which will close its doors after 105 years of ministry. 

Yesterday would be the last time members of Lakeland Presbyterian Church gathered for Sunday worship in the old stone church, a spiritual pillar for many of the 105 years that it had been a part of this blue-collar, South Baltimore community.  Although a damp haze hung low in the sky, inside the church, a warm glow filled the sanctuary from the pews to the heavy rafters as an air of resolve seemed to settle upon well-wishers and a handful of longtime members who had come to bid farewell.

Last Communion

Last winter, as a result of a New Beginnings assessment, Lakeland's 37 members made the "faithful choice" to dissolve the aging congregation and close the church's brick red doors for good on Jan. 4.  But that decision- made in a deliberate and intentional way - "doesn't make the hurt any less; our hearts still ache," said Rev. Roger Powers, the church's Stated Supply pastor for the last five years.

"It has been hard to watch the congregation's membership and worship attendance decline through the years, the energy of members has diminished, financial reserves have dwindled and the church building has been difficult to maintain.  Without the human or financial resources to turn the church around the congregation made the decision to close," Rev. Powers explained.  Even after making that final decision more than a year ago, he said the congregation still needed "time to grieve the loss we all feel and celebrate the good ministry that Lakeland Church has done here in this place for over 105 years."

Lakeland Presbyterian Church began as a house church in 1909.  Worship services and Sunday School classes were first held in the home of Mr. William Brohawn, with the help of the Rev. J.H. Dudley, the pastor of the Relay Presbyterian Church.  They soon realized that they would need to build a chapel.  Property along Brohawn Avenue was donated and the church's first chapel was built and dedicated in 1910.

The neighborhood grew and with it so did the membership of Lakeland Presbyterian Church.  By 1919, the congregation had outgrown the Brohawn Avenue chapel.  They worshiped in a tent all summer long, while a new church building twice the size of the original chapel was built.  That 1919 building stands behind this sanctuary and now served for many years as the congregation's Social Hall.

Lakeland Presbyterian Church saw another growth spurt during the Great Depression.  And in spite of the hard economic times, the Lakeland congregation committed itself to expanding the church once again.  Women of the church earned extra money for the building campaign by doing extra washing and cleaning.  Some church members mortgaged their homes.  And the congregation borrowed additional money in order to have sufficient funds to build a new building.  The church sanctuary was completed in 1932. 

L-R: Rev. Bob Unverzagt, RE Akilah Moore & Trans. Gen. Presbyter Craig Palmer

Rev. Robert Unverzagt, who once served as a pastor of Lakeland, attended Sunday's service.  He encouraged members to move on with the talents and gifts they garnered as longtime members of Lakeland and use them elsewhere. "Find your calling. Find what God wants you to do in the future and you'll be blessed," he extolled. 

Some of Lakeland's members may join Harundale Presbyterian Church to the south; others may become members of nearby Cherry Hill, Light Street or Hope Presbyterian churches; and, a few may leave the denomination altogether.  Wherever they choose to go, many say they will take with them memories of loving and kind strangers who welcomed them with open arms into Lakeland's church family.  Yesterday, they returned to their church home to say goodbye. Some walked from just a blocks away, while others drove from as far as Pennsylvania and Ohio to be there for the last Sunday worship. They hugged, snapped pictures and greeted each other as if it were an occasion for a reunion instead of a parting of ways.

Finally, at the end of the worship and Communion service, the Presbytery's Moderator, Renee Mackey, declared the building vacated and the congregation of Lakeland dissolved.  Jane Nolan, who joined Lakeland 58 years ago at the age of five, stood quietly aside, dabbing tears from her cheeks with a crumpled tissue.  "One of the hardest things I ever had to do was give my church up.  It's like losing a family member," Ms. Nolan said.  "No one has to say anything. We just look at each other with tears in our eyes."