Covenant Presbyterian Church Celebrates 90 Years in Buckhead

Charlotte Cook, who joined Covenant Presbyterian Church in 1939, had the honor of blowing out the candles on the cake celebrating the church's "first 90 years" at 2461 Peachtree Road. The celebration included a worship service, potluck lunch and reminiscing by several long-time members. "Ninety years ago, our church started a trend of downtown congregations moving north,” said Cook. “Everybody thought we were crazy to relocate outside the city limits, beyond Peachtree Creek, but our congregation has never failed to step out in faith and do what we believe is right.”

The church has benefitted from the visionary leadership of a number of men, and in more recent years, women, who have served as pastors. One of the most notable and forward-thinking clergymen was Rev. Dr. Herman L. Turner, who served the church for over three decades beginning in 1930. He guided his congregation through the Great Depression and garnered national recognition for his support of the civil rights movement. In 1957, he was the principal author of the Ministers Manifesto: A Declaration of Equality, which he and 80 other Atlanta ministers signed. Under his guidance, Covenant Presbyterian became the first north Atlanta church to welcome African-American members.

Throughout the ensuing decades, Covenant’s members have remained focused on their mission of serving others, despite demographic shifts and other challenges. In the 1960’s, the church established a kindergarten for minority and immigrant children, and in the 1970’s offered an after-school latchkey program for students at nearby E. Rivers Elementary School. Currently, Covenant hosts the daily preschool, kindergarten and Mothers’ Morning Out programs of The Spanish Academy.

Today, under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Richard Hill, interim pastor, and Dr. Jill Ulrici, associate pastor, Covenant Presbyterian Church continues to welcome new members and to serve the city of Atlanta through its mission of “Equipping the people of God to serve Christ in the world”. The church boasts a lively youth group, hands-on mission work, a women’s spirituality ministry and a strong music program led by Jeffrey McIntyre. Throughout the year, the church presents public lectures, social events, musical performances, educational opportunities and more. Earlier this year, the Buckhead Coalition recognized Covenant Presbyterian Church for its 90 years of service to the community.

The church supports numerous local organizations including Buckhead Christian Ministry, the Central Night Shelter, ChildSpring International, Habitat for Humanity, The Open Door Community, Earth Covenant Ministry and Faith Alliance of Metro Atlanta. Parishioners tutor Latino children from nearby E. Rivers Elementary School at the church as part of the LaAmistad After School program. Covenant also takes a leadership role in the LaGonave Haiti Partners, a more than 20-year partnership with the Episcopal Church of Haiti. Ongoing Haiti projects include a community health center, as well as programs for education, agriculture, adult literacy and children’s nutrition.

“For 90 years, the members of Covenant Presbyterian Church have worked to serve our community as a group and individually,” said Rev. Hill. “In our 90 years on Peachtree Road, we’ve weathered a lot of changes, especially in geography, demographics, culture and politics. Throughout it all, we have sought out opportunities to do God’s work, and I am confident we will continue to do so for the next 90 years and beyond.”