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The first Worship Service of the Presbyterian Church of Chestertown (PCC) was Sunday, September 22, 1985, in the Masonic Hall on  High Street that served as PCC's rented home for the next eleven months.

Two weeks later, Sunday, October 6, 1985, a Church School program began and the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper celebrated. Just three weeks later, on Sunday, October 27, 1985, the founding members petitioned the New Castle Presbytery to designate the Presbyterian Church of Chestertown as a "New Church Development."
Early in 1986, the small group of believers, with the underwriting support of the Rev. George Clayman, purchased property on the corner of Kent Street and Philosopher’s Terrace for a church building.  Immediately, a small but energetic volunteer work force began renovations of the house for a manse and conversion of the office/garage into a sanctuary.
A few months later, on Tuesday, August 19, 1986, the New Castle Presbytery appointed the Rev. George Clayman as the organizing Pastor for PCC.  Less than two weeks later, Sunday, August 31,1986, the Rev. Clayman conducted the first Worship Service in our converted garage sanctuary on Kent Street.
On Sunday, January 31, 1988, the Charter Membership Roll, which began Easter Sunday, March 30, 1986, closed with 81 signatures.  Two weeks later, on February 14, 1988, PCC held a Service of Organization and the ordination and installation of Elders.

The Articles of Incorporation and the bylaws of the Congregation were approved on Sunday, May 22, 1988, and the church property on Kent Street was dedicated on Sunday, June 5, 1988. At the dedication, a wooden cross in memory of Bruce Jones was given by  his wife Nancy.

B. Reginald Cooper gave the church bell of the former Presbyterian Church of Worton, Maryland (1884-1931) to PCC on January 16, 1989.  The children of PCC ring the bell every Sunday morning.

The Rev. George Clayman retired on Sunday, June 12, 1988.  On Sunday, July 23, 1989, at a Congregational Meeting the Pastor Nominating Committee nominated the Rev. Earl M. Brooks as Designated Pastor of our congregation. The congregation unanimously elected and enthusiastically welcomed the Rev. Mr. Brooks as Designated Pastor effective September 1, 1989. One year later, PCC unanimously elected the Rev. Mr. Brooks as Pastor. An Installation Service occurred on Sunday, October 14, 1990.  Pastor Brooks served the church until his retirement on July 31, 1999. The church elected him to Pastor Emeritus status in the spring of 2000.  The Rev. Mr. Tucker Thompson was selected as interim pastor starting Dec. 1, 1999.  He was welcomed and served until November 15, 2000 when our new pastor, the Reverend Ms. Sara A. Holben arrived.  She was installed as Pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Chestertown on November 19, 2000.

The Presbyterian Women’s Organization began on August 21, 1989, by Peggy Holmes.

On Sunday, August 25, 1991, the Congregation voted to purchase property in Crestview as the site for a new PCC facility as we had outgrown our old one. The new facility was designed by PCC member Jack Pharo and the Groundbreaking Ceremony at the Crestview property occurred on Sunday, December 8,1991.  PCC member George Rogers skillfully guided the construction and as with our Kent Street property, much of the work at Crestview was accomplished by member volunteers.  The move from Kent Street to our new building at Crestview occurred on Wednesday, October 21, 1992.  Dedication of the new building took place on Sunday, November 15, 1992. The PCC made the final payment on the construction loan on the new facilities on October 10, 1995.  Expansion of the narthex of the church, approved by the congregation at a meeting held on December 2, 2001, was completed and dedicated on June 22, 2003. The cost for the construction was fully pledged by members and friends of the Presbyterian Church of Chestertown. The pledge included  (as did the original building) a pledge to mission of 10% of the projected cost of the addition. Those mission pledges were fully paid.  PPC is again debt free.

On Sunday, March 5, 1995, the Congregation voted to create a Board of Deacons.  The number of deacons was changed from three to six on September 21, 1997. The number was increased to 9 in 2002.

Our congregation has grown from 81 in 1988 to 229 in 2003.  At heart, we are still the same in spirit ~ a loving, caring family of Christians.  We worship, sing, share meals, entertainment, holidays, celebrations, marriages, births, baptisms, sadness, disappointments, and deaths.  Through it all, we have shared our shortcomings our deepest feelings, our wildest dreams, and ourselves.  God has seen fit to prosper our enterprise here for His sake, and we look forward to the future with confidence and eager anticipation.
 

Special thanks to Peggy Adams and Mel and Jane Wolfe for some of the information used in compiling this history.
 

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