Our History

                                worship

  • Mid-1990s
    Robert Dunham, pastor of University Presbyterian Church (UPC) in Chapel Hill, began to dream of a new church that would grow out of University Presbyterian using the model that helped to form the Church of Reconciliation in the 1960s.
  • 1999
    Conversations continued with other pastors and members of UPC regarding the start of a new church in North Chatham County, an area of current and expected growth just south of Chapel Hill.
  • 2002
    Conversations began with Salem Presbytery, as the new church would be in their jurisdiction.
  • Fall 2002
    A Task Force was formed with the following members:  Steve Braxton (convener), Robert E. Dunham, William H. Browder, Jr., Rickie Howard, Ray Mims, Glenn Patterson, Walter “Corky” Harris, Mary Donna Pond, Bill Hylton, W. Russ Ward.
  • 2002-2004
    The Task Force met quarterly to think and plan about the possibility of a NCD in North Chatham County.
  • January 2005
    Three Task Force members (Bill Browder, Mary Donna Pond, and Rickie Howard) and Mindy Douglas Adams, Associate Pastor of University Presbyterian Church, began meeting over lunch each Friday at Foster’s Restaurant.  The group developed a mission statement, wrote a grant proposal, and developed a ministry plan for the new church.
  • February 10, 2005
    Rickie Howard, Mary Donna Pond, and Mindy Douglas Adams met with the UPC Session to present a proposal regarding plans for the new church
  • February 23, 2005
    Mindy Douglas Adams met with the Church of Reconciliation regarding the new church and requested funding.
  • March 1, 2005
    Mary Donna Pond and Bill Browder met with the Pittsboro Presbyterian Session to share the new church proposal and to build a partnership.
  • March 10, 2005
    Mary Donna Pond and Rickie Howard presented a financial plan to UPC Session.
  • March 11, 2005
    Target letters were sent to UPC members in the geographical area of the new church.
  • March 15-25, 2005
    Follow-up calls made to those who received letters.
  • April 3, 2005
    The first public meeting for those interested in the new church was held in Vance Barron Hall with over 35 in attendance.(Childcare was available)
  • June 2005
    The Work Group submitted a grant proposal to Salem Presbytery to be approved for the General Assembly.  Requested: $97,000 over five years.
  • Summer 2005
    Those interested in the new church gathered weekly in the UPC youth center for Sunday school class using Earl Johnson’s Witness Without Parallel:  Eight Biblical Texts that Make Us Presbyterian.  Fellowship events were held once a month:  an ice cream social at Fearrington Village , a pool party at Heritage Hills pool, and a picnic at Talking Tree State Park at Jordan Lake .
  • October 2005
    Vesper services were held every Sunday night at the Talking Trees pavilion at Jordan Lake
  •  November 2005
    Vesper services moved to Summit Governors Village Apartments Community Room, thanks to Stan and Georgia Campbell.
    General Assembly awarded five-year grant to the new church.
    A new name was chosen, Chapel in the Pines Presbyterian Church.
  • February 2006
    Reverend Mindy Douglas Adams became Organizing Pastor
  • March 5, 2006
    First morning worship held, meeting at Captain John’s Dockside Restaurant.  Worship was held on the first, third, and fifth Sundays.  On the second and fourth Sundays, the congregation visited other area churches together.
  • June 4, 2006
    First members received (Pentecost Sunday)
  • June 11, 2006
    Commissioning of members from University Presbyterian Church
  • September 2006
    Began worshipping every Sunday morning
    Began children’s Sunday school
  • October 1, 2006
    Launch Sunday, attended by more than 100, followed by lunch.
  • November 2006
    100% of members made financial pledges for 2007 budget
  •  February 2007
    Moved to North Chatham School for weekly worship and Sunday school
  • August 2007
    Entered into formal agreement with Lindley family to purchase 12 acres of land off Mann’s Chapel Road
  • August 16, 2007
    First baby born to congregation member (Scott Goudy)
  • September 2007
    First Blessing of the Children and Animals
  • October 21, 2007
    Groundbreaking for Take and Eat Food Pantry facility
  • November 2007
    First baptism (Scott Goudy)
  • April 22, 2008
    Salem Presbytery agreed to charter Chapel in the Pines and appointed an Administrative Commission to do so
  • May 4, 2008
    Chapel in the Pines Presbyterian Church, U.S.A., was chartered; first Elders and Deacons were ordained and/or installed, and The Reverend Mindy Douglas Adams was called and installed as the first Pastor
  • August 24, 2008
    Received 100th member
  • January 2009
    Finalized purchase of 12 acres of land on Great Ridge Parkway, adjacent to the Briar Chapel development.  The land was a tract sold to us by Bob and Shirley Lindley.
  • March 2009
    Chose WKWW Architects and Riggs-Harrod Builders as the design/build team for a new building
  • April 2010
    Capital Campaign launched to raise funds for building
  • June 2010
    Successfully completed campaign to raise building funds
  • August 2010
    Terminated contact with WKWW architects and Riggs-Harrod Builder design/build team and hired Keith Shaw as architect for the project.
  • February 2011
    Ceremonial groundbreaking
  • May-August 2011
    Mindy Douglas Adams took sabbatical leave.
  • August 2011
    Timber Raising Ceremony
  • December 11, 2011
    First worship service in new building on a crisp, sunny winter morning with more than 200 people attending.  The Rev. Landon Witsett, Vice-Moderator of the Presbyterian Church (USA) participated in the service.
  • January 2012
    Service of Dedication for the sanctuary building
  • 2013
    Second Capital Campaign
  • February 2016
    Pillars of Faith Capital Campaign Launched
  • February 2016
    Mindy Douglas accepts a call to be Pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Durham, NC.  Last Sunday at Chapel in the Pines is April 3, 2016.
  • July 2016
    The Rev. Dr. B. Lynn Stall began serving as Interim Pastor.
  • December 11, 2016
    Ground-breaking service for fellowship hall.
  • May 2017
    Mitzi Lesher-Thomas resigned her position, effective May 12, 2017
  • June 2017
    Fellowship Hall construction complete
  • June 2017
    Joint Vacation Bible School held in fellowship hall, including Mt Zion Baptist, Haw River Baptist, and Evergreen United Methodist Church
  • September 2017
    Hall-4-All day-long dedication and showcase of new space for the community
  • November 2017
    Andrew S. Taylor-Troutman was called by the congregation as its new pastor on November 5.
  • December 2017
    Farewell celebration for Interim Pastor Lynn Stall on December 17
  • January 21, 2018
    Andrew Taylor-Troutman leads worship for the first time at Chapel in the Pines.
  • July 8, 2018
    Salem Presbytery installs Andrew Taylor-Troutman as Chapel in the Pines’ second pastor.
  • February 2019
    Chapel in the Pines certified as First Year Earth Care Congregation by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).  Click here for more information.
  • March 2020
    First online worship service in response to COVID-19 virus pandemic
  • March 2021
    Chapel in the Pines became an Earth Care Congregation.  Click here to read the award letter.
  • Spring 2022
    Successful POMS (Program for Outdoor Ministry Spaces) campaign to raise funds to improve the playground, build a gazebo in the remembrance garden, build an outdoor pavilion, and create an amphitheater, all to better utilize the land on which our church stands.