Our History

December 1, 1957

Cocoa Pres Was Founded

19 People met in Cocoa to begin planning a Presbyterian Church, US, under leadership of Rev. Augustus Summers

January 1, 1958

Home Mission

Rev. Hugh C. Hamilton began as home mission pastor

May 4, 1958

Organization

Cocoa Presbyterian Church was officially organized by St. Johns Presbytery with 71 charter members

1959

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Fellowship Hall Completed

Now known has Flaniken Hall, this was the original Cocoa Pres Sanctuary.

January 1960

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Sunday School Annex

The first three rooms of the Sunday School Annex were completed

1961

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Our First Organ

The Church purchased our first organ, a Conn Classic!

October 1962

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Building #3

The building that housed our offices and pre-school classes is finally complete!

1965

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Building #4

The building that housed our elementary school classrooms is completed.

October 3, 1965

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Changes

Rev. Hamilton and family left Cocoa for a new church development in Titusville, FL.

1965-1966

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Rev. John Henderson

Rev. John Henderson of Miami, FL served as Interim Pastor (3 months).

December 19, 1965

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Rev. Ernest Flaniken

Rev. Ernest H. Flaniken is called as Pastor.

February 13, 1966

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First Sunday

This was Rev. Flaniken's first Sunday in the Pulpit!

October 967

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Planning

Planning Council has elected to begin new Sanctuary plans.

Jan-Aug 1968

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Fundraising

A $50,000 building fund drive was completed for our new sanctuary.

November 24, 1968

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Big Changes

Groundbreaking for the new Sanctuary has begun!

October 5, 1969

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Dedication

Dedication of the New Sanctuary.

October 1975

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Ministry

Extended Ministry program begun.

1977

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Organ (again)

A Rogers Organ was purchased from St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Cocoa Village.

June 10, 1983

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Reunion

The Reunion of the Presbyterian Church, US and the United Presbyterian Church UPCUSA formed the Presbyterian Church (USA)

May 1, 1988

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Scouting

The Pual Hise Scout Lodge was dedicated.

1989

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Organ (again, again)

Purchased a new Rodgers Organ with the Porter Memorial Funds.

1991

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Keyboard

Purchased and dedicated a midi keyboard in honor of Mary Louise Flaniken, Choir Director.

February 3, 1991

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Fellowship Hall

The Fellowship Hall becomes Flaniken Hall as a dedication in honor of Rev. Ernest H and Mary L. Flaniken.

February 16, 1991

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Rev. Flaniken Retires

After 25 years of faithful dedication to Cocoa Presbyterian Church, Rev. Ernest Flaniken retires.

May 1, 1991

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Shepherds

The Shepherds program begun.

March 1991-Jan 1992

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Interim

Dr. Bill Brown served as our Interim Pastor.

March 1, 1992

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Rev. Charles Philips

We welcomed Rev. Charles R. and Mrs. Chris Philips, David, Christy, Abbey, and Tim to the CPC family.

May 1992

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Bond Program

The $200,000 Bond Program for major renovations is underway.

January 1993

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Piano

The Samick Grand Piano (that still resides in our sanctuary today) is dedicated from Roy and Esther Lealman.

January 1996

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Library

Building of the Jennie McElveen Memorial Library has begun.

July 1996

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Youth Programs

We welcome DCE/Youth Director Mark Pardue and his wife Jodi and their son Jacob to the CPC family.

May 2002

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Staff

Welcomed our new Youth Directory Peggy Wilson and Music Director Linda Dearborn to the CPC family.

April 1, 2003

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Dr. Wallace

We welcomed Dr. Robert M. Wallace, Jr. and his wife Sissy to the CPC family as our Pastor.

April 2006

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Capital Campaign

Our $105,000 Capital Campaign "Celebrating 50 Years... Preparing for the Future" began.

2007

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Kitchen Changes

Remodeled the kitchen with a Capital Campaign of $6,000.

July 2007

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Director of Growth

We welcomed Anne Adams and her husband Trell as the new Director of Programs and Growth.

2008

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50 Years!

We celebrated a year-long 50th Anniversary.

November 1, 2011

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Retirement

Dr. Robert M. Wallace, Jr. retired.

March 1, 2014

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New Pastor!

We welcomed Rev. Dr. Lucas de Paiva Pina and his wife Marta to the CPC family!

May 2019

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New Music

We welcomed our new Director of Music Sarina Wolfgang Zaremba and Organist Chandler Myron.

March 2020

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Covid

A new digital era of Cocoa Presbyterian Church is born as we navigate the needs of our members during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Fall 2020

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Tech Loft Revamp

In the fall, we changed our entire set up in the tech loft upstairs to accommodate our new online presence. We began live-streaming our services to those who were unable to make the service in person, ushering in a new era for Cocoa Presbyterian Church.

We also invited Sarina's husband Ryan Zaremba as our new Technical Director to help manage a small team for the needs of our digital presence.