Lake Park Community Church, 501 Park Avenue, Town of Lake Park, Palm Beach County, Florida, USA / Built: 1926 / Floors: 1 / Building Usage: Religious / Total Square Footage: 3948 ft

Lake Park Community Church began as a Sunday School class in 1918 under the guidance of Mr. and Mrs. R.E. McLaren in what was then known as Kelsey City, Florida. As the population began to grow, the need for a regular church became apparent, and in June of 1925, Kelsey City Community Church was organized. On February 7, 1926, the congregation selected a Board of Directors as well as the Articles of Agreement and signed by the 35 charter members. Dr. J.C. Calhoun, the acting pastor of the Sunday School since March of 1924, was called as the first pastor. Mr. Harry S. Kelsey, founder of Kesey City (which became known as Lake Park), donated a house to be used as parsonage for the church.

In 1928, the Great Hurricane devastated the area and as a result, many members moved away, and new membership declined. The congregation persevered, and on February 12, 1929, the Kelsey City Community Church was formally incorporated as a legal entity in the State of Florida. In June of that year, arrangements were made to rent the Community Club building for services, and in 1938, the church acquired the Community Club building, converting it into a church, which continues to house the church to this day. At that time, there was, however, no regular pastor, and the church was used by several organizations as Christian Endeavor and the Ladies Aid Society, with a stated pastor being called in August of 1940.

The war years proved a struggle for the church, as attendance declined and services were temporarily put on hold, though Sunday School still met along with the Ladies Aid Society. In 1947, however, a new Board of Directors was elected, and they sought to revive membership by updating the by-laws, acquiring a new pastor, and initiating a new slate of church-life activities, culminating in joining the Congregational Christian Church on October 26, 1947.

Ground was broken for the Fellowship Hall in 1948, and at the end of that year, the church voted to approve a merger of all Congregational Churches with the Evangelical and Reformed Church. At that time, the church ordained and received a permanent pastor, Rev. Charles Meeker, in September 1949. It was in that same year that another hurricane damaged the church, and the church, once again, repaired and renovated the church.

In 1950, the congregation began building a parsonage, and on November 2 of that year, the church celebrated its 25th anniversary. The parsonage was completed on September 16, 1951, and in 1958, an educational wing was added to the Fellowship Hall.

In 1965, the congregation adopted a new constitution, joining the United Church of Christ, and changed the name of the church to Community United Church of Christ.

Through a gift from Swanee Kurtz, the Carillon was added to the church building in 1979, and in 1982, Fellowship Hall was remodeled, the Narthex as added to the Sanctuary, and stained glass windows were donated and installed to the church. In 1991, the west side rooms of the church were renovated.

In August of 2023, the church called Rev. David Williams as the new full-time pastor, and in October of the same year, the congregation voted to depart the United Church of Christ and change the name to Lake Park Community Church, recapturing her heritage.

Through the years, the church has held various services and activities. The Sunday School, which formed the church’s foundation, continues, along with Adult Bible classes, various outreach campaigns, and international mission work.

Credit for the data above is given to the following websites:
pbcpao.gov/Property/Details?parcelId=36434220010190020
www.lakeparkcc.com/history
www.lakeparkflorida.gov/government/historic-structures
www.facebook.com/people/Lake-Park-Community-Church/615532...

© All Rights Reserved - you may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.

Taken in: United States / Florida / Lake Park (show map)

Taken on: May 22, 2024

Tags:

Lake Park Community Church

501 Park Avenue

Palm Beach County

Florida

USA

Built: 1926

Floors: 1

Building Usage: Religious

Total Square Footage: 3948 ft

Divinity Church

Sunshine State

south Florida

historic landmark

steeple

place of worship

prayer

God’s house

religious building

historic Florida

old Florida

Mr. and Mrs. R.E. McLaren

Kelsey City

Kelsey City Community Church

Dr. J.C. Calhoun

Mr. Harry S. Kelsey

congregation

Community United Church of Christ

Swanee Kurtz

Rev. David Williams

Sunday School

Adult Bible classes

various outreach campaigns

and international mission work

Christian church

holy building « less

Sets appears in: • Urban Florida VI • Town of Lake Park, Palm Beach County, Florida, USA

Groups appears in: • Florida • South Florida more » • Churches - Please read the rules before posting • Church Exteriors • Church Groups Directory • Churches, Chapels, Domes, Mosques, Temples, Shrines and Monaster • Kirchen / CHURCHES • Your photo goes here! no 30/60 • Florida, USA • CHURCHES & HOUSES OF WORSHIP • South Florida Photographers • Old Florida • City Pulse • MY FLORIDA • historical churches • Churches of America • sacred places, holy spaces • Churches in small towns • Florida Vaction • Historic Church Buildings • I bring my camera everywhere (no 30/60 limit) • Churche's of the World • South Florida Photography • Castles and Churches • Florida Sun • North America, North to South, East to West • Holy Places • Church / Churches - Beautiful churches from around the world • Florida Locals • North American Churches • Historic Florida • The Florida Photographer • Structures of the South • Photography in Florida • I am flickr! - No 30/60 Limit • Chapels, Churches & Cathedrals - Worlds Most Beautiful Churches • Churches in the USA • Cityscape and urban scenery • The Southeast • Churches/Iglesias • Florida - HDR • Vanishing South • Florida Explorers • small town churches • Strictly GeoTagged (no 30/60 limit) • Turismo por todo el mundo • PLANET EARTH ARCHITECTURE • Churches of the World • The Real Florida • South Florida Foto Friends! • Geotagged: Florida • Geo-Tagging the Planet one Photo at a Time • Florida Travels • Palm Beach County: East to West • *****WORLDARCHITECTURE!***** • Urban Color • Urban Views • Holy Buildings • Real Estate In Florida • FloridaPast • Florida Photo Adventures • Florida - The Sunshine State • RELIGIOUS MONUMENTS • Church all over the world • FLORIDA • My Florida Page • Churches ! • Church photographers • My time behind the lens No 30/60 limits • Churches past and present • Churches in the world • Architecture of church buildings • Photo's passion of the world • Florida Architecture • Castles, Churches, Palaces and Cathedrals • Florida Days & Nights • Architecture of Beautiful Towns and Cities • Group for all users of FLICKR - No 30/60 Groups Limit • The Sunshine State • City, Urban & Engineering Images • Temples, Churches, Mosques and other religious Monuments • All great photos - No 30/60 • Florida's Religious Buildings, Structures & Symbols • ₪ ARCHITECTUR•ℰxᴛᴇʀɪᴏʀ┼ɪɴsɪƊƐ•SIGN ₪ • Free our Flickr - No 30/60 • !* THE NEW SOUTH ✧ Please, ONLY QUALITY IMAGES!✧ • USA - United States (No 30/60 limit) • Holy Sites Around the World • FLICKR INTERNATIONAL - No 30/60 Groups Limit • USA - Pictures (No 30/60 limit) • Beautiful Day or Night No 30/60 - No SL • ~Attention Worthy - No 30/60 Limit • No limit - No 30/60 • Buildings are beautiful - no 30/60 limit • Églises & chapelles du monde – Churches & chapels worldwide • TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY (no 30/60 rule) • Places of Worship in the United States • Architecture and Morality • Flickr (No 30/60 Group Limit) • No 30/60 Flickr - no SL • (A) BEAUTIFUL CHURCH • A PAST RECORD • Todos los momentos no 30/60 • NO 30/60 Family safe only • Holy Sites Architecture (no 30/60 limit) • Urban travellers • Nice Places to Visit - No 30/60 Limit - Photos & Videos Welcome. • Post Anything You Like. No 30/60 • Pon color a tu vida (no blanco y negro) • The Map Group • A World of Churches, Mosques and Temples • All Your Photos and Mine (No 30/60 limit - Photos from anywhere) • all photos of whatever no 30/60 « less

Stats: 1,482 views / 2 comments

Link to this photo view:
Link to this photo large view: