History of the First Presbyterian Church of Lake Alfred

The First Presbyterian Church in Lake Alfred is the oldest continuous congregation in the city of Lake Alfred and among the oldest in Polk County. Today numbering about 135 members, the church was begun about 90 years ago by a group of people meeting in the home of the Gardner family, who owned tracts of citrus groves in what was then known as Chub, Florida, now the city of Lake Alfred.

A petition to affiliate was sent by the group to all mainstream denominations of the day. Of these, it is said that only the Presbyterian Church responded and in 1913 the First Presbyterian Church became a reality.

Before long, the attendance grew and the church began meeting in the Chub school. People from nearby Auburndale heard about the new church and began taking the train to Chub in order to attend services.

In 1921, the first church building (below) was completed and was located on US Highway 17 across from what is now the municipal complex. This red brick building served the congregation through the twenties and into the late thirties, when plans were made to enlarge it by the addition of classrooms.

By now, Chub had long since been re-named Lake Alfred and the First Presbyterian Church of Lake Alfred underwent its first expansion in 1939. The original building is still in place and is currently in use as an attorney's office.

In 1948, following a reorganization of the Presbyterian Church into the United Presbyterian Church, the Lake Alfred congregation became known as the First United

Presbyterian Church of Lake Alfred. The United Presbyterian Church was the last vestige of what had been the Northern Presbyterian Church following the split during the civil war, and our congregation was one of very few affiliates in the South.

During the fifties, the congregation grew considerably and could see the need for a completely new and much larger church building. Land was acquired on Haines Boulevard in Lake Alfred and the second building was finished in 1964. It featured a much larger sanctuary, a small fellowship hall and kitchen, and several classrooms.

In 1984, the reunion of the old northern and southern Presbyterian Churches occurred in Atlanta and the Presbyterian Church USA was born. Accordingly, we became part of PC USA and the "United" was dropped from our name to become simply the First Presbyterian Church of Lake Alfred.  This has remained our name to this day.

In 1991, the church building underwent an enlargement with the addition of an office complex and large fellowship hall (June Gardner Hall) . In 1995 we celebrated the burning of the mortgage on the addition.

As we enter the new century, our church is focused on serving the needs of members nearing or past retirement. Ours is a ministry unique in the Lake Alfred area. We thank God for it and take delight in being able to provide it.

Researched by W. Castro

© First Presbyterian Church of Lake Alfred.

515 E Haines Blvd, Lake Alfred, Florida, 33850

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