In 1994, under the leadership of the Reverend Hildebrandt and nine elders on Session, several events took place: the presentation and approval of the Youth Group Mission Statement; a Bake Sale by the Presbyterian Women; an Older Adult Survey was completed; Renee’ Overton hired as secretary, following the resignation of Joyce Doughty; acceptance of attractive bins for food collections placed in each narthex, given by Elder Al and Ruth Kozak; the bellows in the organ were repaired and/or replaced; repaired the church roof following two lightning strikes; the pulpit Bible repaired; expressed sadness of the transfer of John and Tonya Dunning to Ohio - the Dunnings, though non-members, had served as Youth Group leaders and had performed an outstanding job in that position; gained two members by transfer; one infant baptism; lost five members by death and twenty by transfer to inactive roll; hosted three weddings.
It was in 1995 that the decision was made that the manse on Belle Street be sold. Other happenings during this year were: a restoration of the Baird/Royster Room by Mrs. Doris McFarland, which included gas logs for the fireplace; new closets for the choir robes, carpet, drapes for the windows and walls painted; new chandeliers were hung in the Historical Room, Fellowship Hall and Baird/Royster Room (later referred to as Choir Room/Parlor); furniture for this room was given by the Melvin Foster Boyd family; the purchase of a new computer for the office.
In October of this year, the Session voted to accept the “Commitment to Evangelism”.
The Reverend Charles (Chuck) Yancey was called to serve as pastor in November. He came to us from New Jersey where he had served small churches there and in Pennsylvania. He was a native of Missouri. During this year, seven members were gained by transfer, one infant baptism, two lost by death - Joe M. Baird, Jr. and Arial Stephens; twenty-four moved to inactive roll, and one wedding performed.
In 1996, Marie Hobgood was elected as disbursing treasurer, and that election has been the same each year since. Other happenings were: a building committee was formed to identify problems of the existing building and address them to the Session; a Spring cleaning of the church was done; the manse was sold; permission granted for use of church to host AA meetings (these only lasted a few months); permission for the Garden Club to use church for their meetings on one Tuesday morning per month; a Resolution was presented to Miriam MacDowell in June to commemorate her twenty years as organist/music director; began the “Operation Christmas Child Shoe Box Ministry”; Hurricane Fran caused shingles to be blown off roof and tree to fall in back yard; Renee’ Overton resigned as secretary; new folding chairs purchased; the chimney was capped and new roofing installed; new bricks installed for the sign in front of church.
There were five members gained by transfer and reaffirmation of faith and one lost by death - Mrs. Janice Walker.
In 1997, the Reverend “Chuck” Yancey resigned as requested by the Committee on Ministry in the Presbytery of New Hope following an investigation by the Investigative Committee of the Presbytery. The Reverend Bonnie Pettijohn was placed in the OPC by the Presbytery to serve as a temporary supply in order to begin the “healing process” due to the sudden departure of Mr. Yancey. Later, Bonnie accepted the call as Designated Pastor and was installed in November. Also during the year, fifteen young people completed the communicants’ class and were confirmed as members in May; new hymnals were purchased; Delores Johnson
(Moss), elder, was hired as secretary to work 15 hours per week; October 26 declared as “Miriam MacDowell Day” at which time she formally retired as organist. On this day, a Resolution was presented to her by the Session and congregation of the church. (Miriam continues to serve as guest organist for this church and others where she is invited.)
Members gained during the year by transfer and Affirmation of Faith numbered twenty-two, which included the fifteen of the Confirmation Class. There was one infant baptism, five members lost by transfer, one by death (Wilson Comer) and one wedding.
Events of 1998: purchased new copy machine for church office; a “pounding” for Ms. Pettijohn and husband, Barry Barbour, after moving into their new home in Oxford; hired Ms. Kathy Webb as organist/music director; Missions Committee hosted missions programs and suppers nine times during the year; Presbyterian Women of OPC hosted Presbyterian Women’s Fall Gathering; Property Committee sponsored much repair and refurbishing of the church prior to the Gathering.
At the end of December, a reception was given in honor of Julius Fields who retired after 30 years of janitorial service to this church.
At the end of this year, it was reported by the clerk that there were 120 members on roll; three members lost by certificate of transfer; two by death - Elder Henry Jennings, Sr. and Mr. Douglas Currin; two infant baptisms and one wedding.
The year 1999 brought about more noteworthy events:
At the annual congregational meeting in January, Mr. Dick Crews of Richmond, VA and former member of this church, provided special music. Also, on that day, the Geneva Chimes Choir rendered to us their special music.
We held an Easter Sunrise Service for the first time. The event took place on the grounds with a wooden cross as the back drop. (The cross has remained.)
In March, a recommendation for one of our high school students to receive a scholarship from the Presbyterian Women’s Scholarship Fund was made. This Granville Presbyterial Scholarship Fund Committee began in 1965 whose members included Mrs. J.B. Haney and Mrs. Doris P. McFarland of this church. This committee wrote the rules, regulations and proposed the number of scholarships to be presented to High School Seniors in Granville Presbyery. This report was adopted by the Presbyterial. Robert Lauchlin Hobgood, son of Elder Terry and Marie Hobgood, received this scholarship in 1999-2000 school year; and it was renewed again in 2000-2001.
The first Presbyterian Women’s Day was held in May. This has become an annual tradition.
The Youth Group got into full swing during this year by holding various fund raisers and going on trips. Their biggest event was a week-long mission trip to Washington, DC in June.
Thirteen youth and seven adults shared in this event.
The church gained another computer and added a fax machine to the office. Delores Moss, secretary, began working 20 hours per week.
This was the year of the infamous flood in the eastern part of our state, brought about by Hurricane Floyd. Some of the members of this church went to help with clean-up work. The Session also designated a donation to this disaster.
In November, the Reverend Bonnie Pettijohn, designated pastor, resigned.
At the end of the year, the minutes record one member gained by certificate of transfer; two gained by baptism; two infant baptisms; one marriage; and two members lost by death - Susan Bryan and Mariana Bradsher.
On the last Sunday of the year, December 26, the Reverend Norman MacDowell, pastor emeritus, held the last service for the end of the century. The guest organist was Mrs. Miriam MacDowell and six members of the choir were present. There were 46 members and visitors worshiping in the sanctuary.