A Brief History of Northminster

After having its first service in July 1951, Northminster Presbyterian Church was officially organized on November 4, 1951 by the Presbytery of Southern Arizona under the auspices of the Board of National Missions of the Presbyterian Church in the USA. With just 44 charter members, services were held in the Gertrude Cragin Elementary School.

In 1954, the church bought the land we own today and started upon a three-phase plan to build a campus. On July 10, 1955, the congregation held its first service in the new Fellowship Hall. In September 1958, the Christian Education Building (now known as the Administration Building) was first used. And on December 20, 1970, our beautiful sanctuary was dedicated.

Northminster continued to grow through the years and, in 1986, the Multipurpose Building was erected. This building allowed much needed space for a small kitchen, church nursery, library, a conference room and two other meeting rooms.

By the end of summer, 1998, construction on a new, single-story 6,900 square foot Children’s Christian Education Building was completed. This building contains eight classrooms, one office and our church nursery and preschool. These multiple-use rooms were designed to accommodate all our children’s program needs from Sunday school to preschool and kindergarten.

The facility opens onto a courtyard geared to children and family activities, including a playground and shaded area for all-church activities.

Several rooms in the Multipurpose Building, including the library, which moved to the Fellowship Wing, were redesigned and became home to Northminster's growing Youth Ministries. Just south of the Multipurpose Building are the volleyball and basketball courts and a shaded recreation ramada.

Our Growing With God campaign was the foundation for funding our Roy A. Johnson Memorial Pipe Organ. It was installed December of 1998. This beautiful new instrument has answered many great musical needs and inspires us in singing and giving glory to God.

Pastors

• The Reverend Newton White, III served as our Stated Supply Pastor from July 8, 1951 to November 4, 1951 and then was installed as our first Pastor on March 1, 1953 and served until August 31, 1959.
  
  
• The Rev. R. Bruce Crowell was appointed as Assistant Pastor in 1959 and served Northminster during our first interim period from August 1, 1959, to February 1, 1960.
  
  
• The Rev. Dr. Richard F. Rowley served from February 1, 1960 until his retirement in July 1993 and is now Pastor Emeritus.
  
  
• The Rev. Russell C. Owens served our congregation as Assistant Pastor from the summer of 1971 until his resignation in October 1973.
  
  
• The Rev. Dr. Mark L. Koehler served as Interim Pastor from August 1993 through September 1994.
  
  
• Our Senior Pastor, the Rev. Dr. Andrew G. Ross, came to Northminster on September 1, 1994.
  
  
• Our Associate Pastor, the Rev. Kenneth D. Skodiak, joined the staff on September 10, 1995.