"Old South Rises Again"

A revival of sorts is going on at a historic church on Federal Street.

by Stewart Stokes 

Reprinted from the Merrimack River Current, Friday, January 23, 2004, with permission of Community Newspaper Company.

When the Rev. George Hardy was hired in 2000 as interim pastor of the Old South Church, he had a maximum of three years to determine "if Old South had a pulse" -- and if it did, could it be rejuvenated?

He soon discovered that the patient had not only a pulse, but also a strong will to live.  An extensive self-study process was launched followed by a lengthy ministerial search.  Old South is transforming itself. 

For most of its history Old South, the First Presbyterian Church on Federal Street in Newburyport, was a vibrant and vital church with a sizable congregation.  The congregation declined steeply during the last two decades, however, and the church has struggled in recent years.  During the summer of 2000 the pastor left and was replaced on an interim basis by Hardy, who saw his mission to try to save the church.

He was followed by the current pastor, the Rev. Robert (Rob) John, who was installed as the church's 21st pastor after a three-year self-study process that attracted 74 applicants from throughout the United States and from as far away as Glasgow, Scotland.

The road will not be easy, but the congregation -- still small but already welcoming new members -- is committed.

The task of transformation is more difficult now than ever.  Competition for peoples' time and energy, especially on Sunday mornings, has never been greater.  The hours that families have together in today's society are few and far-between and families with young children -- prime prospects for today's churches -- seem reluctant to spend those hours attending church services.

"Statistics show that about 80 percent of people who come to a church for the first time come because they are experiencing some sort of crisis or major change event in their lives," says the Rev. Rob John, newly installed pastor of Old South.  "It might be a loved one who passed away, or they just learned they are seriously ill.  They may have lost their job, or they moved recently and are adjusting to new surroundings.  Something of major significance has occurred, and they are turning to the church for support and strength.

"The statistics also indicate that churches have about a six-month window to 'reach' the visitor, from when the person walks through the door for the first time to when that person makes the decision to attend that church, attend another church or forget the whole thing," John says.

"Personally, I think it's much less time than that.  I believe it's only about two weeks to a month before that person makes a decision.  Life has speeded up, and churches have not been spared," he says.

"If you go out to dinner and you get a bad meal, you probably won't visit that restaurant again, at least not for a long time, if ever.  If you go to a company's Web site and have a bad experience, you probably won't visit that site again soon, if ever.  Likewise, if you go to a church for the first time and don't feel welcome, or don't take anything away from the service, you will probably not return in a hurry," John says.  "You may never go back to that church, or to any other church for that matter.

"If new people meet at least one person when they first visit and leave the church feeling welcomed, the odds of them coming back a second time are high," he says.

Marcia Landford Pike traces her Old South roots over eight generations.  Two of her nieces, Paula Flynn and Kerry Callahan, are now active members.  Both are enthusiastic about Old South's history and the church's prospects for the future.

"It always felt special to be a part of this church and I hope the generation to come will feel this way also," she says.

Paula Flynn, a deacon, worships with her family, including husband Kevin and daughter Hannah.

"It was time for us to find a welcoming church experience, and Old South is certainly that," Flynn says.  "Old South is by no means a museum, though it has a wonderful history.  Even if you're not Presbyterian -- and we weren't -- if you want to be part of a church community it doesn't matter to the members where you were before.  Even if you just want to come here and be here on Sunday to worship, you're welcome.  If later on you want to do more, the opportunities are here.  My family and I have experienced that."

Flynn's sister Kerry, a member of the Session (the church's governing body), has special responsibility for matters pertaining to the church's property.

"We have this amazing building that we are able to worship in, one with a history rooted not only in the Presbyterian church but also in the history of our country.  This building was built before we became an independent nation, while we were still colonies.  Some of the first volunteers in the Revolutionary War were formed up in the center aisle and marched out to fight for our independence.  Benedict Arnold and his troops worshiped here on their way to fight in Canada.  George Whitefield was a colleague of Ben Franklin, and Franklin was very impressed with his preaching and eloquence.

"Our bell that we ring in Sunday mornings and special occasions was cast by Paul Revere and son.  A lot of people aren't aware of everything Old South represents.  I know I've learned a lot."

Old South is an historic treasure but its members aren't suck in the past.  Their church is not a museum, they agree, and they have no desire to see it become one.  Members respect its history and they are determined to use it as an asset and a resource.

"The building is one of our tools, and like any tool, we have to keep it in good shape," Flynn says.  The group agreed that, as with any venerable structure, money, time, and energy -- "lots of it" -- are required to keep it in good shape.  Jean Hansen reminded the group confidently that "Old South will grow, and as it does so, the building challenges will be solved."

Jean and Norm Hansen attended Old South briefly more than 20 years ago, left, but have returned and joined.

"We all need to look at each other and say, 'We are the church.  The building isn't the church.  We're here to serve others and when that happens, others will want to come and join us and serve as well,'" Norm says.  "We have a wonderful building, but it's not the building that we're about.  We're about serving Christ.  It's the people who are the church."

Pike and Flynn recall two occasions during the past couple of years when the church was nearly filled with people listening to a career coach uplifting suggestions and advice.  They wonder, if a secular speaker could draw such crowds to Old South, could worship services do the same?

"This church was filled with people looking for something to give them hope and direction.  I would like to see Old South reach out and give hope," Flynn says.  "I would like to see us give people good news instead of the bad news that we all too frequently receive.  I would like us to let others know that someone cares."