|
| |

The Initial Idea
- In 1976, the Atlanta Presbytery conducted a study of the North Fulton County area
- A 10 acre site was donated to the Presbytery by Mr. William Ellis, Elder, First
Presbyterian Church of Atlanta
- In 1979, the Presbytery decided a church should be built on this site
The Beginning
- The Reverend Dwight Bayley, Associate Pastor, Peachtree Presbyterian Church, accepts a
call to become the Organizing Pastor in June 1980
- Families and individuals express an interest in forming a new church, and a Steering
Committee is formed in November 1980
- The Steering Committee decides on the new church name, and the first worship service for
Northminster Presbyterian Church is held on November 30, 1980
- The church is formally organized as the 107th church in the Presbytery, by the
Commission of the Atlanta Presbytery, on June 28, 1981
The Early Years
- In July 1981, Reverend Bayley is installed as the first Pastor of NPC
- Over the next three years, the church gathers at three sites: Raintree Apartments
Clubhouse, Newtown Elementary School, 345 Market Place
- The church grows, as it offers Worship, Sunday School, Fellowship Dinners and Children
and Adult Choirs
- A Building Committee is formed to develop plans for building on the land at the corner
of Old Alabama Road and Turner Road (now Mansell Connector), in February 1982
- The first Presbyterian Women (PW) meeting is held in March 1982
- Groundbreaking on the new church building is held, and Reverend Bayley earns a Doctor of
Ministry degree, in June 1983
No Place Like Home Years
- The first worship service is held in the new building in June 1984
- An 8:30 service is added in December 1984
- In September 1985, the Day School program begins
- Sunday evening programs, such as Childrens Choirs, Youth Fellowship and handbell
practice begin in September 1986
- From June 1984 through December 1986, membership more than doubles, and a Corporate
Action Committee recommends the building of an education wing in 1986
- Charlie Boone joins the NPC staff as part-time Director of Music
- Ground is broken on the 2-story Education Building and 125 more parking spaces, doubling
the space for parking, in June 1989
The Nineties
- In June 1990, the Education Building is completed
- In 1991, a Search Committee is formed for the search for an Associate Pastor
- Reverend William Owens is installed as Associate Pastor in June 1992
- At the end of 1993, NPC ranks as the 25th largest church out of 111 in the Presbytery
- In 1994, a Space Utilization Committee study stated that the continued growth of NPC
depended on building additional space
- In 1994, under vision of Dr. Bayley, church contracts with Young Life for full-time
Director of Youth Ministries. In November Rich Jones accepts call to that position
- Reverend William Owens accepts a call to a church in North Carolina in June 1994
- In Spring of 1995 Northminster participates in visit by noted preacher and author, Will
Wilmon
- Charlie Boone becomes the first full-time Director of Music at NPC in June 1995
- In August 1995, Dr. Bayley accepts a call to Orange Park Presbyterian Church in
Jacksonville, Florida
- Dr. Jan Blissit accepts the call to become the Interim Minister in September 1995
- As part of the Fall 1995 Stewardship Campaign of Build on Faith,
architectural plans are presented for the planned future sanctuary in November 1995, and
the Building Fund is initiated
- A Building Committee Task Force is formed to work with the future building plans in 1996
- In August 1996, Reverend Jim Simpson of Scotland accepts the call to become Senior
Minister at NPC
- In October 1996, Reverend Simpson is installed as the second Senior Pastor of NPC
- In January 1997, the Diaconate increases from 9 to 15 Deacons, to serve NPCs
growing needs
The Next Millennium
- In March 1998, the 1998 Confirmation Class breaks ground on the new sanctuary building
and additional parking spaces
- The first worship service is held in the new sanctuary on Christmas Eve, 1998
- For the first time, NPC has a dedicated Fellowship Hall (the former sanctuary)
- In February 1999, NPC celebrates its new facility, worship elements and renewed service
to God with a month-long Festival of Dedication
- In February 1999, NPC Youth ministry with other ministries and other churches hosts
conference with noted author and speaker, Brennan Manning
- In early 1999, a Search Committee is formed to search for an Associate Pastor
- In January 2000, Reverend Carol Harrison accepts the call to become Associate Pastor at
NPC
- Reverend Jim Simpson earns his doctorate degree in May 2000
- Membership level exceeds 830 in July 2000
- NPC hosts the Summer Presbytery Meeting, with over 400 attendees, in July 2000
|