Church History1. FOUNDING HOPE In 1962 The local Presbyterian Church Extension Council (Peace Memorial, Trinity, & churches in Safety Harbor & Dunedin) decided that south Clearwater & east Largo was a prime & necessary location for a new congregation. In 1964 The Presbytery's Home Mission Committee chose the 5-acre site on Belcher Rd. The church manse at 1469 Eastfield Dr. was purchased and an organizing pastor was called. (The manse was sold in 1984 to Rev. Robert Walkup.) Hope pastors now purchase their own homes. In 1966 Organizing pastor, Rev. Jack W. Ewart began Jan. 1, 1966, with the first worship service at Oak Grove Junior High School on Feb. 6, 1966. A petition was signed by 85 persons formally asking that the new congregation be organized as a church on April 12, 1966. The formal organization service was held on April 17, 1966 in the auditorium of Oak Grove Junior High School. In 1967 In late spring a building planning council was elected. (Robert Armstrong, Sue McClain, Catherine Payne, George Sellers, Don Hinrichs, and John Shelling). They hired Fasnacht and Schultz as architects. The construction contractor was Robert Everling. In 1970 The formal groundbreaking was Sunday, January 25, 1970. The church built phase one of the master plan (sanctuary/fellowship hall, 3 classrooms, and offices. The building was dedicated on Oct. 11, 1970. In 1976 Hope church became self-supporting and requested of Presbytery that we no longer be a mission church. Comments from Jean Sellers: At one meeting at Oak Grove School, suggestions were asked for a name for the new church. Names such as St. Paul's, 2nd Presbyterian, Oak Grove, etc. were given. Because everyone had such high hopes for the new church, the name "Hope" came to me and I proposed it. The names were all put on a blackboard & we voted on a name. The name "Hope" was chosen. It is my recollection that Jack Ewart later designed the little sailboat logo for the sign & our letterhead. 
Boat logo for sign and letterhead for Hope
3. NEW SANCTUARY From newspaper article dated June 24, 1989. A large sign at the front of the church property states clearly the congregation's purpose "Raising Hope". The 23-year-old congregation of Hope Presbyterian Church is planning a sanctuary to be constructed on the church property at 1698 Belcher Rd in Clearwater. Groundbreaking is planned for July 2, with all members invited to bring shovels and participate. Pastor T.J. Thompson said plans for the new building began about 3 years ago. Church members were asked to close their eyes and visualize their new sanctuary and then write down a description of the images. Those notes were compiled & incorporated into plans for the proposed structure. The worship centers now in use is a multipurpose building used for dinners, voting, & fellowship events as well as worship. It seats 285. But the congregation, organized in 1966 with about 85 people & now with more than 250, wanted a separate site for worship. The congregation owns 4.74 acres of land, and the present structure sits toward the back of the property. The new octagon-shaped building will seat 400 & will include a foyer, restrooms, & a communion & bridal preparation room. Extra seats can be added to bring seating capacity of 500, or 700 with the balcony area. It will be a steel structure with masonry outside & stone trim. It will have stained glass windows facing Belcher Rd. & will have a stone & wood trimmed interior. The congregation hopes to raise $35,000, which will include money for renovations to the original building as well as completion of the new structure. Besides seeking donations, the congregation has sold plaques that individuals may purchase in memory of loved ones. The memorial plaques will be installed on one wall of the building. In addition, church members are seeking a loan from another church as well as a conventional loan to complete the needed amount. "We hope our congregation will grow as a result of a better presence on Belcher Rd.", said Ron Priest, clerk of session for the congregation. "The building is sort of a spartan worship center, not a gold & glittering monument to ourselves", Priest said. Jan Regulski, who compiled a history of the congregation in 1986 for the church's 20th anniversary, and her family, have been members for about 15 years. She said that along with the new building, "part of the goal includes maintaining that (family orientation), that is the goal and commitment of people who go here". Thompson said that at the groundbreaking, church members would burn the mortgage on the original building and bury the ashes as they break ground. He said that one of his goals is that after all new construction & renovation is completed, the church might provide a cold night shelter for the homeless. "We are building for more space but also building for more programs that will be available to the community", Mrs. Regulski said. 
New Sanctuary as construction is almost complete
5. RAISING HOPE Raising Hope was celebrated throughout the project by several memorable services beginning with the burning of the mortgage from the educational buildings & the groundbreaking for the worship center on July 2, 1989. All attending were invited to bring shovels & help dig the footers. The building facade went up rapidly. On Nov. 5, 1989, following the church service, members were invited to come into the building & write special messages of hope & dedication on the unfinished walls so that throughout the years, all that entered our church would be surrounded with silent messages of love & faith. The most evident day that completion was near was heralded by the raising of the steeple on Feb. 25, 1990. As members tugged the pulley rope which lifted the steeple in place (with a little help from the Caladesi crews!) we knew our building was nearly ready for worship. The first complete service celebrated in the new sanctuary was Palm Sunday, 1990, & the worship center was formally dedicated by an interdenominational community service on Oct. 21, 1990. HOPE PASTORS 1969: Organizing pastor, Rev. Jack Ewart, resigned. Rev. Robert Bryan was called. 1972: Rev. Robert Bryan resigned. Rev. Robert Walkup was called on Nov. 5, 1972. 1984: Rev. Robert Walkup resigned to accept a position with the Medical Benevolence Association. 1985: Rev. Thomas James Thompson was installed on May 19, 1985. 1995: Rev. Jim Cummings interim pastor from to 1995 to 1997 1997: The Rev. Peter Dembroski installed in 1997. 2007: Pastor Dembroski served until May 31st, 2007 resigning to take a call to Mifflin Presbyterian Church in Gahanna, Ohio. 2007: Interim Pastor Alan Mugler was called effective August 27, 2007, serving until November 23rd, 2007. 2008: Interim Pastor John Harris was called effective February 15th, 2008 and served in an interim capacity until the new pastor was called. 2011: Rev. Laura C. Kelsey was called as Pastor of Hope, beginning her ministry on April 10, 2011. 2015: Rev. Laura C. Kelsey served until February 8, 2015 resigning to take a call to First Presbyterian Church in Pontiac, Michigan. 2015: Stated Supply Pastor David Shelor was called to Hope on July 19th, 2015. 2016: Pastor David Shelor served until March 13th, 2016 resigns to take a call to First Presbyterian Church of Dunedin. 2016:Stated Supply Pastor Vickey ByRode was transfered from Highland to Hope in March of 2016. 2016: Stated Supply Pastor David Hosick was called to Hope in May of 2016. Both David Hosick and Vickey ByRode retired in May 2017 2017: Stated Supply Pastor Ginny Ellis was called to Hope in August of 2017. 2019: Pastor Ginny Ellis left Hope and Moved to a Church In Tampa in Nov. 2019. 2020: Pastor Bob Hill moved from Kentucky to Hope as our full time pastor in January 2020. 
Kirkin O' the Tartan
7. SIGNIFICANT PEOPLE AND IMAGES OF HIGHLAND The Church on Highland Avenue (1885 S. Highland Ave) Directories (shared by Ellen Gitchell: 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 2002) Carol J. Norton, Administrative Secretary Foster Diehl, Director of Music Marjorie McAuliffe, faithful worker and co-ordinator of Picture Directories Bucky: The Horse that Teaches Sunday School Family Christmas Presentations The Kirkin’ of the Tartan THAT MAGIC NIGHT - Book of Christmas Eve Stories by Rev. J. Franklin McHendry and the format and text of The Service of Lights, closing each Christmas Eve Service. |
Picture Hope Church 2019 (blue roof)
2. HOPE TRADITIONS In addition to gathering together on Sunday, each family was assigned to a "House Church" which met in members homes once or twice a month at night. Once a year we were reassigned to a new "House Church". Because of the close association, which developed, many close friendships were formed. Comments from Nancy Hinrichs: Every member was assigned to a "House Church". Worship in a school involved a lot of time setting up & taking down & everything had to be stored in members houses. Choir practice was held in members homes so everyone with a piano took a turn. Worship services were held outside at least once a year. The first Sunday school Class - May 1, 1966. The first annual pig roast was held at Hope in 1980. Organized by Dick Pintcke, this has evolved into an annual event held on Memorial Day Weekend at Cedarkirk. In 1973 Hope offered Coffee Houses to the young in age & heart. Bob Walkup & Tom Schneider & talented youth from the community came & performed. In 1974, organist Janet Brink began what is still a Christmas tradition at Hope. The Christmas tree is decorated with paper angels, bells, & trees that identify by size; hoped for gift, etc. a person who needs hope's help for a brighter holiday. Hope members take a decoration & the next Sunday return with a gift. Session Elder Millie Shaffer began a "sewing & brown bag lunch" group for older members. They made pads for nursing homes & Sis Hinrichs holds the record for the number of pads made. With spirited leadership from Margaret Wearing & generous help from Elsie Catt, this group became the Young at Heart. They meet twice monthly for lunch, fellowship, & programs. TAPESTRIES Until Oct. 1975, the sanctuary of Hope was decorated with banners made by the Sunday school classes. The session gave its approval to make Hope's meeting place more formal, & through redecoration, to make it more like a sanctuary. Jane Miller, Elder, talented in interior design, made choices of carpeting, wall color, & draperies. She also designed needlepoint tapestries. The church symbols she used are traditional Christian ones. The tapestries are similar, with arched inner borders that give a feeling of height & imitates that of stained glass windows. Volunteers from the congregation did the work; Nancy Hinrichs, LaRae Weaver, Mac MacDonald, Jane Miller, Carol Berry, Peggy McLane, Anne Walkup, Mary Ross, & Dot Eitel. FIRST BOARD OF DEACONS Elected Oct.23, 1988 3-year term: Sam Whittlesey, Albert Heckman, Deborah Croom, Frances Shugart 2-year term: Sally Priest, Robert Moss, Carl Kopp, Jennifer Boivin 1-year term: Matthew Dormois, Robbie Montgomery, Kristin Hinrichs, Elsie Catt STEPHEN MINISTRIES In late 1986, the Session of Hope Presbyterian Church approved establishing this program jointly with St. John's Episcopal Church. Thirty-three people were commissioned as Stephen Ministers. 
Six of the 12 tapestries made by members of Hope
4. HAMBLEY HALL- THE STORY OF ELIZABETH HAMBLEY Elizabeth Louise Hambley was born on June 29, 1892 in the United Kingdom. She moved to the United States in the 20's & worked as a nanny for wealthy families in West Islip, New York. She loved to tell stories about her experiences with these Long Island families & their children. She married W. Rawson Hambley on Feb. 20, 1939. She became a naturalized citizen of the United States on July 26, 1961. After her husband's death, she lived alone until she needed additional care & her guardian moved her to Wright's Nursing Home in Largo. She visited Hope Presbyterian Church only one time and that was to attend a potluck supper. She was so impressed with the friendliness of this fellowship time & how nice the people of Hope were to her that she decided to remember Hope church in her will with the request that one of the building be named after her & her husband. Following these wishes, the fellowship hall (which was formerly the main sanctuary) was renamed "Hambley Hall". Elizabeth Hambley died on June 9, 1983, just days short of her 91st birthday. SANCTUARY RECOLLECTIONS February 25, 1990 - Raising of the steeple on the sanctuary. Stained glass windows: Nancy Hinrichs, Betty Massey, Barb LeRoux, and T.J. Thompson undertook the design and building of the new stained glass windows, and with the assistance of Glass Horizons developed the beautiful windows which shed rainbows of color throughout our Sunday worship & form memorable symbols of our faith illuminating Belcher Rd. at night. The cabinetwork in the church was executed & donated by Don Roach. The paint & stain work was done by Ken Karr & Buck Arnett. Ken Graham & Wayne Wyatt developed the signs for the building. Debbie Dahlvik, Barb LeRoux, & Mel Thompson hand painted & installed the scripture wrapping around the church narthex. Funds toward the purchase of a new piano were donated by Dorothy & LeRoy Weaver. Selection of church furnishings was overseen by Robbie Montgomery, Bob Stevens,Kathryn Stevens. & The worship ministry. Scott Stevens developed a landscape plan for the front of the church, raised the funds, & organized the planting days to complete his project for his Eagle Scout badge. Dean Barry selected trees & shrubs to complete the landscaping of the entire church grounds as we planted over 17 trees & hundreds of bushes. A sprinkler system was designed & installed by John Guthrie, Bob Stevens, & LeRoy Weaver. Bob Moss contributed the paint & with several work parties, the original buildings were painted to match the new structure & the existing brown trim was replaced by blue fascia to match to new roof. 
Highland Presbyterian Church
6. HIGHLAND-HOPE MERGER History in the Making... Between January of 2015 and April of 2017, the Highland and Hope congregations and the Presbytery of Tampa Bay prayed about, considered, and affirmed steps for official merger. In this process the congregations were guided by this scripture: For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Jeremiah 29: 11. The merging churches agreed to make the Hope property on S. Belcher Road the home of the merged congregation. Highland’s property was sold with the proceeds to come to the merged church as the Highland Fund. Meanwhile Highland brought its organ, its red choir robes, its Memorial Garden and its Peace Pole. Two of Highland’s stained-glass windows were installed in the east-facing windows of Room 5, where the conference table from Highland was also placed. Other stained-glass windows from Highland church were dismantled and with pieces of the windows a new baptismal bowl was created for the sanctuary of the merged church and lovely 6-inch sun-catchers were made and sold to benefit Mission. The elders of the two churches began serving together as the Session of the merged church. In 2015, as the churches considered merger, Hope members joined Highland church for its Traditional service of the Kirkin’ of the Tartan, a service brought by Scottish pastor Lindsay Frame during his ministry at Highland. The Kirkin’ service has continued at the merged church, complete with bagpipes and drums, the procession of the tartans and delicious fellowship afterwards with sandwiches and scones. The merger was approved by the two congregations at a joint meeting (and separate votes) on March 26, 2017. It was officially celebrated at worship on April 30, 2017, and finally became official by vote of the Presbytery of Tampa Bay on May 18, 2017, passing with celebration and prayer. The two part-time Stated Supply Pastors: Hope’s David Hosick, and Highland’s Vicki ByRoade completed their ministries in May 2017. Both had worked diligently to assist as the congregations and their leaders processed the many complicated steps of merger. Ginny Simmons Ellis was called by the Session of the merged congregation, to serve as part-time Stated Supply Pastor, beginning in August 2017. Highland History HIGHLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH HISTORY - in large part taken from the 1982 Congregational Picture Directory Other foundation can no man lay that that which is laid which Jesus Christ. (I Cor 3:11) Highland church was organized by the West Florida Presbytery of the Synod of Florida on May 3, 1964. As that time the church met in the Belcher Elementary school with a membership of 91 and a financial budget of $6,000. The church continued to grow at an almost perfectly even rate over the years. As of January 1981, it had a membership of 800 with a subscribed budget of $145,000. This was a 22-fold increase in 17 years. The first worship and church school unit, known as Fellowship Hall was built and dedicated on November 20, 1966, on 2 1/2 acres of property. Through a planned expansion program, the second unit for Christian Education was dedicated in June 1969. The sanctuary and office section were built and dedicated in October 1971. During these years, the Church was never without a Building Committee. In June of 1972, property facing Rosery Road was purchased adding another 2 1/2 acres, and in August of 1977, the Davis property to the North was purchased, which added another 2 1/2 acres and included a house. Additional office and church school space was added to round out the building in 1981 and was paid for in cash on completion. By 1982 the facilities were valued at $765,072, not including the contents. These facilities were designed to handle two services with approximately 500 persons per service. In addition, the church increased the mission it paid out (benevolences) over 70-fold, from the original $339 to $24,800 in 1982. During its period of growth, the Church sought to remain friendly, personal and committed to it original intent. Over the years stories were told of vibrant Sunday school, an excellent choir, and even a horse (Bucky, who lived just beyond the fence) who was considered an auxiliary Sunday School teacher. Pastors who served the church included: J. Franklin McHendry, Pastor 1964-1987, Charles Wright, Minister of Visitation, Harold Clark, Assistant Pastor James B. Miller, Interim Pastor, 1987-1990 P. David Reynolds, Pastor 1990-1992, Chaplain Robert H. Mask, Minister of Visitation William G. Phipps, 1995-c. 1999 Bob Kendall, Interim Pastor 1999-2000 D. Lindsay Frame, May 1, 2000-2014 Victoria Gardner ByRoade, Stated Supply Pastor, part-time, 2014-2017. In the 1978 church directory Pastor Franklin McHendry wrote: Dear Highlanders: This is a book of Fellowship and Love. It is the faces of our family, the picture of a happy strong church because it is built on the Scripture as the Word of God, the only infallible rule of faith and practice, and on acceptance of one another in the knowledge that we are saved only by the Free loving Grace of God. This book fixes for a moment in time those of us who at this time are the church… In 1986 Pastor Franklin McHendry wrote in the church’s third pictorial directory …. The membership is about the same as it was last printing. These are the Happy Highland faces that you meet in work and worship, doing the task of the church. These are the faces of families bound together in worship and prayer with and for each other. |