Our History
The Kress Memorial Seventh-day Adventist Church was established in 1953. The church was named in honor of Dr. Daniel H. Kress and Dr. Lauretta E. Kress, his wife. The Kresses were medical missionaries in various parts of the world, including Australia and England. Upon retirement, they moved to Orlando, Florida, and were instrumental in establishing the Florida Sanitarium, which is now known as AdventHealth Orlando. Dr. Daniel Kress was known to be the first physician to make the connection between tobacco use and lung cancer.
The Kress Church was formed primarily as a place of worship for the employees of the hospital. For many years the church met in the auditorium of the hospital, but as the hospital grew, a new place of worship was needed. In 1968, the church acquired its current property on Formosa Avenue and built a new sanctuary and fellowship hall.
Since its founding, Kress Church has had a strong commitment to Christian education. In 1918, a church school was opened which eventually became Forest Lake Academy. Later, a new school was established on the campus of the church, and today it serves children from kindergarten to 8th grade. The church continues to be a strong supporter of the school through its budget and by making its facilities available to the school.
