The notion of Saturday workdays in Heritage Church is not a new one. Our very first was held on Saturday, October 2, 1965, in preparation for the next day’s initial service in the completed first unit. Thirty-nine “special people” of all ages engaged in a broad scope of landscaping chores, moving furniture from the Parish House, insuring clean-swept concrete floors, and unpacking carton upon carton of the folding metal chairs that we were to utilize in the sanctuary until 1973. Those arriving for the first service were treated to both a pleasing exterior and an accommodating interior.

November 14 -25, 1965, was a lively, event-filled period of dedication and thanksgiving services participated in by any and all having had a role in the development of Heritage Church from the very first conceptual stages to the realization of the first unit. There was representation from the original Advisory Commission on establishment of a church, the Washington City Presbytery, the architects, and the contractor. Leading off was the first church school session in the new building, followed by a service of praise and receipt of the building keys from the architects, and concluding with evening sessions of the Junior and Senior High Youth Fellowships. There followed a Court of Honor in which boy Scout Troop 981 awarded three Eagle Scout Badges, a Junior Department program, a Women’s Community Service of Dedication, dedication of our first organ, a musical program of the Children’s and Celtic choirs, a Teen fellowship dinner with special music, and a dinner and square dance sponsored by the Mariners Group(“Tridents”) with George Hemminger doing the calling. The next Sunday’s worship service centered on the acknowledgment of Memorials and Special Gifts, followed that afternoon by a Community Service of Praise and Dedication and, on Tuesday, a Primary Department party. Finally, on Thanksgiving, there was a joint service with Plymouth Haven Baptist Church.

Throughout, our euphoria was unbounded; however, Rev. Wood kept our perspective on our real being. He said, “We rejoice now that God has brought us to this Season of Dedication and Thanksgiving, but remind ourselves that this beautiful building is not an end in itself, but rather an instrument through which Christ’s people worship, study, and are equipped for Christian ministry in the world. Therefore, let us not so much take pride in the accomplishment of this building as to rededicate our lives to Christ who has called us together, and to submit ourselves anew to the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit as we seek to fulfill our mission.” His words not only were most appropriate for the development of the day, but also for the developments of succeeding years.

So, now we had our very own church home. Its use in serving the many constituent interests, however, demanded the utmost in diplomacy and patience, especially in coping with the noise factor stemming from concurrent use of the sanctuary by church school classes. Curtains were employed for separation but were not altogether successful in diminution of the dB level. Also trying was the vandalism experienced relative to the clerestory windows. They made inviting targets for certain rock-throwing juveniles of the area. There were a few apprehensions, but the problem persisted for quite some time before ceasing. Rampant vandalism did resurface during later construction of the fellowship hall. In any case, we finally were free to concentrate on the choices of treatment for the windows to counteract the distractions and aggravations of brilliant sunlight at certain times of the year. For some 19 years we utilized the aforementioned curtains made by the women of the church from artillery target cloth before finally settling on the present treatment of simulated stained glass. With this and other interior and exterior treatments we gradually settled into our new quarters as we carried forth the true mission expounded by Rev. Wood.

This article is the last in my recounting of the early history, origin, and development of Heritage Church. I leave treatment of subsequent years to others. Following our occupation of the first unit there were many significant events leading to a big celebration of the twenty-fifth anniversary in 1987, which occurred on the fifth Sunday in Lent. Rev. Wood returned to preach the sermon, “Special People.” Also for that occasion Rev. Larry Glassco, Pastor Emeritus, prepared a booklet, “The Heritage of Heritage Presbyterian Church,” that summarized all the significant events of each of the first twenty-five years. That has been the catalyst for some of my recall, and I am indebted to Larry for having it at hand. He also wrote a booklet, “Our Goodly Heritage,” that covers ten years of his active and productive ministry subsequent to his January, 1975, arrival. This is a veritable treasure trove of details and particularly intriguing in naming of the legions of “Special People” and the manifold deeds they performed in the growth and advancement of Heritage. Both documents, recommended reading, are in the church library.

And, oh, yes – I pointed out in the 25th Anniversary celebration that the Building Committee was never formally disbanded. It still has not been. So, y’all stay tuned for the notice of the next meeting date!

“Yea, We Have A Goodly Heritage,” indeed! Glory be to God!