1960's
1 May 61    Our roots were put down when St. Johns Presbytery appointed the Reverend Ridgley L. Hall to establish a Presbyterian church in the South Orange County area. Mr. and Mrs. Hall and their family moved into the manse at 1115 Linton Avenue on May 1, 1961.

9 Jul 61    First service as a Presbyterian chapel took place in what had been Frank's Catfish Restaurant at the corner of Oak Ridge Road and Orange Blossom Trail. Over 125 people attended the 11 o'clock service. Much hard work and many gifts were given to make this possible.

To begin a Presbyterian church in a former catfish restaurant is not far-fetched, but fitting. The fish was the symbol by which early Christians made themselves known to each other:

Jesus called his apostles to make them fishers of men, and it was with fish he fed the five thousand.'

13 Aug 61   First meeting of the church school was held under the direction of J. Patrick Moran as superintendent and Gene Meek as secretary-treasurer. By September, the enrollment was 98 and average attendance was 70.

22 Aug 61   First choir practice was held under the direction of Julia Ferguson. Mrs. J. R. McAllister served as pianist.

15 Oct 61   Chapel moved to the cafeteria at Oak Ridge High School. Six classrooms were used for the church school.

9 Nov 61    Youth Fellowship met at the manse for the first time. Among officers appointed were: Terry Ugorek, Alice Faye Hall, Ed George, Sheila Anderson, Karen Snell, George Garrett and Margaret Kohr.

15 Nov 61   First family night dinner took place in the Pioneer Snack Shop, owned by members Frank and Katie Phillips. All church meetings were held here in the evenings.

20 Dec 61   Church school presented a Christmas play, "Unto Us a Child is Born", under the direction of Julia Ferguson.

7 Jan 62    A meeting was held to select a name for the growing congregation. The name John Calvin was selected to honor one of the foremost leaders of the Protestant Reformation. John Calvin was born in Noyon, Picardy, France, in 1509. In 1532, he left the Roman Catholic church and allied himself to the Reformation. His INSTITUTES OF CHRISTIAN RELIGION, pUblished in 1536, is one of the most important systematic works of Protestant religion. Our representative system of church government came from his works and was also the basis for the structure of the United States government.

21 Jan 62   THIS IS THE DATE WE CELEBRATE TODAY. Twenty-five years ago at the January meeting of Presbytery, a petition was made to organize John Calvin Presbyterian Church. The organization took place at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church on January 21, 1962, at 7:30 p.m. with 132 charter members present.

Charter members were: Dr. and Mrs. Trever D. Abel, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Allie, Mr. David Allie, Mr. Fritz Anderson, Miss Sandra Anderson, Miss Sheila Anderson, Mr. and Mrs. Earle Berger, Mr. Don Berger, Mr. and Mrs. Robert H. Blaney, Mr. Roy B. Brown, Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Burr, Mr. Steve Burr, Mrs. Zach Crews, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Dean, Mr. and Mrs. Denmark, Mrs. Earl English, Timothy English, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Erdman, Freddie Erdman, Rhonda Erdman, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Ewart, Phyllis Ewart, Mrs. Julia Ferguson, Mrs. Robert Edward George, Mr. Albert Edward George, Miss Alice Faye Hall, Mr. Daniel Hall, Mrs. Ridgley L. Hall, Mr. and Mrs. Ray T. Harrison, Mr. and Mrs. Richard L. Harrison, Mrs. Olio Henry, Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Hoechst, Mr. Carl Hoechst, Mr. Jack Hoechst, Mr. Bill Hoechst, Miss Jeanne Hoechst, Mr. and Mrs. Earl Hunt, Mr. Earl Hunt, Jr., Mr. and Mrs. Frank C. Hunt, Mrs. Boyd Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. John Morgan Kerr, Mr. and Mrs. Julian Laughinghouse, Jr., Mr. and Mrs. Eric J. Lund, Mr. and Mrs. John L. Matthews, Mr. and Mrs. J. R. McAllister, Mr. and Mrs. Harold McClanahan, Mr. and Mrs. William D. Meek, Mrs. Wilma Miller, Mrs. Ora D. Moore, Mr. and Mrs. John P. Moran, Mrs. Patrick E. Mullen, Mr. Douglas Owens, Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Owens, Miss Susan Owens, Mrs. V. J. Pace, Mr. and Mrs. Beyer S. Pearce, Jr., Mr. and Mrs. Frank Phillips, Miss Frankie Jean Phillips, Mr. Billy Phillips, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph H. Pira, Mr. and Mrs. W. J. H. M. Roan, Mr. and Mrs. Norton Y. Roberts, Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Scott, Mr. and Mrs. Robert F. Shoffner, Mr. and Mrs. Lester C. 'Sibley, Jr., Mr. and Mrs. Jay Simmons, Mrs. Audrey Sims, Mr. and Mrs. Edwin F. Smith, Jr., Mrs. Sam M. Smith, Mr. Harvin L. Smoot, Miss Georgia Rae Snell, Miss Karen Dale Snell, Mr. Larry Wayne Snell, Hr. Willis J. Snell, Jr., Mr. and Mrs. Willis J. Snell, Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Lee Stephens, Mr. and Mrs. James W. Tharp, Mr. and Mrs. H. P. Trevathan, Jr., Hr. .James L. Tucker, Mr. and Mrs. James R." Tucker, Hiss Bonnie Joy Ugorek, Miss Terry Anne Ugorek, Mr. and Mrs. Judd H. Van Duzee, Hr. and Mrs. Warren W. Wadsworth, Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Wark, Hr. and Mrs. Richard L. Whitmer, Mr. and Mrs. Frank R. Whittington and Mr. and Mrs. John J. Wolf .

21 Jan 62   Upon our organization, those who had served on the steering committee became our first elders. They were: Robert Allie, Earl Hunt, Sr., J. Horgan Kerr, Julian Laughinghouse, Jr., J. Patrick Moran, Frank Phillips, Marvin Smoot, Judd Van Duzee and John Wolf.

Jan 62      New Church Development of St. Johns Presbytery purchased from the Datson family, a five acre tract of land at 800 West Oak Ridge Road.

6 Feb 62    Women of the Church was organized at the manse with Presbyterial officers present. Officers elected were: Mrs. James Tharp, president, Mrs. Earl Hunt, vice presidnt, Mrs. Julian Laughinghouse, secretary, Mrs. Robert Allie, treasurer and Mrs. T. D. Abel, historian.

3 Feb 62    Sixteen men met at the Pioneer Snack Shop and organized Men of the Church. Officers elected were: Fred Erdman, president, John Matthews, vice president, William Meek, secretary-treasurer and James Tharp, chairman of calling.

3 Mar 62    First Building Committee was selected by the congregation. They were: Eugene Owens, Robert Tucker, Warren Wadsworth, Richard Harrison and William Meek. They were to oversee the construction of an educational building and fellowship hall.

11 Mar 62   The following were elected to a pulpit committee: Or. Trevor Abel, Roy Brown, Edwin Stephens, Rosemary Allie and Jane Tharp. They proposed to call Ridgely Hall to be our first pastor, but before the call could be formalized--

20 Mar 62   The Reverend Ridgley L. Hall died suddenly of a heart attack. His funeral was at Park Lake Presbyterian Church on March 23, 1962. He is buried at Palm Cemetery in Winter Park. Dr. Howard Gress of St. Johns Presbytery agreed to fill the pulpit until a new minister could be called.

3 Jun 62    A call was given to the Reverend Francis Dickson of Outer Church, Detriot, Michigan, to be our pastor. He preached his first sermon on July 8 and was installed as pastor July 15 at Grace Covenant Church.

15 Jul 62   Vacation Bible School was held for the first time. Leaders and teachers were: Joan Laughinghouse, Gene Meek, Mary Berger, Joyce Matthews, Fern Roberts, Edwina Pearce, Rosemary Allie, Flora Dawson, Mrs. Lester Sibley, Mrs. James Denmark and Bonnie Ugorek.

16 Dec 62   Ground-breaking ceremony was held on the property at 800 West Oak Ridge Road with the Reverend Francis Dickson, Dr. Howard Gress, Dr. John Anderson, Mr. Eugene Owens and Mr. Robert Tucker taking part.

Feb 63      There was conflict within the church and the pastoral relationship was dissolved. Dr. Ralph Neale became our stated supply.

5 May 63    New officers were elected and installed: James Tharp, Trevor Abel and Peter Magamoll as elders, and John Matthews, Eugene Owens and Warren Wadsworth as deacons.

Jul 63      First phase of new building was started with a loan from the Board of Church Extension.

Oct 63      A pulpit committee was elected by the congregation to secure a minister. Those elected were: Earle Berger, Beyer Pearce, George Harrison, Julia Ferguson and Clio Henry.

14 Nov 63   First family night dinner was held in new Fellowship Hall.

17 Nov 63   First worship service was held in Fellowship Hall. Furniture for the chancel was built and given by Peter Magamoll. Many men of the church gave time and effort to paint the interior and exterior of our building.

26 Jan 64   Fellowship Hall dedication service held.

16 Mar 64   Dr. A. Clarke Dean was called as pastor. He and his wife, Mary Cooper Dean, came from Myers Park Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, NC.

13 May 64   The installation service of Dr. Dean was held in the Fellowship Hall, followed by a reception given by the Women of the Church.

31 Dec 67   First women were ordained and installed as officers. Mrs. H. J. Bouck, as elder and Mrs. J. Eichelberger, as deacon.

1970's

3 Jun 73    Fellowship Hall mortgage burned and church attained self-sustaining status.

24 Jun 73   Dr. A. Clarke Dean retired after nine years of caring service. He was elected Pastor Emeritus

23 Sep 73   The Reverend Francis Womack, called to be pastor from Greenbrier, WV, preached his first sermon.

29 Oct 78   Sanctuary Building Committee was elected. Those serving were: Louise McCoy, Bob Harmeling, Chet Dillard, Nancy Dillard, Val Bartoletti, Millie Neisler, Harold Raymond, Richard Peacock, Alfred Bentley, Elzada DuMars and Ken Counts. In 1982, Charles Young was added to the committee.

1 Dec 79    Mustard Seed campaign began our sanctuary building fund.

1980's

25 Jan 81   The Reverend Francis Womack resigned to accept a position in North Carolina.

8 Mar 81    Pulpit committee was elected. Those serving were: Earle Berger, Louise McCoy, Debbie Shively, Robert Harmeling and Charles Young.

15 Mar 81   The Reverend Grover Sewell came to serve as interim pastor.

6 Dec 81    The Reverend Daniel L. Consla was called to be pastor. The installation service was on February 14, 1982, in the Fellowship Hall.

29 Apr 84   Ground-breaking for the new sanctuary took place after regular Sunday services.

16 Dec 84   Sanctuary was dedicated and all the many memorials and gifts were also dedicated to the glory of God.

21 Jan 87   Celebrated our 25th anniversary with a special family night in Fellowship Hall.

25 Jan 87   Special services to celebrate our 2th year as John Calvin Presbyterian Church, followed by a reception in Fellowship Hall.