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The Lord keeps his promises, one of which was prominently displayed in the birth of St. Giles, namely that he works good in all things for his people. Thus from a hurtful church split came a new and vibrant church, St. Giles Presbyterian Church. Blanton Belk was forced to leave Grace Covenant Church in 1937 because of his zeal for the renewal being fostered by the Oxford Group Movement. Soon he was invited by many of his friends and former members to help them start a new church, and to serve as Pastor. That church is St. Giles. Land was secured in 1940, and the first building was dedicated in 1941, with others to follow.
The zeal with which St. Giles was founded became the most prominent characteristic of her common life, drawing those across the years who pursued the Christian life headlong. This zeal has shaped the worship, education, mission, and ministries of St. Giles in innumerable ways.
Earl Morey succeeded Blanton Belk as Pastor in 1959. His pastorate was shaped in large part by another renewal movement, the charismatic renewal. Beginning in the late 60s, this movement of the Holy Spirit both energized St. Gileans and brought great controversy, though thankfully without a church split. This renewal movement gave St. Giles a distinct identity, even as she continued in the character of her earliest years – the headlong pursuit of Christ. Many ministries formed in the following years that gave expression to the Spirit-empowered zeal of St. Gileans.
Pastoral leadership continued to build upon and foster such Spirit-empowered living with Louis Skidmore (Skid), who first came as an Associate Pastor in 1972, and later became Pastor. Randy Bremer added his energies and gifted teaching to this continuing renewal in 1987.
Keith Hill became the fifth Pastor of St. Giles in 2007. Now St. Giles has entered a new season, building on the heritage of renewal, zeal, and service in ways appropriate to this new millennium.
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