On April 13, 1930 the first pastor, Rev. C.D. Bates was called and served the congregation until 1938. Rev. Bates'daughter and son-in-law, Dorothy and Leo Hathaway, became popular Bible teachers in the congregation.  Rev. Glynn Murray, Rev. Frank Taylor, and Rev. Eugene Wood served at Harlandale from 1938 to 1943.

 

Rev. C. I. Kelly became the pastor of Harlandale Presbyterian Church in 1943 and he laid the cornerstone for the building at 1630 Pleasanton Road in March 1947. The congregation had been meeting at Gerald Elementary School, the present location of Harlandale Senior High. Mrs. Perry (Lucile) Gragg organized a children's choir, a strong Christian Education program, and produced the annual Christmas pageant which became a proud Harlandale tradition.   Mr. Kelly was a friendly man, who walked to church from the manse on Burcham Street.  Soon the church roles seemed to include almost every family who lived on Burcham Street.

 

A young single minister, just out of seminary, Rev. George B. Williams served the church from 1949 – 1953. And the church continued to grow, attracting young families.  Mr. Williams welcomed his young bride to the manse on Burcham. His ministry flourished despite his broken arm, as a result of his  accident in the church donkey baseball game.

 

Rev. Noel P. Wilkinson came from Itasca, Texas to Harlandale with his family, which included two high school students – Beverly and Sarah, and the church had an active senior high program, scouting, and sports teams. The congregation loved to sing hymns, especially the old ones, led by our wonderful tenor, Mr. Bill Dunn.

 

Rev. J. Kelly Neal served the church from 1961 - 1969 and the church thrived in leadership in the Presbytery, Synod, and General Assembly levels. The Neal's daughter, Mary Helen, was a student at Harlandale Senior High and the youth program continued to thrive.

 

Rev. Richard (Dick) Poteet's family was the first to have young toddlers living at the manse on Burcham Street. Dick brought a talent for working with youth and their productions of "Jesus Christ Superstar", "Free to be You and Me" and other musicals traveled to audiences all around the Presbytery. Associate Pastor Rev. Bill Lawrence served with the mission outreach of the church. Dick and Bill served from 1970 -1975.

 

Rev. Emory Glover was the pastor, with his wife Emily as music director,  from 1975 - 1979. The Glovers organized a community choir made up of members from several Harlandale congregations for ecumenical worship. The Glovers produced spectacular worship services involving musicians, singers, and worship leaders from all denominations.

 

Rev. Duane Farris was pastor of the congregation from 1980 - 1989 and he developed outreach programs to meet the needs of the community.  Orvetta Jordan maintained a  food pantry and clothes closet at the church. Eli Guerra’s Karate Kids of America opened at Harlandale Presbyterian with its mission - to keep kids away from drugs, alcohol and drugs.

 

From 1989 - 1995, Rev. Fred Norris continued the emphasis on the church's mission to the community and Guardian Angel Child Development Center found a home at HPC. In the years 1995 - 1998 Rev. Bob Frere and Rev. John Strange were pastors who struggled with declining membership of the congregation.

 

Rev. Steve Wilson preached the last sermon at Harlandale Presbyterian Church, "The Unconquerable Life", on May 4, 2003. The text for his sermon was II Corinthians 4: 7-18

 

"Yet we who have this spiritual treasure are like common clay pots, in order to show that the supreme power belongs to God, not to us. We are often troubled, but not crushed; sometimes in doubt, but never in despair; there are many enemies, but we are never without a friend; and though badly hurt at times, we are not destroyed. At all times we carry in our mortal bodies the death of Jesus, so that his life also may be seen in our bodies. Throughout our lives we are always in danger of death for Jesus' sake, in order that his life may be seen in this mortal body of ours. This means that death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. The scripture says, "I spoke because I believed." In the same spirit of faith we also speak because we believe. We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus to life, will also raise us up with Jesus and take us, together with you, into his presence. All this is for your sake; and as God's grace reaches more and more people, they will offer to the glory of God more prayers of thanksgiving. For this reason we never become discouraged. Even though our physical being is gradually decaying, yet our spiritual being is renewed day after day. And this small and temporary trouble we suffer will bring us a tremendous and eternal glory, much greater than the trouble.  For we fix our attention, not on things that are seen, but on things that are unseen. What can be seen lasts only for a time, but what can not be seen lasts forever."

 

On Sunday, October 19, 2003, a Mass of Gratitude and Thanksgiving was held in the sanctuary, the Guardian Angel Chapel, to celebrate a new purpose for the church building.  Rev. Steve Wilson, Monsignor James Janish, Deacon Alvino Pacheco, and Rev. Duane Farris were leaders for worship and celebration of Holy Communion. The text for worship was I Corinthians 1: 4-9