The Church is Ten Years Old

The following paragraph is a quote from the First Presbyterian Church of Sun City, 1963-1998, Thirty Five Years of Spiritual Life. The statement was the result of the realization that church facilities were inadequate to accommodate the three Sunday services and social activities of the congregation.

“In October 1971, the congregation voted to proceed with a total remodeling project and set up a Building Fund Committee to plan for and conduct a campaign for funds. By February 1972 the estimated cost of the remodeling project was set at $281,000, of which $150,000 was hoped to be raised through loans by members of the church and $95,000 from cash and pledges. The balance would be borrowed from the Board of National Missions.”

Entry to the office wing

In December of 1971 the Rev. Peter DeBeer submitted his resignation for health reasons and, in 1972, Dr. Samuel S. George was hired to replace him as the Minister of Visitation. By December 1972 the proposed remodeling and expansion of the church was completed, thus creating the campus we are familiar with today. Construction had included increasing the size of Swain Hall; adding office space, restrooms and the entrance; enlarging the size of the Sanctuary and Chancel; increasing seating in the Nave from 254 to 550 with 40 in the choir loft; and adding the courtyard Narthex; with the present Choir room called the Westminster Room.

 A second Presbyterian Church was being planned to be built in phase 2, their organizing committee and congregation used the facilities at First Church during 1972 under the pastoral leadership of Dr. J. David Illingworth. A few years later, in 1975, a gift of $1,500.00 was presented to Faith Presbyterian to assist them with their new church.

 Early in 1973 Dr. Swain requested that he be allowed to retire at the end of the year. The pastoral team then consisted of Dr. Samuel S. George, Pastor of Visitation; Dr. Rex S. Clements, who would preach during midweek Lenten services; and Dr. Gerald F. Richardson, who would lead Bible study in the fall. Dr. Richardson organized the Men’s Breakfast Fellowship, still active today. At the beginning of 1974 the Pastoral Nominating Committee presented the Rev. Paul Bailey Calhoun, D.D., pastor from Albuquerque, New Mexico. Dr. Calhoun was installed as the third Senior Pastor of First Church on March 31, 1974. Dr. Lee Edwin Walker joined the staff as Minister of Pastoral Care in July of that same year.

Joining First Presbyterian Church in 1974 was our most senior church member, Mrs. Bennett (Edna) Wills, who celebrated her centennial birthday this past January. Edna, a registered nurse, still lives in her own home with the help of her daughter, Nancy, living nearby. Edna was a very active church member and a talented Bridge player whose creativity graced many First Church social activities. Edna became a First Church member on April 5, 1974, accompanied by the new senior pastor’s wife, Ruth Calhoun, Dr. Calhoun’s parents, and his sister. Dr. Bennett Wills died in 1976 of a respiratory illness contracted while in the service.

~Donna Roth