History

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A Brief History of Hunter Presbyterian Church

1927 - 1981, written for the 50th Anniversary

    Hunter Church, first known as the Rosemont Sunday School, was begun on a Sunday afternoon in December, 1927, at a residence, now 188 Rosemont Garden.  The Sunday School was promoted by the First Presbyterian Church, Dr. H. H.  Pitzer, the pastor.  Dr. Pitzer was the father of our own Guinevere Cogswell and Virginia Sanders.  Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Talbott came on weekends to take care of the organization.  There was a furnished room in the house for them to stay in.

    In January, 1931, the church was formally organized.  The name, Hunter Presbyterian Church, was chosen as a memorial to the Rev. J. G. Hunter.

    Charter Members included Mrs. Mort Profitt, Mrs. A. M. Morehead, Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Hall, Mrs. Bailey Falcouner, Mrs. Mary Wright, Mr. and Mrs. W. M.  Yent, Mrs. Roberta Ballard, Mrs. J. A. Blaine and Mr. and Mrs. R. S. Crowe.

    A lot was purchased on Rosemont, the present site.  In April, 1931, a tent was put up for Sunday afternoon services; a storm blew the tent down in September.  Services were held again in various homes on Rosemont until a roofed-over basement was constructed in the summer of 1932.  Dr. Pitzer preached the sermon.

    Local Color from the Time:   During these early years, the streetcar line that ran from downtown Lexington stopped at Tahoma Road, making Rosemont Garden almost the end of the line.  Lafayette High School was still in the future.  Adoph Rupp began his coaching career at the University of Kentucky in 1930, during the Sunday School years, but before the church was officially chartered.  The 1934 enrollment at UK was 3,822, down about 1,000 from the previous year, as the Great Depression took its toll.

    In 1935 Hunter held an eight-night series of Special Evangelism  Services.  The Evangelist was a graduate of Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary.  Perhaps because it was so close, LPTS provided both some of the early pastors and occasional pulpit supplies.  Session minutes for various periods note those who have volunteered to go to the train station to meet the pastors and speakers who came from Louisville.

    Until May, 1934, various supply pastors occupied the pulpit.  On May 14, 1934, Paul Edris was called as student pastor.  On May 27, 1934, the first morning service was held.  On May 12, 1935, Paul Edris became the first ordained minister of the church.  A manse was built in 1935 on a lot adjoining the church.  The first Communion Service was served on Mary 20, 1935.

Elders were:  Amry Vandenbosch, W. M. Yent and R. S. Crowe.
Deacons were:  Merton Oyler, Fred Crary, T. J. Todd, Jr. and George Morris.

    Paul Edris resigned October, 1936, and John C. McQueen became the pastor in December, 1937.  That year, definite plans got underway to raise money for a church building.  The first service held in the new building was on September 22, 1940.  There were 66 members.  The first budget adopted by the church on Mardh 12, 1939, was for $2,004.23.

    Mrs. H. H. Pitzer organized the first Women's Auxiliary on November 8, 1934.  Mrs. A. G. Mainous was the first president of the Women's group.  Mrs. Amry Vandenbosch was elected president in 1936.  The Men's Brotherhood was an active organization in the 1940's.

    During the ten years following the dedication, the church saw steady growth.  Rev. McQueen resigned in 1942; he was followed by Norman Hunter (1942-44).

    A Comparison of Then and Now:  In the 1940's, the population of Fayette County was 76,895.  (The U.S. population in 1940 was 132,122,000, with unemployment at 8,120,000).  The National Debt stood at $43 Billion.  The average annual salary was $1,299, with the average teacher's salary $1,441.  The minim wage was $.43/hour (on a 40-hour work week, this was an annual salary of $894.40).  Antarctica was discovered to be a continent.  Fifty-five percent (55%) of U.S. homes had indoor plumbing.  Life expectancy was 68 years (women) and 61 years (men).

    In 2005, Lexington's population was 268,080.  (The U.S. 2007 population estimate is 301,274,000, with unemployment at 7,000,000).  The National Debt in February, 2007 stood at $8.7 Trillion.  The average 2005 salary was $38,730, with the average teacher's salary of about $44,000.  The minimum wage was $5.15/hour (on a 40-hour work week, that was an annual salary of $10,712.)  Life expectancy in 2005 was 80 years for women and 75 years for men.

    Alex Hunter served from 1944-48, followed by Edward Gartrell.  Under their leadership there was a constant increase of people served by the church.  There was n L-shaped addition added to the church.  This addition consisted of Sunday School rooms, kitchen, restrooms, and a large Assembly Room, and was dedicated on October 8, 1950.

    The 20th anniversary of the church was held January, 1951.  At that time, seven charger members were still active.  They were Mr. and Mrs. Yent, Mr. and Mrs. Hall, Mrs. Nancy Faulconer, Mrs. Morehead and Mrs. Cunningham.  The membership was 224.

    For the 25th anniversary celebration in January, 1956, Pastors Hunter, McQueen and Edris returned to take part in the celebration.  The membership was 404 and the budget was $38,000.

    About 1954, the church bought a new manse at 317 Albany Road and the manse next to the church became the Youth Center.  The Rev. Gartreel resigned in 1957.

    The Rev. Troy Eslinger came to Hunter on October 27, 1957.  In November, 1958, the church was again soliciting funds for an Educational Building.  The Manse was sold and the church bought the house next to it which was the old home of the Travis family.  Dr. W. S. Webb was chairman of the Building Planning Committee.  The building was ready for use in May, 1960, but was not dedicated until November, 1960.  Rev. Eslinger resigned in December, 1960 to become President of Lees College.

    The Rev. Thomas M. McMillan became pastor in July, 1961.  In 1966, the sanctuary was redecorated, the platform was enlarged, a new pulpit and a new baptismal font were added.  The membership was 674.  Rev. McMillan left in 1968.

    The Rev. Ronald Reinhardt became pastor in January, 1969.  The manse on Albany Road was sold.  In September, the congregation approved an improvement program to eliminate water in the basement, remodel the kitchen, enlarge the Fellowship Hall, provide nurseries and adequate office space, and tap on the city sewer on Nicholasville Road.

    The first women elected to the Board of Deacons were Mrs. William Kendall and Mrs. Harry Hutchins in 1968.  In 1971, Mrs. Ernest Evans and Mrs. Henry Cogswell became the first women to serve on the Session.  In 1971, the church became a part of the Transylvania (Union) Presbytery.  The historic union of Guerrant Transylvania Presbytery (US) and the Lexington Ebenezer Presbytery (UPUSA) took place at the First Presbyterian Church on January 10, 1971 at 3:00 p.m.  Hunter Church sponsored bringing a Vietnamese family to Lexington in 1975.  they were here several months before moving to Florida.

    In 1978, the congregation undertook a major remodeling program for the sanctuary.  Services were moved to the Fellowship Hall during the year.  Choir and chancel areas were enlarged, walls and ceilings insulated, new lighting fixtures installed and the narthex enlarged.  The first service in the new sanctuary was on Palm Sunday, April 8, 1979.  Dedication services were held on May 20, 1979.

    Rev. Reinhardt left in December, 1979.  Dr. Thomas Johnston filled the pulpit until September, 1980, when Dr. Lawrence Durr became our new pastor.

    At the time of the 50th anniversary, one charter member was still in regular attendance:  Roberta Cunningham.  The membership was 612.  Hunter Church was alive and serving the people of the community.

~~~

1981 - 2007, Written for the 75th Anniversary

    The 1981 church directory shows a staff of four:  Dr. Lawrence E. Durr, Pastor; Ms. Margaret Pride, Youth Minister; Mrs. Frances Swope, Church Secretary; and Garry Lamb, Choir Director.  Howard and Bobbie Hoover were listed as missionaries supported in part by Hunter, at that time working in Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil.

    Melinda Galbreath became Hunter's church secretary in 1986 and served Hunter for 20 years, both as staff and friend to many in the congregation.  Rev. Peggy Bright served in the area of Christian Education.

    The church continued a longstanding policy of making space available for 12-step groups and Narcotics Anonymous, Nar-Anon, Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon met regularly and continue to do so today.  The Kentucky Mountain Club, Donovan Scholars, neighborhood groups, square dancers and the annual Scandinavian Pea Soup Dinner are a sampling of other groups Hunter has welcomed.  Hunter's Kindergarten, which flourished in the 1960's and 70's, was supplanted by public school kindergarten.  The space on the ground floor of the Christian Education Building became the home of the Fayette Co-operating Nursery and Kindergarten.  Rev. Durr had a particular passion for issues of social justice and encouraged the congregation in this direction.  He left in 1991.

    Rev. Bill Seybert served as Interim Pastor for two years and led the people of the church through a period of reflection and vision of what shape Hunter's future ministry might take.  The Cloister Garden project began at this time, leading to a beautiful garden space in the center of the church buildings.

    In 1993 Hunter called co-pastors, Gary and Claire Brooks.  With the commitment, prayer and faithful work of the congregation, ministries began which recognized the need for lay pastoral care (the Shepherding Ministry begun by Rev. Troy and Clara Eslinger);  utilized a new grassroots approach to Sunday School (Rotation Workshop) and continued Hunter's tradition of mission trips (including multiple trips to a sister church in Guaymas, Mexico, through the Presbyterian Border Ministry).  In 2001, in response to a growing Hispanic presence in the neighborhood, Hunter began offering classes in English as a Second Language.  Re. Troy Eslinger served as Parish Associate from 1994 until his death in 2006.

    A desire to provide for future building needs led to a major capital campaign in 1999.  The U-shaped building became a square, with new office space across the front, a new and more spacious entrance and increased space on the lower level.  The main floor was dedicated on September 15, 2002.  In 2006, the Undercroft was completely renovated and went from "the dungeon" to the favorite meeting area in the church.

    In Fall, 2006, it became clear that the floor on the Christian Education wing needed to be replaced.  The building fund was fully subscribed and work began in February, 2007.

~~~

2007 through Today, February, 2009

    Co-pastors Claire and Gary Brooks resigned in May, 2007.  Rev. Rene' Whitaker served as Interim Pastor from November, 2007 through October, 2008, Rev. Kathy Riley became the Interim Pastor in November, 2008 and we're happy to welcome Rev. Jason Santalucia as our new pastor in September, 2009.

    Ashley Burdick serves as administrative assistant, Ed Clark as sexton, Noemi Lugo as choir director and Ann Vimont Smith as organist.