HISTORY

On October 1, 1978 Covenant Presbyterian held its first services and Sunday School class at Reid Chapel on the campus of Samford University. Founding pastor Bill Hay would serve in the role of senior pastor for more than thirty years. On March 4, 1979, Covenant was received into membership in Evangel Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in America. By June of 1979, Covenant had purchased nine acres on the corner of South Lakeshore Drive and Old Montgomery Highway and soon began construction on what is now the Fellowship Hall. The first services in the new facility were held in November of 1981 and additional buildings would follow for administration and Sunday School. In 1986 Covenant hosted its first World Missions Conference, beginning a yearly tradition and strong dedication to the mission field, both in Birmingham and abroad.

The next decade brought tremendous growth to Covenant and on April 7, 1996, Covenant Presbyterian held the first service in its current Sanctuary. In 1997, several of Covenant’s members felt the desire to send their children to a Christ-centered day school and that year Covenant Day School was founded. As it grew, along with the church’s membership, the need for a dedicated children’s building became clear. The “We Will Tell” campaign to raise funds for this building was launched in 2006 and in 2008 the nursery, day school, and children’s Sunday Schools moved in. The move freed up space previously used for the nursery and in 2011 it was renovated to create separate spaces for the junior high and high school ministries.

Covenant has always been committed to serving the Birmingham community and planted two daughter churches within two years of each other. Reverend Murray Lee, who himself grew up at Covenant, founded Cahaba Park Church who held its first service at Mountain Brook High School in 2007. In 2009, Cross Creek Church began meeting at Shades Crest Elementary School pastored by Reverend Chris Peters who had helped grow several ministries at Covenant.

In 2009 Covenant began a new chapter as Bill Hay announced his retirement and a search committee was formed to find a new pastor. On May 20, 2011, the congregation voted to formally call Bill Boyd as its new senior pastor. Under Rev. Boyd's leadership, Covenant continued to grow and developed a deep level of corporate worship and community building under the framework of "gospel hospitality." Rev. Boyd also championed our debt liquidation and renovation campaign, "Faithful Over a Little," leading us to a beautiful new fellowship and gathering space that the Birmingham community as a whole has enjoyed since early 2017.

In May of 2020, Covenant called Rev. Robby Holt as our new senior pastor. Robby has been in ministry for over 20 years and was ordained in the PCA in 2005. He is firmly committed to the reformed faith and the confessions of our denomination and is devoted to shepherding the congregation at Covenant Presbyterian Church.