| |
| Opening
Worship of the Sunday School being held in the sanctuary of the old
building, 1946. |
1924-1930
In 1924 Arlington County was sparsely settled, consisting of small shopping
communities each with its own post office and nearby residences. There were
no sidewalks, the streets were often muddy and few families had cars. Electric
streetcars served the Clarendon community. Presbyterians in and near Clarendon
wanted their own church. There was a building recently vacated by the Methodists
on Irving Street. The Presbytery of Washington City purchased this simply
constructed, white, New England type building for $5,000 and gave authorization
for a church to be started.
Clarendon Presbyterian Church held its first worship service on December
9, 1923 and was formally organized on April 13, 1924. There were 60 charter
members who began worshipping together and their families found the church
to be the center of community life. The Rev. Edwin Luke Shelling was called
as the first pastor and served until 1928 for $1800 a year.
The Rev. Isaac Steenson, a native of North Ireland, was pastor at Clarendon
from 1920 until he retired in 1954. The manse on Hartford Street was purchased
and became a gathering place for church groups as well and the Steenson’s
home. With his literary flair, Rev. Steenson wrote poems for special days,
stories for Christmas Eve and told wonderful stories each week to the children.
New Deal Democrats, who came to Washington in the 1930’s and early
40’s made up a majority of the membership of Clarendon. They believed
in shared leadership and so limited time on the Session to six years before
it became policy in the denomination. Three women were elected, ordained
and installed as Elders in 1947, long before many churches even considered
having women on their Session.
1940
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| Rev.
Isaac Steenson in the pulpit of the Old Building, 1945. |
During the 40’s and early 50’s the youth program was very strong,
with 30-40 youth involved in the programs. Four young men went to seminary
from Clarendon during this time.
A joint Thanksgiving service of Baptist, Methodist and Presbyterian churches
in the Clarendon area became an annual event after World War II. This service
continues today as The Central Arlington Interfaith Service.
During the Second World War an honor roll was hung in the sanctuary that
included the names of church family members in the military and related
services. Eighty names were on the roll before the end of the war and all
but one came home safely.
Although the congregation outgrew their building by 1940 they were unable
to build a new building until materials were available again after World
War II. The new stond sanctuary building was dedicated in September 1947
and the old wooden building retained for Sunday School and meetings.
The Rev. Melville Nesbit took over the leadership of a rapidly growing
church in 1954. Drawn by his effective preaching during this time when everyone
went to church, the membership soon became 600 with nearly 400 in Sunday
School. Everything was badly overcrowded. The Prender House, now the Dill
House, and a frame house beside the old church were purchased. Children
were transported to a local elementary school for Church School each Sunday.
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| 1959 |
After months of negotiations about how to solve the space problem it was
clear that there were irreconcilable differences between the group that
wanted to build a larger plant where we were and those who wanted to move
to a larger site in a more suburban area. Accordingly, the latter group
moved in May 1958 to a site on Military Road and started The Church of the
Covenant. Rev. Nesbit left the presbytery.
1960
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| Ben McDonald,
1962. |
The Rev. F. Bennett McDonald arrived in 1960 with youthful vigor and inspiration
to lead us in our rebuilding. The little white church and the house next
to it were demolished in 1959 and the education wint constructed. Two lots
at the end of the block were purchased and became a playground for groups
in the church and for the community.
Ben McDonald’s gift for counseling and his friendly manner drew many
teenagers and young adults into church activities. When he left to join
the Peace Corps in the Philippines in 1963 church groups were flourishing
and a feeling of community had been restored.
The Rev. Kenneth Beall came to be Clarendon’s pastor in 1964. The
congregation had just begun to realize that it was becoming an urban church.
Like the community around us, we had fewer children and more retired people.
It was time to look at change!
Ken Beall’s first innovation was beginning an informal service at
8:30 each Sunday morning. Meeting around tables the group had a light breakfast
and discussed the sermon during the forty-five minute service. Monthly Church
Nite Family Dinners also began, increasing the sense of community among
the members. Informal adult study groups replaced the Adult Bible Class
and other events were established to explore faith issues.
Our church became the home of the Clarendon Child Care Center on the top
floor of the education wing, Nellie Edwards Hall. St. Coletta School for
severely disabled students was on the bottom two floors of the education
wing for many years before moving to their own building. The manse was sold
so Ken could purchase his own house.
In 1974 we celebrated our 50th Anniversary!
In 1976 Ken Beall decided to retire and Ken was elected Pastor Emeritus
by the congregation and the presbytery.
The Rev. Church Weaver arrived as pastor in 1977. He remained at Clarendon
through 1979 before joining the army as a chaplain. Programs remained essentially
the same during this time.
1980
The Rev. Madeline Jervis was hired in June 1980 as part time Interim pastor.
By 1981 she was the full time Stated Supply Pastor and remained on a yearly
contract until she was called as Redevelopment Pastor in June 1986.
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| Rev. Madeline Jervis |
During her first years at Clarendon, Madeline was pastor to the many elderly
members who were reaching the end of their lives. She conducted many funerals
each year. By the time she left in December 2001 only twelve members remained
on the rolls who were members when she arrived.
In 1984 we celebrated out 60th Anniversary! Someone talked about
each decade ofClarendon’s ministry.
By 1986 the congregation began working to become a redevelopment church.
One effective outreach effort to the community was providing space for The
Arlington Gay and Lesbian Alliance to meet political candidates. This brought
two new members to the church and led the way for many more new members
from the immediate community. Our first openly gay Elder was elected, ordained
and installed. Eventually we became the only More Light Church in Virginia,
stating that everyone is welcome regardless of age, race, gender, disability
or sexual orientation.
During this same time four women who were members of Clarendon were ordained
as ministers in the Presbyterian Church USA. Three grew up in this congregation
and all continue to serve the church today.
Two services were combined into one at 10am with the discussion of the
sermon brought from the 8:30 service. The front pews were turned fo the
discussion could be conducted more easily. A ramp was build as an Eagle
Scout project, the first of several efforts to make the building accessible.
The last two stained glass windows were installed.
In 1994 we joined National Capital Presbytery’s Transforming Congregation
Project. Funds as well as training helped us continue our redevelopment
efforts with even greater success. We were alive and well once again.!
In 1999 we celebrated our 75th Anniversary!
Madeline Jervis retired in December 2001 and was made Pastor Emerita. She
left a young vigrant church looking to the future. The 21 years she spent
at Clarendon were years of decision and change. We chose to live, and so
we have.
2000
More Coming Soon!
