A Brief History of Shallowford Presbyterian
Our Story
A Brief History of
Shallowford Presbyterian
In the early 1980s Presbyterians sensed a call to establish a new congregation in the growing town of Lewisville. They canvassed the community, raised funds for a new church, and called an Evangelist for New Church Development in Western Forsyth County. David C. Partington was called by the former Concord Presbytery to begin what came to be known as a New Venture.
David and his family moved to Lewisville in the winter of 1983. By the summer of 1983 informal gatherings began in the form of Summer Vespers by the Lake at Forsyth Country Day School.
In September of that year a first public Sunday morning worship service was held in the cafeteria of the school. A church was being born. The Holy Spirit began to gather a congregation. The folks who sensed God's call to this New Venture were not only residents of Lewisville but resided in other sections of Forsyth County and Winston-Salem. From its beginnings it became clear that Shallowford would be a regional church. The congregation seemed to attract adventurous folk who desired creativity in worship and music. A first rate adult choir was established under the leadership of Sally Watkins Gant. The Shallowford Singers have enriched worship at Shallowford from the very early days. The young congregation had a choir of such excellence that it seemed that God wanted to embrace us with beauty.
God embraced the young congregation in many ways. A plot of land was identified and purchased. We knew it was of God. We had a first capital funds campaign that exceeded our expectations. We knew it was of God. We began to build our first building. We wanted the building to reflect our genuine faith in Jesus Christ. We wanted it to invite us to ponder the mystery and the beauty of God as well as our life together as a community of faith. On a Sunday in November 1987 we entered our first building. Joy marked that day and our life together.
We continued to organize ourselves for ministry and mission. When it was time to build a second building we knew that, this time, we could not build only for ourselves. We covenanted together to build two Habitat for Humanity Homes. We built our space for fellowship and education. We kept our promise to build for others.
Early on we sensed that God was calling us to offer gifts of beauty to the community. In 1987 a Sunday concert series began. We called it The Shallowford Series. Students from the North Carolina School of the Arts came to perform in Lewisville as part of their Carolina Series. The Shallowford Series continues to help us speak beauty to our community. We discovered that praying together in word and song using the meditative songs and liturgies of the community of Taize' was a moving way to be with God. We offer that style of worship to the larger community and have cherished this special ministry and mission.
As a church on the grow we sensed that it was time to add staff and employed our first Christian Educator in 1997. We knew it was of God! Our Christian Education program for children, youth, and adults has grown through the years; and we look forward to more Grace from God. Our current mission statement expresses our yearning for spiritual maturity and strengthened ministry of mission and service. We are convinced that God who began a good work in us will complete it! God is still writing our story at Shallowford!
