Our Mission
To love and serve God and neighbor with open hearts, open hands and open minds.
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Living Our Mission
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Pebble Hill Church History
In 1951 the Syracuse and Onondaga County Council of Churches conducted a survey that showed a need for additional Protestant churches in the eastern suburbs. Acting on this report, the Cayuga-Syracuse Presbytery formed a Church Extension Committee to verify the need.
From a small nucleus of members of downtown churches, the project gained momentum. By the spring of 1955, the group had optioned six acres of property on Jamesville Road, which included a large house to be used as the church and a smaller house for the manse. They issued a call to the founding pastor, the Reverend Forster Freeman. The name, Pebble Hill, was chosen in honor of the popular name for the local terrain. Gifts from area churches included a bronze cross, pulpit bible, hymnals and other items to enhance the worship services.
In October 1955, sixty members of First Presbyterian and Park Central Presbyterian Churches in Syracuse were dismissed by their congregations to “colonize” the new church. The first floor of the larger house was remodeled into a sanctuary that could seat 150. The first service in the renovated space was held on Christmas Eve 1955. The formal organization of Pebble Hill was conducted by Presbytery in January 1956, when 108 charter members were received and officers were elected. It was the first new congregation in the Presbytery in over 50 years.
In 1963 a new sanctuary and fellowship hall were constructed on the southern part of the property. The first service in this building was on Christmas Sunday 1963. By January 1965, when the new sanctuary was dedicated, the folding chairs had been replaced by custom-made pews and the beautiful stained glass windows had been completed.
A fire in the large old house in November 1968 forced a decision on whether to rebuild the house or add on a new Christian Education wing to the sanctuary. The latter option was chosen. The new addition in 1970 was primarily open classroom space, except for the staff offices and the nursery rooms.
In the late 1990s, the Pebble Hill Session undertook intensive and prayerful study of our community, our ministry and our facilities. Out of this process came a vision and concrete plans based on a new statement of mission: To love and serve God and neighbor with open hearts, open hands and open minds. During this time, the Capital Projects Planning Committee and the Design Committee worked carefully to consider the current use and future needs of the church facilities. A ground breaking ceremony held in June 2003 marked the beginning of the renovation and expansion project. The completed building provided additional office space and social areas, enclosed classrooms and an elevator to access all levels of the church building.
During this same period of time, the Memorial Gifts Committee undertook the construction of a beautiful Memory Garden adjacent to the southern wall of the sanctuary. It was dedicated in May 2002.
Since its founding in 1955, Pebble Hill Presbyterian Church has been served by six ministers. The Rev. Dr. Peter Shidemantle led our congregation from 1993 to 2019. From 2019 to 2022 we were led byTransitional Pastor Rev. Elizabeth Lyman. Currently, Rev. Stuart Hayes is serving as our Bridge Pastor, until the calling of a permanent Minister and Head of Staff.
By remembering the past, we can see the outline for our future.
In 1951 the Syracuse and Onondaga County Council of Churches conducted a survey that showed a need for additional Protestant churches in the eastern suburbs. Acting on this report, the Cayuga-Syracuse Presbytery formed a Church Extension Committee to verify the need.
From a small nucleus of members of downtown churches, the project gained momentum. By the spring of 1955, the group had optioned six acres of property on Jamesville Road, which included a large house to be used as the church and a smaller house for the manse. They issued a call to the founding pastor, the Reverend Forster Freeman. The name, Pebble Hill, was chosen in honor of the popular name for the local terrain. Gifts from area churches included a bronze cross, pulpit bible, hymnals and other items to enhance the worship services.
In October 1955, sixty members of First Presbyterian and Park Central Presbyterian Churches in Syracuse were dismissed by their congregations to “colonize” the new church. The first floor of the larger house was remodeled into a sanctuary that could seat 150. The first service in the renovated space was held on Christmas Eve 1955. The formal organization of Pebble Hill was conducted by Presbytery in January 1956, when 108 charter members were received and officers were elected. It was the first new congregation in the Presbytery in over 50 years.
In 1963 a new sanctuary and fellowship hall were constructed on the southern part of the property. The first service in this building was on Christmas Sunday 1963. By January 1965, when the new sanctuary was dedicated, the folding chairs had been replaced by custom-made pews and the beautiful stained glass windows had been completed.
A fire in the large old house in November 1968 forced a decision on whether to rebuild the house or add on a new Christian Education wing to the sanctuary. The latter option was chosen. The new addition in 1970 was primarily open classroom space, except for the staff offices and the nursery rooms.
In the late 1990s, the Pebble Hill Session undertook intensive and prayerful study of our community, our ministry and our facilities. Out of this process came a vision and concrete plans based on a new statement of mission: To love and serve God and neighbor with open hearts, open hands and open minds. During this time, the Capital Projects Planning Committee and the Design Committee worked carefully to consider the current use and future needs of the church facilities. A ground breaking ceremony held in June 2003 marked the beginning of the renovation and expansion project. The completed building provided additional office space and social areas, enclosed classrooms and an elevator to access all levels of the church building.
During this same period of time, the Memorial Gifts Committee undertook the construction of a beautiful Memory Garden adjacent to the southern wall of the sanctuary. It was dedicated in May 2002.
Since its founding in 1955, Pebble Hill Presbyterian Church has been served by six ministers. The Rev. Dr. Peter Shidemantle led our congregation from 1993 to 2019. From 2019 to 2022 we were led byTransitional Pastor Rev. Elizabeth Lyman. Currently, Rev. Stuart Hayes is serving as our Bridge Pastor, until the calling of a permanent Minister and Head of Staff.
By remembering the past, we can see the outline for our future.
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Pebble Hill Presbyterian Church
5299 Jamesville Road DeWitt, NY 13214 315-446-0960 Office hours: Monday: 9:00 am - 1:00 pm Tuesday: 9:00 am - 1:00 pm Wednesday: 9:00 am - 1:00 pm Thursday: 9:00 am - 1:00 pm Closed Friday Email: [email protected] 10:00 a.m. - Worship Service |
