Dellabrook Presbyterian Church

History of Dellabrook Presbyterian

Fifty-seven years ago, twenty-one people with a dream gathered together in a newly erected sanctuary in the Dreamland Park section of Winston-Salem to organize the Dellabrook Presbyterian Church. This group of people dreamed of a witness in East Winston that would serve all people, regardless of race, social, economic and educational status.

The Dellabrook Presbyterian Church was organized and chartered on Sunday, October 14, 1956. Reverend Percy A. Carter, a Baptist minister, was the organizing pastor. Two of the original charter members are currently members of Dellabrook – Mrs. Parphinia Ford and Mrs. Alice Ledbetter.

Dellabrook’s congregational growth can be correlated to her pastoral leadership:
Rev. Troy A Young, Jr (1957-1969) – Significant growth in membership and most sustained leadership originally;
Rev. Robert A. Massey, Sr. (1970-1972) – Major plant renovations;
Rev. Connell Osborne (1973-1976) – Increased service to the community, including the founding of Resurrection Summer Day Camp;
Rev. Warner Durnell (1978-1982) – Self-support status achieved and development of a dynamic leadership training program;
Rev. Dr. Carlton A.G. Eversley (1984-Present) –More involvement of youth, more church involvement in social action, founding of SMART tutoring program which evolved to the Saturday Salvation Academy, the establishment of a monthly sacrificial offering and quarterly “God’s House Party” which resulted in the slogan, “Serious Christianity for fun-loving Christians”;
Rev. Otto Gaither (2002-Present) - Associate Pastor- Support for a strong church school attendance for adults and youth, active visitation of the hospital bound and sick and shut-in.

The remainder of the twenty-first century will be crucial years for Dellabrook. With the talent, and leadership of the membership, much is possible and expected. Commitment, organization, utilization of members, leadership training, planning, accountability and evaluation of stewardship, time and money will be factors determining the degree of success in the next few years. One of our major goals should be to become self-supporting once more! Our 55th Anniversary theme, “We’ve Come This Far By Faith.”