In the Beginning...
Our founding minister, Dr. Marion Melvin, was empowered by the St. John Presbytery (now the Central Florida Presbytery) to come to Melbourne, Florida to establish a Presbyterian church.
The church started in late December, 1949 with a conference of five men meeting in the Front Street Tourist Center in Melbourne. Weekly notices were carried in the Melbourne Times.
The charter membership of 56 was established on January 22, 1950. In February 1950, the name "Eastminster Presbyterian Church" was official adopted.
Riverfront property in Indialantic was donated to the church and two additional parcels were purchased. The original Sanctuary, now named Melvin Hall, was completed in July, 1951.
On Sunday July 15, 1951, when the Sanctuary was dedicated, the membership had risen to 100.
The cornerstone near the front door of Melvin Hall reads, “For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all people.” (Isaiah 56:7)
Indialantic was connected by a wooden bridge to Melbourne and had a beachside population of about 200. The wooden bridge, originally constructed in 1921, was replaced by a concrete and steel swing bridge in 1941.
On Nov 17, 1952. the town of Indialantic gathered in the Sanctuary, the only air-conditioned building in town, and Indialantic was officially incorporated.
Reverend Kenneth V. Shick, installed as pastor in 1962, originated the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service that was attended by people of all faiths on the beachside. In addition, the three services for Easter morning were held outdoors under the old oak tree.
A groundbreaking ceremony was conducted on Oct 25, 1967, for a new sanctuary. The cornerstone was laid January 22, 1968, and the first service was held in the new Sanctuary on Aug. 18, 1968.
About the Sanctuary
The Sanctuary was designed by architect Nils Schweizer, a student at Taliesin, and on-site manager for Frank Lloyd Wright, whose influence can be seen in the style of the building. It is said that the Sanctuary has no right angles in any of its structural components.
Mr. Schweizer also designed two building on the Florida Southern College campus. The Florida Southern College Architectural district was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.
The beautiful stained glass windows in the Sanctuary were made of Blenko Glass from the Blenko Glass Company of Milton, WV. The members of the congregation under the direction of Mr. Schweizer and team, constructed the windows with approximately 225 different thickness and shades of deep red and yellow glass. The membership worked three different shifts, hand-washing and preparing each glass piece to be assembled into the twelve windows.
In addition to the side windows, the mural window over the front entrance was designed and built by the architect and staff, and given as a gift to the church. The mural depicts God and Holy Spirit moving out into the world.
The freestanding cross of heart cypress was made from a single tree, 25’ tall and 5’ in diameter) and is a gift from the George Kempfer family’s ranch; the Kempfers were charter members of Eastminster. George did not live to see where his wonderful gift would be placed but his wife Carolyn worked with Mr. Schweizer to incorporate it in the chancel, framed with the background of variegated metallic panels and installed seven feet into the floor.
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