ESPC History
Eastern Shore Presbyterian Church has grown from a small gathering of a few faithful families in 1985 into a thriving congregation of believers that continues to serve and impact the Eastern Shore community today.
The idea that became ESPC began in mid-1985 as a discussion between two brothers. Although Chip and Paul Fellers and their families were members of the Fairhope United Methodist Church, they had become familiar with the PCA through conversations with friends associated with the PCA. Their desire to see a PCA church on the Eastern Shore intensified after Paul Jr. attended an Evangelism Explosion (EE) training seminar at Coral Ridge PCA Church in Florida; this led to having EE training and visitations at the Methodist Church.
In the fall of 1985, Chip and Penny Fellers, Paul and Flor Fellers, and Al and Donna Keuler met with Tom and Ramona Hughes to discuss planting a church on the Eastern Shore. (Al Keuler was an elder at the PCA church In Loxley. Tom Hughes was a Teaching Elder in Gulf Coast Presbytery and had occasionally filled the pulpit in Loxley.)
On February 11, 1986, Rev. Tom Hughes was called by Gulf Coast Presbytery in a “tent making” capacity to start a Bible study and work towards establishing a PCA church in the Spanish Fort/Fairhope area. The Bible study was held at Paul Fellers’ office and was initially attended by Chip and Penny Fellers, Al and Donna Keuler, and Tom and Ramona Hughes.
In November 1986, regular Sunday morning worship service and Sunday school began at the Seventh Day Adventist Church led by Rev. Tom Hughes. There was a core group of six families in attendance known as Eastern Shore Presbyterian Fellowship.
October 2, 1987: Tom and Ramona Hughes left the church plant. For the next four months, the pulpit was supplied by several candidates.
February 9, 1988: Bob Forbes (wife, Pam), a licensed intern, was appointed as stated supply by the Gulf Coast Presbytery.
July 17, 1988: A meeting of the Steering Committee was called to address the need for more space since attendance had grown to thirty-three family units. It was also brought to the committee’s attention that seven acres adjacent to the Seventh Day Adventist Church would be available for sale.
September 2, 1988: Legal incorporation for ESPC was filed in the office of the Probate Judge in Baldwin County. Articles of Incorporation were prepared by local attorney Samuel Crosby and signed by Fred Diegmann, Chip Fellers, John Mayhall, Bert Milling, Robert Forbes, and Richard Moore. The Board of Directors included these men along with Paul Fellers.
October 18, 1988: Eastern Shore Presbyterian Church (a mission) was confirmed as a church of the Presbyterian Church in America.
February 5, 1989: Petition was made to the Gulf Coast Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in America concerning the organization of a particular church—Eastern Shore Presbyterian Church, Montrose, Alabama. Also, a Pulpit Nominating Committee was elected and the members were Chip and Penny Fellers, Paul Fellers, Dan Mosely, Joe Caldwell, Dee Owens and Elizabeth Ann Moore.
February 19, 1989: A Congregational Meeting was held at which time the Steering Committee recommended Richard Moore, Chip Fellers and Fred Diegmann as Trustees of Eastern Shore Presbyterian Church. Bob Forbes announced he intended to bring the Church to organization as an Evangelist of the Gulf Coast Presbytery, but he would not be the pastor.
May 21, 1989: The first Congregational Meeting of the newly particularized Eastern Shore Presbyterian Church was called to elect elders. The men elected were Joe Caldwell, Chip Fellers, Paul Fellers, and Richard Moore.
June 24, 1990: Mack Griffith was called as pastor; sixty-one people were in membership.
September 1990: Building Fund Drive was organized to build on the land next to the Seventh Day Adventist Church.
January 1991: Building Committee was formed and included: Joe Caldwell, Chairman; Fred Diegmann, Mack Griffith, Paul Fellers, Tricia Rodriguez-Feo, Linda Sullivan, Kent Allain, Charles Kandt.
October 18, 1992: First worship held in new building.
November 8, 1992: Building Dedication Service held.
September 1999: Construction begins on FLC (Family Life Center).
October 2000: Pastor Mack Griffith leaves ESPC.
December 2000: Reverend Jim Bryars serves as Interim Pastor.
April 1, 2001: Pastor Bruce O’Neil begins as pastor of ESPC.
January 2002: Bayshore Christian School is established as a ministry of ESPC.
May 2, 2004: Founder’s Day Celebration is held on the 15 th Anniversary of ESPC.
August 30, 2006: Elders received Bruce O’Neil’s resignation. In attendance were Bruce O’Neil, Jeremy Fair, Bill Carrigan, Bill Luka, Rick Skinner, Ken Robinson, and Robby Smith.
October 10, 2006: Pastor Bruce O’Neil leaves ESPC. Associate Pastor and Youth Minister, Jeremy Fair, serves as Interim Pastor.
July 22, 2007: A Congregational Meeting was held to vote on calling Dr. Paul Fowler as Senior Pastor.
August 2007: Dr. Paul Fowler called to ESPC to serve for three years.
September 2009: 20 th anniversary celebration held.
August 2010: The Bayshore Christian School strategic planning process is completed by its board and is approved by the Session. The Bayshore board commits to growing one grade per year, graduating its first class in May 2016. A new building is required.
October 2010: Youth Building is completed and dedicated.
November 2010: The Bayshore Christian School Foundation is established to raise and manage funds for construction of a new building for BCS and for church education use (named Disciple Center)
November 30, 2010: Dr. Paul Fowler leaves ESPC.
March 1, 2011: Reverend Michael Brock began service as Senior Pastor of ESPC.
October 30, 2011: Reverend Patrick Davey installed as Assistant Pastor of ESPC.
January 2013: The Disciple Center is built and occupied.
March 3, 2013: The Dedication Service of the Disciple Center is held.
May 2016: Bayshore Christian School graduates first senior class and is accredited
December 2018: Michael Brock resigns as Senior Pastor
ESPC was without a Senior Pastor for 2-1/2 years. Pulpit supply was shared among Rev. Pat Davey, Andrew Colbert, Rev. Ron Shaw and Rev. Mack Griffith. A Pulpit Nominating Committee was formed in March 2019. The Search Committee’s work was impacted by the COVID epidemic.
June 2021: Kyle Parker begins service as Senior Pastor
April 2023: New church Administrative Wing is completed and occupied
December 2023: First “Carols on the Bluff” event is held
March 2024: Kyle Parker resigns as Senior Pastor
July 2024: Bayshore Christian School Logic and Rhetoric campus is completed and occupied
September 2024: Dr. Gary Cox begins service as Interim Senior Pastor
November 2024: The Session establishes an annually rotating nine-elder Commission to oversee church business matters. All elders continue to serve perpetually in shepherding roles
April 2025: Session meets with Randy Pope, former pastor of Perimeter PCA in Atlanta to learn the process for preparation of a ministry plan for ESPC.
September 28, 2025: A new pastor nominating committee was commissioned by the church.