A Short History of

PEOPLE'S CHURCH OF DOVER

United Church of Christ

 

            People's Church was established May 28, 1909 by a group of Methodists who had withdrawn from Wesley Methodist Church downtown, when a beloved pastor, the Rev. Dr. Albert W. Lightbourne, was dismissed for reasons no longer known.  About three hundred members began worship services in the Dover Opera House across the street.  They could say, "That's the bishop's church.  This is the people's church."  They called Dr. Lightbourne as their pastor and in July, 1909 purchased a lot on South Bradford Street to be the site of the new church.  Construction began a short time later; and the cornerstone ceremony was held on Sunday, October 31, when the congregation marched together from the Opera House to the Bradford Street location.  The dedication service took place on Sunday, June 5, 1910.  The name "The People's Church" was selected on Friday evening, May 28, 1909.  People's Church early affiliated with the Southern Convention of the Christian Church (also known as the Christian Connection). 

 

            Over the years the original property has undergone great development.  In 1916 the undercroft Sunday School space was repaired and the chancel was enlarged by two feet.  On April 4, 1916, the congregation voted to buy the Hopkins home on the east side of Bradford Street as a manse for Dr. and Mrs. Lightbourne.  At the time of Dr. Lightbourne's death on Sunday morning, August 2, 1916, the church had grown to a membership of about 800.  The "Good Shepherd" stained glass window facing Bradford Street is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Lightbourne. 

 

 

            In February, 1923 the Official Board voted to initiate a campaign to raise $30,000 for a church school building.  The then pastor, Dr. Roy C. Helfenstein, sought the help of Mr. Eldredge R. Johnson, formerly of Dover, who had developed the Victor Talking Machine; and Mr. Johnson gave an additional $70,000 to make the church school building large enough for a departmental Sunday School and a community recreational program.  The Mission Board of the Southern Convention of the Christian Church provided $5,000 for furniture and supplies for the chapel, and the Primary and Junior departments.  Mr. Johnson also gave the Memorial Tower Chimes in memory of his father, Asa Johnson.  The church school building was dedicated October 5 – 10, 1924.  During the construction process it was found that the original church building needed extensive remodeling and alterations.  The sanctuary was practically rebuilt, the southeast entrance was removed, and the Memorial Tower was added.  The total cost of the 1924 project was estimated at $135,000 plus the Chimes and the Stone Memorial Tablet (frieze) on the tower, which says "People's Christian Church."  Mr. Johnson facilitated the purchase of the properties on either side of the church and the removal of the houses to provide a church lawn reaching to the corner of Bradford and Reed Streets. 

 

            A new church manse was built in 1925 on Hazel Road, to replace the South Bradford Street home.  The Hazel Road manse was sold in August, 1979, and since that time ministers have been provided a housing allowance to purchase their own homes. 

 

            On May 3, 1931, St. Luke's Christian Church of Dover, led by the Rev. R. S. Stephens, merged with People's Christian Church under Dr. Helfenstein.  Later the same year the General Convention of the Christian Church entered into formal union with the National Council of Congregational Churches (the Pilgrims) to form the General Council of Congregational Christian Churches.  People's Congregational Christian Church of Dover continued to be a part of the Southern Convention of the new denomination. 

 

            During the 1930's and 1940's People's Church was a recreational center for the whole community.  The only bowling alley and one of only two movie theaters in Dover were both in People's Church.  Many couples met, fell in love and married here.  Also during these years the Young Men's Bible Class was strong and active.

 

            In 1954 a major capital fund drive under the leadership of the Rev. Robert W. Duke made possible a renovation of the sanctuary.  The main entrance was placed inside the Bell Tower, the seating plan was changed to provide a center aisle, and the altar area was enclosed and rearranged.  During these years all the programs of the church grew and prospered including a large Sunday School and a strong Youth Group.  May 24 and 31, 1959 People's Church celebrated its fiftieth anniversary, in which the Rev. Dr. James Lightbourne Sr. preached, and the congregation rededicated the church for service to God and humankind. 

 

            In 1957 the General Council of Congregational Christian Churches formally united with the General Synod of the Evangelical and Reformed Church to form the United Church of Christ.  Congregational Christian churches were given the Plan of Union and asked to vote whether to enter the United Church or not.  People's Church gladly became People's Church of Dover, United Church of Christ.  The church now became part of the Chesapeake Association, within the Central Atlantic Conference of the UCC. 

 

 

            During the 1960's and 1970's the neighborhood around the church began to change and formal consideration was given to selling the South Bradford Street property and building a new church outside downtown; but the majority of the congregation felt that the church's mission and ministry belong near downtown Dover, and the church stayed.  The pastorate of the Rev. Emmanuel S. Hedgebeth began in 1973.  The church continued to be engaged with the community, and Rev. Hedgebeth's commitment to both social justice and the life of the Chesapeake Association and the Central Atlantic Conference made these years a time of strength.  The Rev. H. Edwin Middleton, Jr. became the pastor in 1983, and during his ministry there was a strong emphasis on youth work and caring ministries to one another.  The third floor office suite was replaced by a larger main floor office suite in the remodeled northwest corner of the education building.  In 1988 a new twenty-eight rank Wick's pipe organ was installed in the church—one of the largest pipe organs on the Eastern Shore.  Also as a result of a memorial gift from long-time member Gilbert Reynolds, the eighteen note Deagan Chime system in the Bell Tower was restored and played its joyous music again in November, 1994. 

 

            In 1996 the Rev. Kevin Gilliam became the pastor.  His emphases were youth and young adult ministry, and evangelism.  During his pastorate the Central Atlantic Conference recognized People's Church as the fastest growing church in the Conference.  In 2002 the Rev. Dr. W. Daniel Griggs became the pastor of People's Church.  His ministry has begun to focus on bringing a new generation of young adults and their families into active church membership. 

 

 

The Pastors of People's Church of Dover

 

1909    -           The Rev. Dr. Albert W. Lightbourne

1916    -           The Rev. Victor Lightbourne

1920    -           The Rev. Dr. Roy C. Helfenstein

1939    -           The Rev. Roscoe F. Metzger

1943    -           The Rev. William F. Edge

1952    -           The Rev. Robert W. Duke

1961    -           The Rev. Donald J. MacCallum

1967    -           The Rev. George B. Higgins

1971    -           The Rev. John Peace

1973    -           The Rev. Emmanuel S. Hedgebeth

1983    -           The Rev. H. Edwin Middleton, Jr.

1996    -           The Rev. Kevin L. Gilliam

2002    -           The Rev. Dr. W. Daniel Griggs