In 1941, Rev. Jones and Dr. Anderson exchanged pulpits, a rather interesting way of obtaining a new minister. By 1942, the membership was 312, 48 of whom joined in that year. Three years later the rotary system of elder service was adopted. Dr. Anderson was to serve throughout World War II and retired at the age of 78 after serving 56 years in the ministry, ten of which were at First Presbyterian Church of Eustis. "According to Presbyterian Life for February 3, 1951, during Dr. Anderson's service the Eustis church ‘has grown to be, largely through its radio ministry, one of the strongest churches in the Synod of Florida.’" (Colbrunn, 1977)

Women's circles and auxiliaries had many fundraisers for various church projects and missions over the years. 1948 saw one of the most unique, the Wedding Gown Revue "of twenty-two wedding gowns modeled by members of the circle (Thursday evening). The church was elaborately decorated with candelabra, flowers and tropical foliage. The wedding equipment was donated by Mr. And Mrs. A. J. Mingonet of Pearl Florist. Music was furnished by Mrs. Max Rupert, organist; Mrs. A. C. McNurlan, violinist; Mrs. Bradley, soloist; and a quartet consisting of Mr. Robert Ferran, Mr. Harold Ferran, Mr. Roger Giles and Mr. Max Rupert. The circle's teacher, Rev. Walter Mertz, introduced the models and commented on the gowns, which were from as early as 1883 and down to the time of the Revue." (Colbrunn, 1977)

In 1948, the National Council of Presbyterian Men met for the first time in Chicago. Our own Harry Gaylord was elected Vice President. Gaylord returned to Florida to be elected President of both the North Florida Council and the local church's chapter. Carl Ferran was North Florida's president in 1949 and Leslie Huffstetler was in charge of organizing chapters throughout North Florida.

In 1951, First Presbyterian Church of Eustis hosted a three-day meeting of the Florida Synod. A Christmas Eve Candlelight Service was held that year at 7:30 p.m. This popular service was first held at 11:00 p.m. in 1956. In 1953, Palm Sunday and Easter were celebrated at two services for the first time.

Filling the shoes of a popular minister is a difficult task, but in 1951, when Dr. Anderson retired, Rev. Kenneth W. McCracken, forty years younger than the retired Dr. Anderson, stepped in, only to be called away the following year to active duty in the U.S. Navy for an eighteen month tour. (McCracken had served as a chaplain in the Pacific from 1943 to 1946.) Rev Walter L. Mertz, already a member of the community, was chosen as assistant pastor. In June 1953, the congregation accepted with regret the resignation of McCracken, and Walter Mertz was chosen to fill the pulpit.

1954 was a very busy year. The Women's Auxiliary became Presbyterian Women's Organization, the first Director of Christian Education was employed and plans began for the education building. As if that weren't enough, the church was air conditioned, the partition walls were removed from the sanctuary, the parlor was redone, the Fellowship Hall and kitchen were combined and an addition was built for a kitchen at the back of the existing building. During the remodeling of the sanctuary, services were held in the Fellowship Hall. The new Education Building was dedicated on October 14, 1956 and was nearly paid for at that time.

Three years later the property on Center Street south of the manse and education building was acquired and made into a parking lot. Church tower bells were given that same year as a memorial to Harold C. Ferran, member, choir director, organist, composer, deacon and elder of First Presbyterian Church of Eustis at various times.

The Presbyterian Women's Organization was renamed United Presbyterian Women (UPW) and convened six circles in 1958.

In 1959, First Presbyterian Church of Eustis held a 75th Anniversary Celebration which was very similar to the Semi-Centennial, except that the whole community was able to join in as the service was broadcast on WLCO and a booklet was prepared by church historian, John W. Strange. That same year the growing church hired its first part time secretary and early worship services were begun on a regular basis.

By 1964, the membership has swelled to 730 and an Assistant Pastor was called for the first time. Rev. Richard L. Turner was later Associate Pastor. Rev. Mertz served faithfully until his untimely death from leukemia in 1965. The Celtic cross is a memorial to this beloved pastor. 

Rev. Turner became senior pastor. The following year Phyllis Williams became the church secretary, a position she ably filled for many years.

When Rev. Turner took another pastorate in 1967,  Rev. Grover C. Sewell, Jr. was called. Formerly a member of the "Southern Church," Rev. Sewell joined the United Presbyterian Church USA when he took the pulpit in Eustis and was a charter member of the Northeast Florida Presbytery and its moderator in 1977.  Rev. Sewell brought with him a real asset in the person of his wife, Mary. "Like most pastor's wives from Mrs. Potter down through the years, she has been very active in the women's groups, and she has taught church school classes and visited members. She is a blessing to her church as well as to her family." (Colbrunn, 1977) We are honored to have the Sewells as members of our church since their return to the area in 1996.

On May 26, 1968, our own Harry E. Gaylord, Jr. was ordained here and presented with academic robes.

The congregation continued to grow, boasting 852 members in 1969. The first minister of visitation, George L. Kress, was employed in 1970. He also served as editor of the "Tower Bells" newsletter and wrote a humorous column called "Interview with the Church Mouse". By 1971, the church had 852 members. From 1969 to 1975, Vacation Bible School was replaced with Family School of Christian Growth, an intergenerational program. 1971 saw the Men's Bible Class reorganized.

Miss Colbrunn writes, "Also in January the Committee on Planning and Research began visiting studios of creators of stained glass windows with the view of replacing the windows in the side of the sanctuary. The work was given to the Nobis Studio of Oakland, Florida. The first of these windows, the large one depicting the Lord's Supper, was given by Mrs. John M. Campbell as a memorial to her husband. It was dedicated on October 1, 1972. The other windows were added and dedicated later, mostly in 1973. The east windows depicting the life of Christ are (1) The Nativity, given by the Bronson family in memory of Ruth Q. Bronson; (2) Christ in the Temple, given by Mrs. John Craycraft in memory of John, Patricia, and Robert Craycraft; (3) The Baptism, given by Mr. and Mrs. Ronald E. Sucher in memory of loved ones; (4) The Sermon on the Mount, given by the Bryan family in memory of Eunice M. Grover; and (5) The Triumphal Entry, given by Mrs. Hugh F. Geiger in memory of her husband. The three north windows in this part of the sanctuary depict highlights from the Old Testament: (1) God Making the Covenant with Abraham, given by Mr. and Mrs. Jay L. Severance in memory of loved ones; (2) Moses and the Tablet, given by Mr. and Mrs. Charles Landphair and Mr. and Mrs. Fred A. Smith in memory of Harlow and Amelia Landphair; and (3) David Receiving the Kingship, given in memory of Joseph Eichelberger by his family." (Colbrunn, 1977)

In late summer, 1971, the Senior High Youth Fellowship sponsored group activities on Tuesday and Friday evenings from eight to eleven, giving local vacationing students a place to go. This focus on youth was perhaps a harbinger of things to come as Assistant Pastor Rev. William Gracey was called in 1972 and spent much of his energy working with young people of First Presbyterian Church of Eustis. It was during Gracey's tenure that annual mission trips began to be part of the Youth Fellowship calendar. The church purchased a bus for the use of the young people, although it was used by many other groups as well.

In 1973, UPW membership was 225 in ten circles. The following year, the Board of Deacons and the Session were combined (effective in January 1975). The same year Mr. William Byrd was employed as the church's first full-time choir director and organist. Cottage Prayer Groups were begun. The old manse was used by "Meals-on-Wheels Program".

The bicentennial year of the United States saw membership of 823 at First Presbyterian Church of Eustis. That same year the church first prepared a pictorial directory of its membership.

Rev. Joseph C. Brandon was called as Assistant Pastor, as William Gracey had moved on in 1975. Rev. Sewell retired in 1979 and Rev. Brandon, by then Associate Pastor, was called as the church's new pastor as "His qualifications were not matched by any other applicants." (Colbrunn, 1977).

The old Estey organ was "giving problems" and was replaced with an Allen Model 903 three manual digital computer electronic organ, which was dedicated November 27, 1977.

Though it had been used for various community purposes over the years, the old manse was "neglected and badly in need of attention by 1980. It had become a place for storage, a meeting place for outside organizations, and even a ‘haunted house’ for our youth on Hallowe'en." (Colbrunn, 1977). After much study of the issue, the Session finally decided to renovate the building and convert it to administrative office space, which it remains today.