History of the Flower Guild

A Legacy of Beauty and Faith in Worship: The History of the Flower Guild

Organized in the late 1970s, the First Presbyterian Church Flower Guild was founded by a group of creative and dedicated members who desired to bring beauty and intention to worship. Before the Guild’s formation, arrangements for the Sanctuary were provided by Johnson Florist and delivered each Saturday. Under the leadership of Carol Schmid, the newly formed Guild began creating arrangements supported by honoraria and memorial gifts, offering a more personal and meaningful connection for the congregation. Donor cards were placed in the pews, and soon memorial arrangements became a regular presence in the Chancel.

Carol organized the Guild into weekly teams responsible for arranging flowers for the Chancel, beneath the mosaic of Christ, as well as for the Narthex and the Wednesday Chapel service. Alongside Carol, early pioneers included Martha Burkey, Marie Clapp, Gertrude Dempster, Barbara Evans, Barbara Garlington, Jo Kern, Frances Klein, Kae Laeknan, Frances Lothrop, Anne Pittenger, Nancy Rodgers, Mary Spengler, and Sara Stokes. Membership grew to more than 30 participants.

In those early years, members accessed the church through a door along the north side of the Sanctuary and arranged flowers in a small workroom—spaces that were later removed during renovations.

Then, as now, the Flower Guild’s work is an expression of faith. Through their arrangements, members help shape the visual life of worship and extend care beyond Sunday services, offering flowers to those who are hospitalized, grieving, or celebrating life’s milestones. Whether experienced or new, members give their time and gifts in service to the congregation and to the glory of God.

Today, the Flower Guild serves under Presbyterian Women and the leadership of Chairperson Holli Rogers (2019–present), and is represented on the Worship Committee. Following the 2015 renovations, the Guild now has a dedicated flower room equipped with storage, a sink, cooler, work space, and a practice shelf modeled after the Chancel.

The current Guild includes 16 members organized into four rotating teams, each serving throughout the month. Team captains Nancy Kelly, Anne Pittenger, Holli Rogers, and Becky Tate recruit, mentor, and support their teams, while the Chair oversees planning, budgeting, and seasonal design. Members typically create arrangements for several Sundays each year, drawing from the church calendar, memorials, and available resources, often incorporating locally foraged greenery alongside purchased flowers.

Each Sunday, honorary member Victor Lenoir thoughtfully places arrangements in the Chancel and Chapel, helping ensure that each space is prepared with care and consistency for worship.

For more information about the Flower Guild, please contact Holli Rogers at hollinger4611@gmail.com.