In the beginning . . .

Colonial Heights Presbyterian Church had its beginning in early June of 1945 following a survey made in the Colonial Heights area by the Rev. Marvin K. Compher, pastor of Bethel Presbyterian Church in Kingsport, Tennessee.

A group of dedicated people began meeting for worship services and Sunday School under the trees in the yard of Mr. and Mrs. James Burchfield on Colonial Heights Road under the leadership of Mr. Compher. When first approached about holding services in his yard, Mr. Burchfield wondered what the neighbors would think! And the members questioned Mr. Compher’s suggestion of holding outdoor services for they feared inclement weather. But he assured them, “It’s not going to rain!” And it didn’t for the fourteen consecutive weeks of outdoor services!

The basement unit for the first church building was begun in September 1945 and completed in December. During this time the group met in the Burchfield’s garage or in members’ homes when the weather turned cold. During the construction of the basement unit, there was a four-inch rainfall at one time. The flat roof, constructed with plans for building above it, leaked during rains. It was the usual thing to sweep water out before services. Wooden strips were placed below the seats for foot rests to avoid the wet and muddy floors.

In addition to Mr. Compher, early supply ministers were William Garrison, a seminary student, and the Rev. Harry Barnett, who also supplied the Bethany Church.

Boy Scout Troop 48 was organized in November 1946, making it one of the oldest troops in the Sequoyah Council. It was chartered to Colonial Heights Presbyterian Chapel with John Regen as troop committee chairman.

On March 2, 1947, Colonial Heights Presbyterian Church as organized by a commission appointed by Holston Presbytery. The charter members were:

Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Boggs	       Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Morgan	     Mr. and Mrs. James Burchfield
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Morris	       Mrs. Frank Cannoy	                   Mrs. Nannie Kate Pierce
Mrs. C. D. Douglas                   Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Puckett	     Mrs. Vernon Edgell
Donald Douglas		       John Puckett			     Mr. and Mrs. W. S. Pierce
Mrs. H. M. Gothard	       Mr. and Mrs. John Regen	     Mr. and Mrs. Guy Slaughter
Martha Gothard		       Mr. and Mrs. Orgie Hunt                Mr. and Mrs. Fred Slough
Charles Stewart		       Flora Jean Hunt	                    Mr. and Mrs. Fred Jones
Mary Ann Stewart	       Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Walton            Nancy Jones

The first officers were: Elders James R. Burchfield, Fred Jones, and John B. Regen; and Deacons Orgie L. Hunt, George W. Puckett, and Fred W. Slough.

Wm. Alfred (Fred) Jones was the first Sunday School superintendent. The Sunday School enrollment was 75 in March 1947.

The women’s organization began early with picnics and monthly suppers. They canned food for and provided clothing for a child at Grandfather Home for Children in Banner Elk, N.C. The Women’s Auxiliary was organized March 11, 1947 with Mrs. Fred Jones as the first president.

The Rev. Robert L. Williamson was called as pastor of the church. He served until September 1950 at the Colonial Heights and Bethany Churches.

The church building was completed in May 1948. By the end of 1949 the number of communicant members was 59 with a Sunday School enrollment of 98.

.....“Let us go to the house of the Lord.”

A manse was built on property donated by Mr. and Mrs. Perry Slaughter on McTeer Drive in preparation for a full time pastor.

Early in 1951 a call was extended to the Rev. Pitser Miller Lyons, III. He arrived to assume his duties as pastor in August. He was recalled to active duty in the Navy Chaplaincy in May 1952. The officers decided to give Mr. Lyons a leave of absence. The Rev. Lewis E. Shields, a retired Presbyterian minister, was called to supply until November 1953, when Mr. Lyons returned. Mr. Shields served the church again from January 1956 to February 1957 as associate pastor.

An adult choir was organized under the direction of Mrs. Harold Slagle, pianist.

The congregation grew, and space was needed for more Sunday School rooms and a larger Fellowship Hall. The choir loft, located directly above the pulpit, was small. Plans were made for an annex to the church building. This building was completed in the summer of 1954. At the same time considerable remodeling was done on the existing sanctuary and basement units.

Youth activities grew. Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, and an Explorer Post became an active part of the church program.

A weekday kindergarten program was begun since this was before kindergarten was part of the public schools in the area.

Early in 1955 the church assumed partial support of Mr. and Mrs. John Pritchard, missionaries in Africa. The next year partial support for another missionary, Miss Margaret Hopper in Korea, was added.

The young people became interested in producing an outdoor living Christmas Drama. Complete with live animals, authentic costumes and props, it became an annual portrayal of the Birth of Christ. Each year scores of people from all over the area came to view the pageant. The entire congregation became involved in the drama.

Soon two worship services were begun on Sunday mornings. In September of the tenth year, enrollment for Sunday School was 312, and church membership had reached 300. All available space was partitioned for use as Sunday School rooms, and the two morning worship services were filling the sanctuary. In 1959 it was time to begin planning for a new building. A bond issue in the amount of $200,000 was approved for this project.

. . . only God who gives the growth . . .

The new sanctuary was dedicated on April 30, 1961. The building was completed at a cost of $149,347. The church bell tower was a memorial gift in memory of Mr. and Mrs. William A. Harshbarger. The building program continued the following year, adding the connecting link between the old educational unit and the new building.

The pastor’s family had outgrown the manse on McTeer Drive, so a new manse adjoining church property and facing Greenwood Lane was purchased.

Membership was now 445. William D. Hyers became assistant to the pastor in June 1965. His responsibilities included working with the youth groups and acting as kindergarten director.

In January 1966, Dr. Lyons announced his acceptance of a call to the Strathmore Presbyterian Church of Louisville, Kentucky.

At the end of the summer the Rev. Hugh Reid Montgomery became pastor of the church.

Mr. and Mrs. Ernest L. Stoffel, missionaries to Brazil, were added to the missionary support program. Two young men from the congregation were accepted as candidates for the ministry: Ted Williamson Hagen II and Charles Philip Kestner, both students at Union Theological Seminary.

The congregation continued to grow. The active roll listed 536 members in 1967. The parking space was enlarged and paved. A full time sexton was employed

. . . press on toward the goal . . .

The seventies were a period of marked change. In 1970 Clara Hasbrouck was the first woman elected to the office of elder. It was 1976 before women served on the Diaconate.

When fire destroyed the sanctuary of the Colonial Heights Methodist Church, a closer relationship between the two congregations was realized. During the period of their remodeling and building they used the Presbyterian sanctuary and shared Holy Week services.

The 25th Anniversary was celebrated in February and March of 1972. Dr. Compher, Dr. Lyons, and Dr. Ben Lacy Rose, moderator of the General Assembly, were guest preachers. A special program of music written by a church member, Ruth Kennerly, was presented.

Again in 1974, the congregation faced a change in leadership when Mr. Montgomery announced he had accepted a call to a church in North Carolina. Dr. M. B. Jackson, Bible professor at King College, and Dr. Fred Widmer served as interim pastors. The congregation was led through a goal setting experience by church member Dr. Hubert Hill to determine the type of leadership the church needed.

In June 1975, the Rev. H. Alan Elmore became the third full time pastor of the church. He was offered a housing allowance in lieu of living in the church manse. The manse was converted into a community center called the OMNI. The Sullivan County Branch Library, which had been using space in the old sanctuary area since the early 1960's, moved to the OMNI. The building was also used for Sunday School classes and community classes in crafts, personal relations, and similar activities.

The officers held a retreat to King College in 1976 and established a mission statement and goals. The mission statement read: “The purpose of Colonial Heights Presbyterian Church is to enable people to fulfill God’s will for their lives and to extend the Christian faith to others.”

Bill Jokela served as an intern associate pastor working in the areas of youth and education.

During 1977, a new Baldwin organ was installed and dedicated to Nannie Kate Pierce. The preschool program initiated a Mothers’ Day Out program. The first annual Family Retreat was held at the Holston Presbytery Camp in Banner Elk, N.C.

Modifications to the building included remodeling the kitchen, the balcony and the entire old sanctuary wing. The old sanctuary wing was designated as the William Alfred (Fred) Jones Education Building.

Rick and Carter McGarry joined the staff in September of 1978. Rick served as associate pastor with responsibility of initiating a new congregation in the Indian Springs area. Carter served as a full-time Director of Christian Education.

After 13 years as choir director, Dr. Nick Russin resigned and Grace Anna Sine became music coordinator and choir director. Faye Stickley Doty became organist when Mrs. Ruth King retired.

At the end of 1979 church membership was 739.

“Study to show thy-self approved . . . “

A pastoral exchange between the Colonial Heights Church and the Johnsonville Union Church, Wellington, New Zealand, took place in 1981. Alan Elmore and family spent a year half way around the world and the Ian Norwell family became a part of the church life in Kingsport. This exchange provided an opportunity for personal growth and experience for the ministers and enriched each host parish with a new dimension to their understanding of Christian discipleship.

The congregation saw the results of the efforts of the “Trashy Ladies,” a group of women who spent time clipping coupons and proof-of-purchase seals and sent them for refunds. New carpet was installed in the sanctuary, the narthex was redecorated, and new furniture was added to the Parlor furnishings.

In 1984, Alan Elmore accepted a call to Greenwood, South Carolina. Ed Shackelford was selected to serve as interim pastor. In May 1985, P. David Wadsworth preached his first sermon as pastor at the Colonial Heights Church.

During this time a Chorister Choir for fourth, fifth and sixth graders was begun; baptized children were invited to the Lord’s Table; a new adult study on What Presbyterians Believe was conducted; the Sunday morning worship services were taped in entirety each week and made available; and the officers began a structured visitation schedule.

The mortgage for the Jones Education Building was burned. The choir room got a face-lift and the library held an open house to promote use. The church offices were renovated. New stained glass panels for the sanctuary were installed in memory of the parents of Mike and Ann Gardner.

A long term, ongoing commitment to those less fortunate was begun in 1986 when the congregation built the first Habitat for Humanity house. Colonial Heights Presbyterian was a leader for this effort in the Tri-Cities area.

Other outreach efforts were the Two-Cents a Meal Miracle Hunger Offering; a Pilgrimage Hunger Program trip to Washington, D.C. by a group of young people; organization of Compassionate Friends, a support group for those who have lost children; support of the Ulster Project; the Blood Assurance Ministry for those who are not covered by other blood banks; and the Clown Ministry.

The Session began work in developing a unicameral system of leadership for the church. The congregation approved the proposal (October 1986) for one board (the Session) of 24 elders to replace the Session and Diaconate. The election of officers was changed so terms would begin in January instead of May.

The Bethel Bible Series, a systematic study of the Bible, was begun in 1986. Logos, a program for the youth of the church, began in 1988. Bible study, recreational activities, and a meal became an exciting weekly event for many young people and adults who helped make the program possible.

Dottie Slaughter, music coordinator since 1980, resigned, and Greg Holland, organist, was selected as interim music director in 1987. A handbell choir was formed with Linda Streeter as director. Connie DeKleuver, Director of Christian Education, resigned in October 1987. Kevin Murphy joined the staff in 1989 as associate pastor and Janet Cuddy Lyons, who grew up in the church, became the new full-time music director.

Two youth, Roland Patterson and Kirk Cole, distinguished themselves by going on a medical mission trip to Cameroon, Africa, during the summer of 1989.

“Serve the Lord with gladness . . . “

Building and service to others seemed to be key themes for the 1990’s. The Facilities Expansion Committee presented plans for a multi-purpose building which was begun in 1991 and, upon completion, provides space for our contemporary worship service, Sunday school classes, meetings, dinners, an expanded music program, drama, scout activities, and for sports events including Scouts and the community. In 1995 an upgrading of lighting and sound systems facilitated and enhanced worship in the sanctuary and Multi. Money, labor, and prayers continued to be offered for the Habitat for Humanity as we approached the 100th house built by Holston Habitat. Some of the home-building projects were in conjunction with the week-long community event, Fun Fest. This was made more exciting by building the house on a Fun Fest site, then upon completion, ‘transporting’ the house to its Habitat lot. Our Church’s labor of Christian love with the continued building of Habitat homes continues to the present. The building skills of the congregation were also used to help rebuild Peterson’s Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Duffield, Virginia, which had been destroyed by fire. In 1995 Millard Fuller, Habitat Executive Director, came and presented a program on Habitat for Humanity at CHPC.

The Stephen Ministry, a program to enable Christians to share God’s love and compassion with those who are suffering, was initiated after training of the Pastor and Elder June Hite. The first group of church members began ministering to those in need after a period of training later in 1991.

A new organization for retirees called PRs was organized to sponsor service projects and programs of particular interest to that group. They continued throughout the decade “enjoying” retirement by fellowship at theaters, restaurants, and other special events. In 1999 the Church purchased a van for all including this “well seasoned” group to travel to various events and activities.

In cooperation with the Colonial Heights Christian Church, a Russian family, the Vladimir Timakovs, was sponsored and assistance was provided to them as they began their new life in our community. This was accomplished through BRIDGE, a refugee bridging program.

Community mission activities and service trips included: the Senior High Logos group journeying to Spencer, West Virginia, to a work camp where they rebuilt a footbridge, replaced rotted floors and did some exterior painting; “Souper Bowl Sundays” were begun with the proceeds going for missions; a trip to Estes Park, Colorado for LOGOS mission conference; participation in a Hunger Walkathon in connection with Holston Presbytery; sponsored a mission trip to Fronte de Christo in Douglas, Arizona to provide Bible school; an additional adult mission trip to Atlanta, GA to assist with the homeless was made; participated in Ground Zero, Colombian Disaster Relief, Southern California Earthquake Relief, Hunger Walk for Rwanda Relief, Disaster Relief to Turkey and Kosovo Relief Fund; received children of Ulster Project as a peacemaking endeavor; participation in “Shoebox Ministry” serving various refugee countries was begun; through Presbytery our church entered into an endowment program with the three Presbyterian Church related colleges—Tusculum, King, and Lees-Mcrae.

In house mission activities include: the Cookie Ministry, a church wide project for welcoming visitors to CHPC was begun in 1995; In 1999, the Drama Ministry was founded to enhance weekly worship and special occasions. The “Trashy Ladies” a group of CHPC women who clipped coupons and applied for grocery rebates resulting in major building renovations, were honored in 1992 for their diligent service with a luncheon. In 1993 the Preschool expanded their use of church facilities growing into two upstairs classrooms and expanding their use of the Multi kitchen. As of 1995 the Preschool had been in existence for 40 years, and their enrollment was 130 students. It is amazing the lives this program has “touched.” In 1996 Habitat for Humanity was rented office space in the Omni, and they promptly moved into these permanent quarters. In the fall of 1998 GIFT was begun.

All of this work gives an impression that folks in our Church don’t ‘recreate.’ In the fall of 1992, Holston Camp was the location of a church family retreat with 92 members attending. In the fall of 1999 the family retreat was held in Lake Junaluska. In 1996 the Appalachian Christmas Choir extravaganza was presented. In October of 1999 the Apple Dumpling Festival allowed us to anticipate the onset of the holiday seasons. This tradition of church wide celebration continues to the present.

More 90's and 2000 details to come . . . (5/2008) . . .

. . . . . .

In 2007 a petition was approved by the City of Kingsport for the church property to be annexed by the city resulting in lower insurance rates, garbage pickup, fire and police protection, and snow removal. In December of 2007 this Church became free of debt.

The CHPC Memory Garden was dedicated in th spring of 2008.