Spring Hill Presbyterian Church
Church Profile 2003
1. Congregational Identity
History
In the 1880s, the west-central Virginia town of Springhill was a thriving
business center. Heavy traffic on Long Glade Road (Rt. 613) and Rt.
607 from Moscow made it ideal for businesses. And shop owners set up
shop in the Augusta County community. Barrel, shoe, cabinet, wagon,
carriage, and coffin makers set up shop next to the community tanyard, wheelwright,
carpenter, tailor, blacksmith, and cooper. Completing the community
were a post office, several churches, a school, and a telephone exchange.
Springhill reached its business height immediately after the Civil War.
During the 1880s, the arrival of the Odd Fellows society caused split opinions
in Springhill’s Methodist Episcopal and United Brethren congregations as to
the appropriateness of church members participating in the new group.
The Methodist Episcopal Church also saw declining attendance. And a
movement began to start a Presbyterian church.
Spring Hill Presbyterian Church began as a Chapel in 1895, an outpost of
nearby Augusta Stone Presbyterian Church which was organized in 1740.
Spring Hill Chapel became an independent church in 1915 at which time 105
members transferred from Augusta Stone Church. It has been noted that
the members were “tired of riding horses and traveling in buggies to Augusta
Stone from Springhill.”
In the early 1900s, the community of Springhill took on a new look.
Many of the businesses that thrived in the late 1800s closed their doors.
By 1910, commerce shifted from area towns to the city of Staunton and modern
industry forced many closings. Only four businesses remained open in
Springhill by 1920.
Yet while local industry was taking a downturn in the community, Spring
Hill Presbyterian Church was adding members. On October 22, 1916, nineteen
additional members were added to the roll and it has continued to grow to
the current 218. In the early 1900s, at least three outpost Sunday School
Classes were conducted on Sunday afternoons. While people attended church
in Springhill, they commuted elsewhere to earn a living. The church
became the focal point of the community.
In 1940, six Sunday School classrooms were added on at the side of the sanctuary.
In 1953, the sanctuary was doubled in size. Additional Sunday School
rooms were added, along with the kitchen, social hall/dining room, and restrooms.
Construction of a Picnic Shelter containing a kitchen and two restrooms began
in 1992 on a 20-acre parcel of land behind the church. It was completed
in 1993 at a cost of $26,138.77. Both the shelter and church social
hall are used by community groups including the Ruritans, Girl Scouts, and
4H Clubs. Church and community families also use them for reunions and
anniversary celebrations. A cemetery was established in 1993 on land
beside the shelter.
Size & Culture
Spring Hill Church has 218 members from varied education and professional
backgrounds. The church rests in the rural town and farming community
of Springhill in northern Augusta County, the second largest county in the
state of Virginia, and draws members from the nearby city of Staunton and
throughout the county. The church is town-oriented and rural in its
outlook.
Theological Perspective
Spring Hill Church is reflective of the mainstream Presbyterian Church USA
in beliefs and practices. The church’s overall emphasis is on spiritual
issues, deepening each individual’s relationship to God. The congregation
wants Biblically based messages and studies. This is not to say the
church is not socially conscious or concerned. The church actively and
generously supports those in need. The congregation feels that when
it is healthy spiritually, it will be the most effective as God’s servant
in the world.
2. Membership Demographics
Membership Trends
The accompanying spreadsheet gives membership trends and other details from
the past 25 years.
Worship Attendance Records
Items to take note of include:
* From 1975 to 2000, the congregation has been holding its own concerning
membership.
* New Members by Public Professions of Faith – The number of these
increased and has been the most consistent from 1990 to 1998.
* Membership Losses – Losses have come from death, not by transfer
of membership. In 1998, 22 were moved to the inactive list.
* Baptisms – Adult baptisms have been above average from the 1980s
through the 1990s.
* Sunday School Enrollment – Sunday School enrollment has steadily
decreased since 1990, and has sharply decreased since 1998.
* Worship Attendance – The average worship attendance per year has
fluctuated greatly the past ten years.
Demographic Make-Up
The congregation is one of varied ages, education levels, and professional
backgrounds. It has moved from predominantly agrarian and rural to more
reflective of the broader world.
Age Distribution – Spring Hill Presbyterian Church does not have a strong
base of young families. The largest group in the church is made up of
“baby boomers” ranging in age from 46 to 55. The next largest groups
are “Under 25” and “Over 65.”
Age Distribution 2001:
35 20-29 years of age
23 30-39 years of age
43 40-49 years of age
50 50-59 years of age
32 60-69 years of age
26 70-79 years of age
18 80-89 years of age
2 90-100 years of age
Households:
100 are single person households
45 households are made up of two people
7 households are made up of three people
4 households are made up of 3 to 4 people
1 household has five people
Adults:
Married 136
Single 44
Divorced 16 Widow/Widower
26
Adults with children
67
Adults with grandchildren
105
Adults with great grandchildren 46
Adults with great-great grandchildren 1
Occupations:
Military Service 3
Construction 4
Plant Worker 7
Lawyer 1
Teacher 5
Florist
2
Secretary 9
Doctor
1
Health Care Related 12
Bank Teller 3
Pilot
1 CPA
1
Law Enforcement 1
Real Estate 1
Administration 10
Engineer 2
Electrician 2
Store Clerk 12
Mechanic 3
Farmer/Agriculture 12
Insurance 2
Truck Driver 6
Carpenter 3
Free Lance Writer 1
Food/Caterer 1
Photographer 1
Librarian 1
Lobbyist 1
Domestic Engineer 1
Construction 4
TV PR/Marketing 1
Tax Preparation 1
Landscaping 1
Receptionist 1
Housewives 35
Retired
50
Education:
High School
43
Some College
15 Four more are in college now.
College Graduate 41
Some Graduate Studies 3
Tech School
10
Work-Related Training 2
Civil Service
2
3. Church Programs
Church Programs/Events
The church observes events and offerings appropriate to the religious calendar
and community traditions.
Spiritual Life
Prayer Chain, Bible Study, Revival, Community Worship with Pleasant View
Lutheran Church (yearly Thanksgiving Eve Service), Summer Vespers Service,
Homecoming, Maundy Thursday Service, Easter Sunrise Service, Easter Breakfast,
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, Monthly Communion, Presbyterian Women’s
celebrations, youth group.
Christian Education
Rally Day Service (recognizing Sunday School teachers and those with perfect
attendance) and picnic lunch, Vacation Bible School (one week during the summer),
Sunday School classes from nursery to adult, Church Library.
Music
Christmas Pageant, Christmas Cantata, Easter Cantata, Christian Music Concerts
(featuring local groups).
Missions
Financially support SACRA (Staunton-Augusta County Relief Organization),
Camp Massanetta (nearby Presbyterian camp facility), Weekday Religious Education
(taught in public schools), Staunton-Augusta Food Bank, and several missionaries
(Rev. & Mrs. Carlos Clugy-Soto and Marni Ware); direct designated funds
from estates to community-service and non-profit groups (fire and rescue groups);
monthly 4-cents-a-meal offering; Harvest Day auction and food sale proceeds
go to Presbyterian Women and church needs.
Boxes of food are delivered to 20 families at Thanksgiving and Easter; clothing
and toys are delivered to children at Christmas; fruit/cookie/candy trays
are taken to shut-ins; congregation contributes money and tools to the youth
to go on Mountain T.O.P. mission trips; winter hats and gloves contributed
to Zacchaeus Tree.
Congregational Care
Meal prepared upon a death in member families, assistance given for local
needs, counseling offered by the minister.
Church Emphases/Needs/Challenges
The following information was compiled from members’ comments during three
church-wide Bible Studies.
Membership
Spring Hill Church is a congregation of people with varied backgrounds,
ages, and education levels. Anyone who visits can find someone with
whom to relate. The church, however, needs to attract younger families and
youth.
The congregation leaves administrative responsibilities to a few members
who work hard at multiple jobs. More members should take an active role,
but some feel there is not enough encouragement for participating at Spring
Hill Church. Spring Hill’s current members also need to attend more
regularly.
The church has a talented congregation and should be more aware of its members’
abilities in order to utilize them, especially those of its active young people.
Worship/Education Ministries
Spring Hill Church has good Sunday School teachers, but the teaching ministry
needs expanding in the face of decreasing attendance. The church should
return to studying the fundamentals so everyone has a solid Biblical knowledge
and is challenged to grow closer to God. Sunday School classes could
be divided by subject instead of by age (or grade).
The church should hold more Bible Studies and work to improve their quality.
Spring Hill Church needs to hear more challenging sermons that deal with
the Christian faith and the concept of “call” to bring the congregation closer
to God. An informal service with a relaxed worship atmosphere is attractive
to some. Whatever the form of worship, our children and youth must be
kept involved in all aspects of church life because they learn by seeing the
examples of other Christians.
To its credit, the church holds community revivals and welcomes all denominations
for worship.
Mission Work
Spring Hill Church is a kind and caring church that supports many ministries
locally and abroad (including several missionaries). The church responds
rapidly and generously to those in need, whether they be members of the congregation,
community, state, nation or the overseas mission field. The church supports
its youth and children in their mission and fund-raising efforts. However,
these efforts can always be improved. Some characterize Spring Hill
Church as a family.
Spring Hill’s members need to visit shut-ins more and not leave that task
to the minister. At Spring Hill, there is an emphasis on property and
less on mission work and other work of the church. The congregation
needs to effectively reach out in compassion to those not attending to bring
in current members, the unchurched, young couples, and youth.
The church needs to offer a wider variety of activities to attract local
youth including coffee house-type gatherings and recreation nights.
Special groups should be formed to attract young families – an after-school
ministry, support groups for special needs, and home Bible Study groups.
The church should consider building new facilities or modernizing present
facilities to provide these activities. Spring Hill Church should also
emphasize the youth with a year-round mission program, not just at Mt. T.O.P.
time.
The members of the congregation need more training to better help others.
Spiritual Life
The church maintains an active Prayer Chain. The church also takes
a stand on issues, regardless of the popularity of that stand.
Members of Spring Hill Church get hung up on details and don’t see the big
picture when conducting the business of the church. Self-evaluation
is good for the church. Spring Hill needs to emphasize spiritual maturity,
focusing on God and deepening faith so God can use the congregation to do
His work.
The congregation must draw closer to God to be more spiritually unified
(to avoid the current clash of personalities and opinions); to lead more
Christ-like lives (to lessen squabbling); and to foster a spirit of friendship,
mutual respect, and acceptance. Church members need to turn from an
emphasis on “self” to an emphasis on “Christ” – to be more forgiving, cooperative,
caring, and patient with each other. The congregation should repair
wounds, be open to others’ points of view, and live in harmony. This
example will attract new members.
Prayer needs to take a higher place of importance in the life and functions
of Spring Hill Church. The church needs to pray to learn how to better
accept change. Personal worship practices (personal and family devotions)
among the church’s members should be an emphasis. Spring Hill members
need to share their personal faith more to encourage others and to pass on
the church’s faith tradition.
The church needs to support the pastor and learn from its older members.
The church needs to discover ways to draw people in despite hectic schedules.
(Task Force comment: The church’s once-important role in the life of
the community has deteriorated. The church experience needs to be reinstated
in a fashion once again appealing to the community.)
Church Structure
The Presbyterian Women’s (PW) program is strong.
Spring Hill Church needs to improve communication within the congregation.
Young people need to be involved in leadership roles. The budget should
be unified. Designated funds (estates) left to the church tend to cause
division. A weekly church announcement in the newspaper is needed.
Spring Hill Church’s location can be a problem in attracting new people.
Congregational voting should be done by secret ballot. Decision-making
should be done by more than a few people. The men of the church should
start an organization like the PW. The church should also emphasize
youth fellowship.
Ministerial Prerequisites
Spring Hill Church needs a minister who preaches from the Bible, is understandable
and honest, allows committees to do their work, emphasizes visitation, and
relates to members’ lives and jobs. The church needs someone who will
stay, who will attract young people, and who will inspire members to work
on personal issues. The church needs to examine its expectations of
the minister and not expect him/her to do it all.
(Task Force comment: Spring Hill Presbyterian Church went through
a period of nurture and peace from the mid-1980s through the mid-1990s.
Since then, circumstances have been different and difficult. The congregation
wants to regain its sense of peace and unity. The new minister needs
to be a leader in this effort. The minister also needs to empower the
congregation to realize its gifts to reach out to the community to enrich
it.)
Presbytery Relations
The Presbytery needs to respect what Spring Hill Church needs and the church
needs to work on its relationship with the Presbytery.
4. Organizational Structure and Process
Structure and Organization/Church Communication
Making Decisions
Proper process and procedures are followed. Parliamentary procedure
is followed during Session meetings and Congregational Meetings. Church
Committees arrive at sessional recommendations by acclamation and vote.
Committee plans and their progress toward achieving those plans are reported
at each Session meeting.
Church Communication
The communication flow is an area for future examination and possible reorganization.
5. Building Assessment and Needs
At present, the church building accommodates all needed Sunday School classes
and worship services. The church sanctuary seats approximately 250.
The church has a Pastor’s Study, a room for photocopy equipment and paper
supplies, and a room used as a library. Sunday School classes are held
on the top two levels, as well as in the basement social hall. The church
has an expansive kitchen with up-to-date appliances. At present, parking
is adequate and there is room to expand. On 20 acres adjoining to the
east, the church owns and maintains a picnic shelter with an enclosed kitchen
and two restrooms, a barbecue pit, and a cemetery.
Emphasis should be placed on handicapped accessibility. Spring Hill
Church’s handicapped facilities are not adequate at the church’s main entrance,
the restrooms, and the basement. Emphasis on youth activities (noted
under #3 Emphases/Needs/Challenges) could lead to building recreation facilities
or modernizing present facilities.
Spring Hill Church owns a manse located one mile south of the church on
Rt. 613. The manse is a two-story, two-bath, three-bedroom brick ranch
home (with a room for a fourth bedroom or pastor’s study) built in 1959 on
land donated by the Scott Wenger family (members). This dwelling has
been the manse since it was built. It is situated on a large lot with
a panoramic view of the rural countryside and Allegheny Mountain range.
The church also owns two houses situated on smaller lots adjoining the church
to the south. Following a recent fire, the house farther from the church,
and the more historic of the two, was rebuilt with fire insurance monies and
is currently being rented. This brick and frame house is known as the
Cox property, purchased in March 1998 from Alton and Mary Cox to provide a
buffer from the community and to allow for future church expansion.
Several Spring Hill Church members spent their childhoods in this house.
The two-story frame house immediately adjoining the church is known as the
Hott property. It was purchased from Nita Hott Crosby in August 1974.
It is presently occupied rent-free by the sexton and his wife in return for
cleaning the church.
6. Identify the Particular Gifts for Ministry
Spring Hill Church has a good music ministry. The church appreciates
music and enjoys singing. The church has a volunteer pianist who accompanies
a paid organist each Sunday.
With diverse education and professional backgrounds, members’ expertise
include physical plant maintenance, building/renovation, music ministries,
legal and financial advice, and visionary planning and organization.
Occupations:
Military Service 5
Construction 4
Plant Worker 7
Lawyer 1
Teacher 5
Florist
2
Secretary 9
Doctor
1
Health Care Related 12
Bank Teller 3
Pilot
1 CPA
1
Law Enforcement 1
Real Estate 1
Administration 10
Engineer 2
Electrician 2
Store Clerk 12
Mechanic 3
Farmer/Agriculture 12
Insurance 2
Truck Driver 6
Carpenter 3
Free Lance Writer 1
Food/Caterer 1
Photographer 1
Librarian 1
Lobbyist 1
Domestic Engineer 1
Construction 4
PR/Marketing 1
Tax Preparation 1
Landscaping 1
Receptionist 1
Housewives 35
Retired
50
Education:
High School
43
Some College
15 Four more are in college now.
College Graduate 41
Some Graduate Studies 3
Tech School
10
Work-Related Training 2
Civil Service
2