %a5i ' it a i)ea$ *e "e for #!ora$ a ) or#!estra$

rese tatio s-

A robe) #!oir a ) or#!estra &ere or'a i(e) i /0>9- T!e firstf$oor area of t!e C$oister b"i$)i ' 3 o& #!"r#! offi#e, $o" 'e, "rserya ) restroo%4 &as #o str"#te) i /078 at a #ost of ?9,888- O A ri$ /,/07/, t!e Presbyteria Wo%e 1s Asso#iatio &as or'a i(e) %er'i 't!e W!ee$, Missio ary So#iety a ) Mot!er1s Co" #i$ 'ro" s to'et!er-

Wor$) War II bro"'!t *ario"s a#ti*ities to t!e #!"r#!, i #$")i 't!e ser*i ' of refres!%e ts to %i$itary ser*i#e erso e$ o S" )aye*e i 's a ) t!e $ar'e asse%b$y roo% abo*e t!e Sa #t"arybe#o%i ' a )or%itory for ser*i#e %e o &ee5e )s- So%e 2,;88$etters &ere &ritte to ser*i#e %e 1s fa%i$ies- A ) t!e &o%e of t!e#!"r#! &ere b"sy se&i ' for t!e Re) Cross )"ri ' t!e &ar-

First C!"r#! ass"%e) t!e ro$e of are t #!"r#! )"ri ' /072 fort!e for%atio of Deerfie$) Bea#! Presbyteria C!"r#!-

T!e .2 t! a i*ersary &as #e$ebrate) o Febr"ary .>, /07; &!i#!i #$")e) a ser%o by t!e %o)erator of t!e e era$ Asse%b$y of t!ePresbyteria C!"r#! U-S-S-, t!e Re*ere ) Fre)eri#5 W- E*a s, D-D-T!at sa%e year %ar5e) t!e estab$is!%e t of ositio s for a Re$i'io"sE)"#atio Dire#tor a ) a C!"r#! Se#retary-

T!e $ar'e asse%b$y roo% abo*e t!e Sa #t"ary &as re%o)e$e) toi #$")e #$assroo%s )"ri ' /028, a ) t!e Lo''ia b"i$)i ' &as#o str"#te) at a #ost of ?.2,888 a$o ' &it! a 5it#!e , #$assroo%s a a

$a)ies1 ar$or-G

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3/11

O #e a'ai , First C!"r#! ser*e) as a are t #!"r#! &!e , i/02., t!e Forest Hi$$ Presbyteria C!"r#! 3 o& La5esi)e Presbyteria

C!"r#! &as or'a i(e) &it! a tra sfer of 99 %e%bers to t!e e!"r#!-

Tra'e)y str"#5 t!e #o 're'atio o O#tober .;, /022 &!e itsastor, T!e Re*ere ) Wi$$ia% Mor'a Le&is )ie) of a se*ere !eart

atta#5 at t!e a'e of 77, fo$$o&e) by t!e )eat! t&o )ays $ater of for%erastor, T!e Re*ere ) Morto Fo/, /022-

T!ere &ere so%e )isa)*a ta'es to "si ' a ba 5 b"i$)i ' for a#!"r#!- T!e %assi*e stee$= $ate) *a"$t re%ai e) i t!e fro t of t!e#!"r#! a ) t!e roof &as s" orte) by fo"r t&o=foot=s@"are #o$"% s,aro" ) &!i#! #!"r#!'oers !a) to eer to see t!e %i ister i t!e

"$ it- T!ere &as o air #o )itio i ', a ) t!e #!"r#! &as #oo$e) byos#i$$ati ' fa s %o" te) o t!e #o$"% s-

T!e year /020 %ar5e) t!e %a or re o*atio of t!e Sa #t"ary,re%o*i ' t!e $ast e*i)e #es of its for%er$y !a*i ' bee a ba 5-C!"r#! %e%bers "sta* A- Maass, Pa$% Bea#! ar#!ite#t a ) P-C- a )C$iff Lisse )e a#ti ' as #o tra#tors be'a t!e " )erta5i '=re%o*i '

t!e fo"r %assi*e i$$ars a ) t!e *a"$t i t!e #!a #e$ area- D"ri ' t!ere%o)e$i ', t!e #o 're'atio %et at t!e S"rf T!eater o Dat"raStreet-T!e C$oister b"i$)i ' &as e $ar'e) &it! t!e a))itio of a se#o ) f$oorfor #$assroo%s, $ibrary, astor1s st")y a ) restroo%s-

R")o$ ! H- B"e (, re o& e) artist, of Ne&to , Ne& +ersey, &ase 'a'e) i /098 to )esi' t!e o"tsta )i ' stai e) '$ass &i )o&st!at 'ra#e t!e Sa #t"ary- T!e ro e#t, &!i#! &as e< e#te) to ta5e /2years, &as #o% $ete) i "st t!ree years i /09>-

T!e are ti ' i sti #t o #e a'ai &as e*i)e #e) &!e , i /09:t!ro"'! t!e Fifty Mi$$io F" ) of t!e )e o%i atio , First C!"r#!#o #e trate) its efforts to&ar) )e*e$o i ' Fait! Presbyteria C!"r#!of Pa$% S ri 's- A$so, Ma$#o$% Carr"t!ers, C$er5 of Sessio for >7years &as re#o' i(e) for o"tsta )i ' ser*i#es-

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T!e 28 t! a i*ersary &as #e$ebrate) o Febr"ary .8, /0;., &it! as e#ia$ ser*i#e-

I May of /0;9, T!e +i% Da*i)so Me%oria$ Cassett Mi istry &asbe'" &it! o*er 288 ta e) #o ies er year of &ors!i ser*i#es)istrib"te) to frie )s at !o%eG a ) so$) o t!e atio fo$$o&i ' ea#!ser*i#e- I O#tober, of t!is year, t!e Be$$ To&er a ) e$e*ator &ere#o% $ete)-

I +"$y, /0;;, Me$ba E$5i s, o"r fait!f"$ #!oir )ire#tor, retire)after .> years of ser*i#e-

T!e s!i 1s be$$ fro% t!e U-S-S- Lit#!fie$), a s!i re o& e) for!"%a itaria #a"ses fro% /0.8=/079, &as i sta$$e) i t!e be$$ to&er iMay, /0;:-

T!e year /0;0 sa& t!e for%atio of a Ha )be$$ C!oir $ayi ' t!ee& Ma$%ar5 E '$is! Ha )be$$s ro*i)e) by a "%ber of #!"r#!

%e%bers- I De#e%ber, /0;0, He ry S%it! &as !o ore) for .. yearsas #!"r#! treas"rer-

A %a or re%o)e$i ' a ) e< a sio ro'ra% i /0:8 ro*i)e) for a e& 5it#!e , e $ar'e) Lo''ia, e& $a)ies restroo% a ) re o*ate)

"rsery- T!e History a ) Me%oria$s )is $ay &as %o*e) fro% t!e t!ir)f$oor area to t!e so"t! a$#o*e of t!e Sa #t"ary-

T!e Mo$$er i e or'a &!i#! !a) $e) #o 're'atio a$ si 'i ' a )%"si#a$ &ors!i for o*er fifty years &as )is%a t$e) )"ri ' /0:9 a )tra s orte) to t!e M-P- Mo$$er Co% a y i Ha'ersto& , Mary$a ) for a%a or reb"i$)i ', re*oi#i ', a ) e $ar'i ' ro#ess i #$")i ' a e&#o so$e- T!e e& a ) e


5/11

to estab$is! a %i istry &it! orea C!ristia s of Pa$% Bea#! Co" ty&!i#! &i$$ $ea) to t!e for%atio of a orea Presbyteria C!"r#!-

O"r !istory re*ea$s a )e)i#atio to t!e #o%%issio of +es"sC!rist,

o, a ) %a5e )is#i $es-G

I /00/, t!e Paris! Asso#iate, t!e Re*ere ) A"'"st A"'ieGa )e Bos#!e, fo" )e) t!e Se ior A)"$t Mi istry 3S-A-M-4, &!i#!

#"rre t$y i *o$*es o*er .8 %e%bers i %i istry a ) rea#!es o*er /88o$)er a)"$ts ea#! %o t!-

I /007, after i te se rayer a ) )is#"ssio , t!is #o 're'atio*ote) to %ai tai a a#ti*e %i istry a ) rese #e i t!e )o& to&area of West Pa$% Bea#!-

I +" e, /00;, T!e Re*ere ) Mary E- Wri'!t, &as #a$$e) a )i sta$$e) as t!e first fe%a$e Pastor of First C!"r#! to ai) t!e$ea)ers!i i re=)e*e$o i ' t!is #o 're'atio - Later, i t!e fa$$, t!e#!"r#! t!a 5e) Sa )y +ose ! for !er ser*i#e as C!"r#! Se#retarya ) &e$#o%e) Mr- ary Ri#!%o ) as offi#e %a a'er-

I +a "ary, /00:, t!e Sessio i *ite) t!e orea Fe$$o&s!i tos!are t!ese fa#i$ities, %a5i ' a e*e %ore a#ti*e #o%%it%e t to t!e/0:; #o*e a t-

I De#e%ber, /00:, T!e Re*ere ) A"'ie a )e Bos#!e rea$$yretire) as Paris! Asso#iate a ) as t!e Coor)i ator of t!e Se ior A)"$tMi istry-T!e #o 're'atio #e$ebrate) t!e ei'!t=year %i istry of A"'ie as o"rParis! Asso#iate- Ho&e*er, i ear$y /000, A"'ie ret"r e) to o"r&ors!i ser*i#e to star i o"r C!rist%as $ay t!at !a) bee )e$aye)be#a"se of serio"s i$$ ess- T!e #o 're'atio e oye) t!e &e$$ )o e

rese tatio of a $ay &ritte by o"r Pastor as t!e #!i$)re , yo"t! a )a)"$ts #!eerf"$$y a ) )i$i'e t$y erfor%e)-

I /000, &e &e$#o%e) a ) t!e sai) 'oo)=bye at t!e e ) of year toT!e Re*ere ) Br"#e Sy$*ester as t!e Paris! Asso#iate for t!e Se iorA)"$t Mi istry- By %i)=year, T!e orea Fe$$o&s!i !a) %o*e) fro%t!ese fa#i$ities i to a b"i$)i ' %eeti ' t!eir ee)s a ) be'a !a*i 'S" )ay %or i ' &ors!i ser*i#e-

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T!ro"'!o"t /000, t!e #o 're'atio #o ti "e) its !istory of !i'!i *o$*e%e t i %issio ro e#ts i t!e ei'!bor!oo) a ) i t!e &or$)t!ro"'! 'e ero"s offeri ' of ti%e, ta$e ts a ) fi a #ia$ s" ort- T!eb"i$)i 's a ) 'ro" )s #o ti "e) to be re aire) a ) ai te), a )i% ro*e%e ts %a)e to rote#t t!e fa#i$ities fro% f"rt!er %oist"re)a%a'e- T!e #o 're'atio oi e) t!e Re#o #i$iatio a ) MissioPro'ra% of o"r )e o%i atio , a ) e oye) t!e rese #e of Miss

Yo$a )a Sa tos Sa tos fro% Me


7/11

%i istry o Mo )ay i'!ts- T!is &as be'" i #oo eratio &it! t!eDo& to& De*e$o %e t A"t!ority &!o res o )e) to t!e re@"est a )offer of )o atio s of se*era$ )o& to& resta"ra t o& ers- T!is%i istry @"i#5$y attra#te) bot! eo $e &!o ee)e) t!e %ea$ as &e$$ as*o$" teers ot o $y i t!is #o 're'atio , b"t fro% ot!er fait!#o%%" ities 3 ot o $y C!ristia 4 a ) so%e fo$5s &!o )o ot atte )#!"r#! a y&!ere- T!e %i istry fo#"ses " o ro*i)i ' ot o $y a!ea$t!y, !ysi#a$$y o"ris!i ' %ea$, b"t a e #o" ter &it! t!e $o*e of

o)-

D"ri ' t!is year, Dr- Dia e Mars!a$$ ser*e) as t!e Dire#tor ofM"si# a ) Mr- +o! Fit('era$) as or'a ist- T!e Sessio )e#i)e) to)is#o ti "e !iri ' a Paris! Asso#iate " ti$ a )eter%i atio of t!e

at"re of ee)e) staffi ' &as %a)e-

D"ri ' t!e year, .88., t!is #o 're'atio #e$ebrate) its :8 t! yearof %i istry i West Pa$% Bea#!- T!is #e$ebratio too5 $a#e i a*ariety of for%s t!ro"'!o"t t!e year a ) #"$%i ate) i a Ser*i#e ofWors!i a ) 'ra ) #e$ebratio ba @"et a ) for%a$ %ea$- T!ro"'!o"tt!e year, !istori#a$ a ) #"rre t *i' ettes &ere s!are) )"ri ' &ors!i ,#o *ersatio s abo"t s e#ifi# to i#s &ere or'a i(e) a ) s e#ia$'"ests &ere &e$#o%e)- Ma y ot!er e*e ts a ) %issio ro e#ts &ere

art of t!e o 'oi ' $ife of t!e #o 're'atio - Es e#ia$$y, &e &ereb$esse) to s" ort t!ree %e%bers of o"r #o 're'atio to 'o toMeri)a, Me


8/11

9 years a'o- T!e #o 're'atio arti#i ate) i t!eE#"%e i#a$ I terfait! T!a 5s'i*i ' E*e ser*i#e, as &e$$ as t!e

resbytery re'io a$ Refor%atio Day-

O"r $ife of ser*i#e #o ti "e) as &e s" orte) t!e s e#ia$offeri 's of Pea#e%a5i ', O e reat Ho"r of S!ari ', t!e +oyOfferi ' a ) T&o Ce ts A Mea$- T!e Presbyteria Wo%e #o ti "e toi *ite t!e e tire #o 're'atio to arti#i ate i t!eir s e#ia$ offeri 'sof t!e Birt!)ay Ce$ebratio a ) t!e B$a 5et Offeri '- Me%bers a )frie )s of t!e #!"r#! #o ti "e) to s" ort t!e Mo )ay a ) T"es)ayNi'!t Mea$ Mi istries as &e$$ as ro*i)e t!e %ea$ at t!e St- eor'eCe ter o t!e fift! We) es)ay- T!e Se ior A)"$t Mi istry #o ti "e)offeri ' %o t!$y $" #!eo s as &e$$ as se*era$ tri s, &it! t!e)eter%i atio to offer t!ese at a ri#e t!at t!e fo$5s #o"$) affor)- O"r

or)i aryG &ay of $ife #o ti "e) as &e atte )e) resbytery %eeti 's,arti#i ate) i se%i ars abo"t #!"r#! 'ro&t!, a ) %a)e 'reater

i te tio a$ efforts of tra sfor%atio of t!e #!"r#!- E


9/11

assess ee)s a ) sit"atio s of t!e %e%bers- After t!is &as )o e, t!ePastor %a)e !er &ay to t!e #!"r#! as @"i#5$y as s!e #o"$)- Be#a"set!e staff !a) re are) t!e b"i$)i 's for t!e stor% a ) t!is area &as

ot i t!e at! of t!e fier#est art of t!e stor%, t!ere &as o $y s$i'!t)a%a'e- Most i% orta t$y, be#a"se $a i ' i #$")e) $ea*i ' #ertai#ir#"it brea5ers o , t!e refri'erators a ) free(ers %ai tai e) a #o$)e o"'! te% erat"re to safe$y store eris!ab$e foo)- After #a$$i ' for*o$" teers fro% t!e s"rro" )i ' resi)e tia$ #o%%" ities, %ea$s &ere

re are) a ) ser*e) to %a y eo $e bot! at $" #! a ) )i er ti%e for se*era$ )ays after t!e stor%- T!e #o%%" ity res o )e) &it! %ore!e$ as &e$$ as &or)s of 'ratit")e- T!e #!"r#! a$so !oste) se*era$%eeti 's for #i*i# a ) fait! 'ro" s to %eet a ) )is#"ss )isaster re$ief efforts a ) ee)s-

T!e year of .882 be'a &it! 'reat e*e ts- We &e$#o%e) Ro a$)Hay)e as C!oir Dire#tor a ) Or'a ist, a ) &at#!e) &it! 'ratef"$!earts as t!e #!oir &e$#o%e) e& %e%bers a ) offere) i s iri '%"si#- We e 'a'e) i se%i ars &it! %e%bers of t!e Presbytery1sC!"r#! Tra sfor%atio Co%%ittee, a ) e< erie #e) a 'ro&i 'e er'y, a ) e


10/11

I A ri$, .88;, T!e Re*ere ) W- T!o%as S$a'er &as #!ose tobe t!e State) S" $y a$$o&i ' First C!"r#! to !a*e a astora$

rese #e )"ri ' t!e &ee5 as &e$$ as o S" )ays for &ors!i a )astora$ #are 'i*i '-

A$so i .88;, T!e Mo )ay Ni'!t Mea$ Mi istry #e$ebrate) its si, .880S!ir$ey Sa" )ers &as or)ai e) a ) be#a%e t!e Re*ere ) S!ir$eySa" )ers, State) S" $y of First C!"r#!-

O S" )ay, A ri$ .., .8/., t!e Re*ere ) S!ir$ey Sa" )ers &asi sta$$e) as astor of First Presbyteria C!"r#!-

First Presbyteria C!"r#! of West Pa$% Bea#! is a$so 5 o& asT!e $o*i ' !eart of t!e #ityG- I t!e year of .8/., t!e Co" #i$

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3Sessio 4, its 'o*er i ' bo)y re)e)i#ate) itse$f to t!e #!"r#!1s%issio To $o*e a ) ser*e C!rist a ) His eo $eG-

T!e #o 're'atio of First Presbyteria C!"r#! is )eter%i e) to see5t!e &i$$ of o) for !er %issio i t!is ti%e a ) $a#e- Wea#5 o&$e)'e t!at &e are !ere to be a s irit"a$ rese #e i t!is #ity,a ) &is! to ser*e as t!e $o*i ' !eart of t!e #ity, %eeti ' t!e ee)s oft!e eo $e &!o $i*e a ) &or5 i t!is area- We s!a$$ #o ti "e to #reatet!e %ost $o*i ' at%os !ere &e #a t!ro"'! t!e a eara #e of o"rfa#i$ity, t!e se%i ars a ) e*e ts t!at &e offer, fe$$o&s!i &it! eo $eof a$$ &a$5s of $ife, a ) o e i ' o"r fa#i$ity as a $a#e for ot!er 'ro" sto %eet, !o$) re#e tio s, )is $ay art a ) !o$) #o #erts a ) re#ita$s-

O"r %i istry of %"si# !as e< a )e) to offer *ario"s #o #ert series1" )er t!e a%e of M"si# J FPC WPB i *iti ' t!e "b$i# to e oy&o )erf"$ si 'ers a ) %"si#ia s i t!e bea"tif"$ a ) !istori#sa #t"ary of First Presbyteria C!"r#!-

O"r &ors!i is of a oyf"$ at"re, offeri ' e #o" ters of raise a )!ea$i ' &it! o)- First Presbyteria C!"r#! is a i #$"si*e #!"r#!a ) a$$ eo $e are &e$#o%e) i to t!e &ors!i a ) fe$$o&s!i of t!is#o%%" ity- S"re$y, t!is is t!e )ay t!e Lor) !as %a)e, a ) &e &i$$re oi#e a ) be '$a) i it-

E )

U )ate)K A ri$ .8/2

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