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The History of Park Street Christian Church

In 1939 Mr. And Mrs. George Carter, members of First Christian Church on Market Street, began an afternoon Mission Sunday School on Dale Avenue. From this group grew a desire for a new congregation. At about this same time First Christian church withdrew from the Disciples of Christ Church.

The Carters' group continued to grow while maintaining its ties to the Disciples of Christ Church and on May 18, 1952 purchased a house at 112 Park Lane. The group officially organized under the name Cutler Memorial Christian Church in the honor of L.A. Cutler who was the father of Mrs. George Carter and the first president of the Virginia Christian Missionary Society.

The church charter was signed on February 13, 1955. On March 18, 1956, under the leadership of Earl C. Leake as Property Chairman, the congregation voted to purchase a new property for the church. On July 14, 1957 the current site at 1200 Park Street was purchased. In 1958 the Park Lane home was sold and the congregation met temporarily at the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Unitarian Church on Rugby Road.

In 1959 Cutler Memorial Christian Church changed its name to Park Street Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The Board of Church Extension financed the building project. Ground was broken in November 1959 and Paul Johnson was hired as architect for the Fellowship Hall and Education Building.

On July 17, 1960 the buildings were dedicated and the Reverend James G. Thompson was installed as Minister. In 1969 the debt on the buildings was paid in full.

Park Street Christian Church expanded its ministry in 1999 with the opening of Park Street Christian Preschool. The preschool opened in August with four full time staff members and 30 children. The preschool serves not only church families but also children from the city of Charlottesville and all surrounding counties.

 

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Pastors of Park Street Christian Church

John L. McKinney 1952-54 | Al Paxton, Jr. 1954-55 | J. Arthur Mott, Jr. 1956-57

Walter T. Calhoun 1957-59 | James G. Thompson 1960-62 | Roland O. Russell 1962-64

Warren O. Harry 1964-66 | Homer O. Wilson* 1966 | Warren P. Brubaker 1966-70

Earnest Harrold* 1970-72 | Lowell D. Cooper 1972-74 | Raymond W. Adams 1975-81

Eugene J. Baker* 1981-82 | Charles W. Ellis 1982-84 | Vernon H. Scott 1984-1994

Lewis McPherren 1994-1995 | Larry Hastings 1995-present

*Interim Minister

This page last updated: 14 March, 2003
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