130 members and friends were present. A choir was already organized for this first service. Our first regular minister, the Rev. John D. MacLeod, Jr., delivered the sermon, his text being I Kings 8:28-29: “Yet have regard to the prayer of thy servant and to his supplication, O Lord my God, hearkening to the cry and to the prayer which thy servant prays before thee this day; that thy eyes may be open night and day toward this house, the place of which thou hast said, ‘My name shall be there,’ that thou mayest hearken to the prayer which thy servant offers toward this place.”

A Sunday School was organized with 63 members, with Mr. D.N. Page as superintendent.

A piano was secured through the efforts of Mrs. W.A. MacDonald. A bell, which is currently on display in the Church library, was given by Mrs. Sadie Smith. The first communion set was a gift from the Whiteville Presbyterian Church. The offering plates were given by Mrs. F.J. Schoch.

A table for communion services was loaned by Mrs. Schoch for our use until a permanent one was given by Mr. & Mrs. C.F. Cameron. A pulpit Bible was presented by Mr. & Mrs. D.S. Orrell. (Both the table and the original pulpit Bible can be seen in the Church hallway outside the Library.)

Benches from a battleship that was being re-fitted were acquired from the Ft. Fisher Army Base by Dr. L.A. Taylor. Four of them are still seen (and used!) in our hallway and fellowship hall. Pulpit chairs came from Covenant Presbyterian Church in Greensboro.

By August 1946, the lots and the original building were paid for. A dedicatory service was held, just one year after construction had begun.

Early Growth

Membership in the church grew. A young people’s group was organized. A Vacation Bible School was held each Summer in cooperation with the Methodist Church. Evangelism became a definite part of the program, with special services held each year. Dr. L.A. Taylor preached our first revival in June 1946.

Mr. MacLeod served a wide field which included not only our church, but also the Myrtle Grove and Oak Grove Presbyterian Churches. As soon as they were able, the churches purchased a car for him. As there was no manse, Mr. MacLeod resided wherever he could find available housing, having to move often. Presbytery came to the rescue by purchasing two army barracks which had been used at the Ft. Fisher Army Base, moving them to the lot adjacent to the church, and putting them together to make our first manse.

When Mr. MacLeod resigned in September 1948 to pursue graduate study, the Rev. Olin M. Whitener came from Florida to become our pastor. He also served the Myrtle Grove church. Interest was soon generated in building additional facilities, which were sorely needed for the growing Sunday School classes and for other activities. The original Educational Building was completed by the members themselves. The late Mr. Whitener was called to a position in Charlotte, NC in December 1949. Both his son, Olin Jr., and grandson, Jason, have followed him into the Presbyterian ministry.

The Rev. Jack W. Ware came to serve in November 1950. Mid-week prayer meetings were begun, as well as an additional service on Sunday mornings. An organ was purchased, paid for, and dedicated within one year. Moreover, the Educational Building was paid for.

Mr. Ware’s wife, Betty, served as our music director and had built a choir of about 25 members. Shortly, a new building program was initiated to provide more classrooms, to enlarge the Fellowship Hall, and to install central heating and air conditioning.

Under Mr. Ware’s leadership, the stewardship program grew so well that, by the end of his ministry in February 1956, we were ready to support a full-time pastor for our church alone. Jack is now Parish Associate of 1^st Presbyterian Church, Georgetown, Texas.

In May 1956, The Rev. Harry P. Mitchell assumed our pastorate. The building program continued to move forward. The church assumed a debt of $22,500 for construction of the additional facilities. At the same time, the Women of the Church raised money to furnish the kitchen. The construction was completed by Rally Day 1957. This year also saw a new peak in membership with 197 members. Mr. Mitchell remained with us until March 1960.

Into the 1960’s

The Rev. Robert W. Childress accepted a call to serve as our next pastor in September 1961. The year 1966 marked a renovation of the sanctuary and exterior improvements to the church. The kitchen was completely remodeled by the Women of the Church as planned by Janetta Strickland, wife of C.T. Strickland. A library for the church was established. Mr. Childress accepted a call to a pastorate in Virginia in 1968.

For the next three years, our pulpit was filled by interim pastor Dr. Cothran G. Smith. Dr. Smith was noted for his kind and wise guidance. Church attendance and participation increased. Members and friends were inspired to contribute toward completely renovating our sanctuary and chancel, that we might worship God in a more beautiful and sacred atmosphere. Dr. Smith’s wife, Gladys, is also remembered for giving much counsel and direction. Lots were purchased and a modern manse built on Charlotte Avenue.

In July 1971, The Rev. Thomas J. Holden III accepted the call to serve our church, and ministered to us for seven years. As a church outreach, Mr. Holden also served as an Auxiliary Chaplain at Ft. Fisher Air Force Base. Under his leadership, our church participated with other churches on the island to form the Federal Point Resort Ministry. Jointly, we purchased property to house summer interns who worked with the youth and created a boardwalk ministry.

The New Church Building

Upon Mr. Holden’s departure, Dr. Cothran Smith returned to fill a short interim, until Dr. Todd M. Hobbie accepted the call to this church. Under his able ministry, the church saw much growth.

With the help of the Presbytery, we purchased property on Highway 421, just south of Snow’s Cut Bridge, and built the facility we now occupy. A ground-breaking ceremony was held August 26, 1984; and the new building was dedicated on November 10, 1985. A sudden influx of retirees to the area, the building boom of the early 1980’s, and the church’s new visibility contributed to a growth spurt which lasted several years.

The church building on Lake Park Boulevard has afforded us the opportunity to serve our growing community, sponsoring Scout Troop 210, health clinics, Hospice training, parenting classes, Al-Anon, and other community needs, as we have continued to try to carry out the purposes for which this church was established.

When Dr. Hobbie accepted a call to a church in Georgia in July 1987, Dr. Malcolm McIver filled the pulpit as interim pastor, leading the congregation with great enthusiasm. All programs continued and church attendance was good. “Mac” and his wife, Mildred, still live in Wilmington.

In 1988, the church called Dr. Charles D. Elliott to be our new pastor. “Charlie” Elliott was instrumental in organizing a men’s group, which chartered as a local chapter of the Presbyterian Men in 2001, with over 25 active members. Dr. Elliot, who served here from April 1988 to October 1992, is currently the General Presbyter and Stated Clerk of Trinity Presbytery in South Carolina.

The Rev. Dan Norman served as interim pastor, in which capacity he was warmly received. He continues to minister in our presbytery, now called the Presbytery of Coastal Carolina.

Dr. Robert C. Bankhead then became our pastor in 1993, serving until 1999, and has remained in the area serving as an interim pastor and pulpit supply. In 2001, the major publishing firm CSS released three books by Dr. Bankhead, including A Trail of Tears: Bible Study for Lent which is “Dedicated to the Session and Members of Carolina Beach Presbyterian Church.” The church library includes a copy signed by Bob, “Remembering the five wonderful years we spent together. It was icing on the cake of my ministry.” 

A New Century 

In 1999, the Rev. Nancy Cooper was called as interim pastor, becoming the first woman pastor in our church’s history. She served through June 2000, when she became the Campus Minister for United Christian Campus Ministry, serving UNCW and Cape Fear Community College. 

The late 1990’s were a period of transition for our church. In preparation for the search for a new pastor, a new mission statement was drafted: The mission of Carolina Beach Presbyterian Church is to provide an atmosphere that encourages the spiritual development of its members through teaching God’s Word, through opportunities for stewardship and fellowship, and by reaching out to our members and our community. 

The presbytery had been generous with CBPC in regard to the loan repayment schedule for the new building, and through the faithfulness of church members, the loan was fully paid off by 2000. At the same time, by necessity, the treasury system was entirely re-vamped, literally starting from zero. The church regained its financial footing; congregational giving to special offerings increased dramatically; and by the early 2000’s, the session would set and attain the goal of designating at least 10% of the annual budget for benevolent giving. 

In August, 2000, the Rev. Keith Grogg was called as Carolina Beach Presbyterian Church’s fourteenth pastor. When the organist/choir director position was vacated in June 2002, a county-wide search resulted in the hiring of someone who had been right there all along: Vivian Hare, Keith’s wife. In short order, the choir grew from half a dozen to more than 20 enthusiastic members.

In September 2002, a capital campaign was initiated to pay for a long-overdue roof replacement and other projects including interior painting, carpeting, updated office technology, a sound system for the hearing impaired, a new sign, and other needed improvements. The campaign’s initial two-year fundraising goal was over 90% met as its second year was beginning. 

Celebrating our 60^th anniversary in November, 2003, the 230 members of our church look back on a history of faithfulness to God and the community—and forward to many more years, as long as God will allow it, of being a faithful, caring, active Presbyterian presence in Carolina Beach.