Remembering Our History
Nevin Kirk, Conference Center Activities Director and tennis pro; Red Lily Pond activist
Reverend Nevin Kirk
Reverend Nevin Kirk and the Kirk family were actively involved Craigville where they summered each year since the early 1960s. Nevin served the Craigville Conference Center in several capacities, including director of social and recreational activities from 1962 through 1966. An active athlete and fine tennis player, he initiated the tennis program and was the instructor at the Craigville Tennis Club during those years, served on the CCMA board, and was co-chair of the Craigville Beach Association (CBA)’s beach committee for 15 years. For several years, in the 1990s, he served as co-chaplain of the Craigville Tabernacle.
Of singular importance to him was his work as co-chair of the Red Lily Pond Project, a local environmental advocacy organization, where he was instrumental as a fundraiser, raising funds for and bringing to completion a visionary cluster septic system for 16 homes in Craigville.
Nevin was born in Burlington, North Carolina and grew up in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Franklin and Marshall College and Lancaster Seminary. He began his career as a Navy chaplain in World War II in the Pacific. Following his Naval service, he served as a minister in the United Church of Christ in churches in Philadelphia, PA; Allentown, PA; Westminster, MD; Springfield, MA; and Richmond Hill (Queens) NY. In Springfield, he was close to Pierre and Marion Vuilleumier. They later retired to Centerville as year-round residents.
Nevin died April 28, 2013 at age 93. He was the husband of long-time Tabernacle organist, Elizabeth Hutchison Kirk, who died in 1998.