In the early 1970s, the Alico company began developing the west shore of Saddlebag Lake, about eight miles east of Lake Wales, Florida. The area first served as a campground for visitors in trailers and motor homes. As the development grew and lots found new owners, a community took shape. In 1970 and 1971, it was known as the Saddlebag Lake Property Owners Improvement Association, Inc. In 1976, the organization became the Saddlebag Lake Owners Association.

The clubhouse was one large room with a fireplace at one end. Campers gathered there to form what they called the Saddlebag Chapel. For church services, they arranged chairs facing the fireplace. On Saturday afternoons, Catholic campers met for Mass under the direction of Father Ben Benesevich. Friends recalled that Father Ben used a large bullhorn to announce the gathering.

Protestant services were held on Sunday mornings and were nondenominational from the beginning. The offerings from the Catholic and Protestant services were shared equally with the other church.

At Christmas in 1973, the Chapel held a “Ya’ll Come” Rally. The congregation did not have musical instruments at the clubhouse, so Elinor and George Roeschen parked their motor home behind it. Elinor played the organ inside the motor home, while a microphone and CB receiver carried the music to the congregation so everyone could sing along.

The clubhouse had a capacity of 180, and early Chapel attendance records show 76 people attending. By 1975, a piano had been donated. The Chapel purchased a music lamp and cabinet and had the piano tuned. Members also formed a committee called the Chapel Committee to help guide the congregation’s work.

Many people gave their time and talents to those early services. Mary Vorhees played piano for the Catholic services. Dottie Stump was active in starting the nondenominational services, and Helen Johnston also played piano. Charlie Johnston was one of the early choir directors. Stu Folts, Betty Schroll, Vera Foster, and Quirt McKiddea also served as directors.

In the early years, students from Warner Southern College led services. The Chapel held appreciation dinners for the students and Father Ben. Members prepared the meat in their homes and trailers, and the Chapel sold leftover coffee from one Appreciation Dinner to the bingo committee.

One of the students who came during those early years was Jim Bradley. Before preparing for ministry, he had worked as a contractor and built the Chapel’s podium. Later, when Jim served as pastor, his wife, Anita, and daughter, Dawn, played the organ for services. During a couple of those services, Pastor Bradley arranged for Steven Darr to bring his group of singers to Saddlebag.

Saddlebag members also took part in the Lake Wales Passion Play, a major annual event that brought many visitors to the area. Members portrayed guards at the Temple, soldiers on horseback, and women in the crowds—including those waving palm branches and those taunting Jesus. Each appearance had a monetary value, paid to the participant’s church at the end of the season, providing support for the Chapel as members took part in the production.

In October 1975, the first set of bylaws was printed to help the Chapel become a more formally organized congregation. Members considered purchasing a certificate of deposit for a building fund. An organ fund was started in 1978, and checks were received for it. An organ had been donated for a time, and later Tom Weaver gave his organ for use in the clubhouse.

Records from 1976 and 1977 list many faithful members: Joe Yates, Ed Boss, Pat Malingas, Arlene Chamberlain, D. Martin Robinson, L. B. Vaughn, Gerald Hiser, Cecil Harner, John Baird, Clara Stecher, Margaret Neal, Helen Kaiser, and Laura Nirod.

In 1977, Edgar Kostenbader and Jessie Harrison went to the Lake Wales Post Office and opened a postal box for the Saddlebag Chapel. The Chapel used that box until 2002, when the Church Council closed it and opened a new one at the Saddlebag Lake Resort post office. Clint Morrison provided the use of the new box, which was assigned to one of his lots on Red Quill.

On June 30, 1979, the Chapel’s name was changed to Saddlebag Lake Church. The congregation’s early history reflects the faith, generosity, and shared effort of neighbors who built a church community together—one gathering, one service, and one act of service at a time.

Names and dates in this history are drawn from Peggy Brown’s April 2007 account.