Current news, Pastor's reflections, comments, and church history.

The Good News Newsletter (to come after site is posted)
Pastor's Column (to come from Bill)
Commentary (to come after site is posted)
Our History

The Good News Newsletter

Pastor's Column

Commentary

Our History

The First United Presbyterian Church of Oakland was organized as a mission church on August 21, 1890 with twenty-seven charter members. The Rev. John Hanna, of Illinois, was called as the first founding pastor. Rev. Hanna was "a very remarkable man, and made quite an impression on the early members." Apparently, he rounded up the first congregation and arranged for the founding. However, his stay was a short four months, terminated in order to accept a call as pastor in Philadelphia, which had heard of his fine work in Oakland.

Following successive pastorates, Dr. James Francis Ross became pastor in 1913. During his pastorate, a new lot was bought in the Claremont-Rockridge district on College Avenue. The premise for moving from downtown Oakland to the new site had followed from the insight that downtown was heavily churched, and that a church can do the most good in the residential area, and that people who needed church the most are not the ones who will travel to a downtown church.

Church Elder Duncan MacMillan led the construction on the present sanctuary under the guidance of his celebrated architect and boss, Julia Morgan. The construction was completed in 1914.