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Fifty-three people arrived in Pinellas Park from Pennsylvania on September 20, 1910. Among them was the Rev. Wilbur A. Monks, a United Presbyterian minister.
Mr. Monks conducted the first preaching service on Sunday evening, September 24, in the partially completed Colony House, with twenty worshippers seated on planks.
A Presbyterian Sabbath School was organized on October 22, 1910, with J.H. McVey as superintendent. All services were held in the Colony House Hotel until the community school house was built a year later.
In April 1911 a petition was forwarded to the Presbytery at Starke, Florida, requesting organization of the First Presbyterian Church U.S.A. of Pinellas Park, Florida. A Charter was granted and an organization ceremony was held May 27, 1911 at 7:30 p.m. with eighteen charter members.
Services were held in the first church building located on 76th Street and 60th Way on April 25, 1915. During the years from 1918 to 1924 the work of the church continued under great difficulties. Membership dwindled to one active member.
Conditions started to improve in 1925 and in 1952 the first building was moved to a new location at 6085 Park Boulevard and a wing added for a church school. An Army Chapel was purchased in 1949 and moved from Drew Air Field, Tampa, to church property facing 61st Street. This was used until 1966 when the first unit of the present facilities was constructed - now being used as a Fellowship Hall, nursery and church school wing, as well as for Head Start.
The present Worship Center, choir room, office, pastor's study, etc., were built in 1980-81. The first services held in the new center were on January 18, 1981.
For many years this church was the only place of worship in Pinellas Park and people of all denominations worshipped here. While it was sometimes referred to as the Community Church, it was always a Presbyterian Church (a mission until WWII).
In 1969 a union was planned with the United Church of Christ to develop community ministries and Dr. Harold M. Brockus became the pastor of the Union Church, Presbyterian and United Church of Christ.
In 1971, the name Good Samaritan was chosen by the congregation to fit their renewed mission.
Dr. Brockus served 33 years until his retirement in 2002. The Rev. Don Henderson has served as Interim Minister since then while the Pastor Nominating Committee has searched for a full-time pastor.
On May 30, 2004 the Good Samaritan congregation voted to accept Reverend Sue Sherwood as our new pastor.
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