Milestone Timeline
Our Story, Decade by Decade
1960s
Summer 1960Frank M. Barker, Jr., agreed to help the Birmingham Presbytery start a church in Cahaba Heights.
June 1960New church named “Briarwood” by Lynda Grier.
June 5, 1960First Sunday service held in the Cahaba Heights Shopping Center.
June 1960Charter members number 92 individuals.
Nov 20, 1960First officer election.
Dec 11, 1960New site approved on Highway 280 — $25,000 paid for ten acres.
1961Fellowship Hall / Sunday School combination approved.
Apr 4, 1961Storefront lease renewed at $20 per month.
1961Contemporary architectural design chosen over traditional on a 39–37 vote.
1961Approval to purchase the manse.
June 6, 1961Partial support begins for first missionary, Winton Enloe.
Summer 1961First Vacation Bible School.
July 3, 1961Three-year building fund pledges initiated for the new 280 site.
Nov 8, 1961Church is incorporated; first annual budget adopted.
1963New facility on Highway 280 dedicated.
Nov 1964Campus Crusade conducts first Lay Institute for Evangelism.
July 1965First education extension built at a cost of $108,000.
June 1967Ken Wilson called as Assistant Pastor; $250,000 loan negotiated for a new sanctuary.
Dec 1968First service held in the new sanctuary.
1970s
Apr 1970Christian Day Camp and Christian Camp launched under Ken Wilson.
Mar 1971World Missions pledge reaches $62,000.
Apr 1972Bob Welch hired as Youth Director.
Aug 1972First pictorial directory published.
May 1973Session and congregation vote unanimously to leave the PCUS.
May 1973John Glasser, Frank Barker, and Ken Wilson attend the Atlanta meeting with 24 other conservative churches.
Dec 1973Continuing Church General Assembly convenes at Briarwood — the birthplace of the PCA.
1974New members encouraged to take required Christian Education classes.
Aug 1975Dr. Byrle Kynerd hired as School Superintendent; Rev. Frank Morse joins as Minister of Hospital Visitation.
Sept 1975Briarwood Christian School reaches 700 students; twelve members enter full-time Christian service.
Oct 1975Joe Scotch offers to give Briarwood approximately 20 acres on Hwy. 119.
Sept 1976Phase 1 of Briarwood South approved at a construction cost of roughly $1,200,000.
Oct 1976Groundbreaking ceremony for Briarwood South.
Dec 1976Membership reaches 1,900 with 1,000 attending Sunday School.
Mar 1977James Brown called as Director of Music.
Sept 1977First worship service held at Briarwood South.
Nov 1977Chuck Singletary accepts the call as Director of Discipleship.
Jan 1978Total cost for Briarwood South comes to $1,555,422.
Apr 1978Rev. Roland Travis called as Associate Pastor.
June 1978Curtis Tanner hired for Campus Outreach.
1980s
1980Every-Member Canvass raises $1,736,900.
1981Additional classrooms completed at Briarwood South; three Sunday services begin.
1982Membership reaches 2,553; committee recommends helping establish a flagship church in Charlotte, North Carolina.
1983Rev. Harry Reeder officially called to the Charlotte church.
1984Altadena Road property purchased for $3,150,000.
1985Briarwood Vision presented to the congregation; 25th Anniversary celebrated; Sav-A-Life started by Wales Goebel.
1985World Missions Ministry: 236 missionary units, 51 boards, 61 countries.
1987Last service at the Hwy. 280 location, December 27.
1988Congregation moves into the new Altadena Road location; Southeastern Bible College buys the Hwy. 280 campus.
1989New shuttle bus ministry to international students at UAB instituted.
1990s
1990Sunday School grows 35%, with a 65% increase in attendance since 1988.
1990Briarwood Professional Ministries approved — YBL and Christian Medical Ministries become departments.
1991“All Briarwood” Wednesday night dinner, study, and choir begins.
1993Rev. Clay Campbell hired as Music Director; Drive-Thru Nativity begins.
199535th Anniversary; membership reaches 4,051 with Sunday School enrollment of 3,830.
19981,050 register for VBS and 700 for Camp Briarwood; Educational Building and Fellowship Hall additions built; WLJR Radio Station launches.
1999Dr. Harry Reeder called, effective September 30; Dr. Barker moves to Pastor Emeritus status as of January 1, 2000.
2000s
2000Church Revitalization Conference held; International, Korean, and Hispanic class Bible studies begin.
20014,196 communicant members across 1,460 family units; Christian school enrollment of 1,702; VBS with more than 1,000 participants.
2002Korean Church established; Faith Promise exceeds $2,000,000; Barbara B. Barker Fine Arts Auditorium named at BCS.
2003General Fund receipts of $9,076,694; Faith Promise of $1,846,667; over 12,000 hear the Gospel through Christmas events.
2004BCS posts a record number of National Merit Scholars, ranking high in the state.
2005Briarwood Ballet Ministry marks its 25th year.
2006Briarwood named 35th in a survey of America’s 50 Most Influential Churches; Dr. Barrett L. Mosbacker becomes BCS Superintendent.
2009Bridge to Life disciple-making ministry launches; 4,256 communicant members. The PCA, founded in 1973, counts 340,853 members in 1,693 churches.
2010s
2010Year of Jubilee — celebrating Briarwood’s first 50 years.