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Geneva Presbyterian History
| In
1958 Washington City Presbytery, now National Capital Presbytery, purchased
six-and-one-half acres of farm and orchard land, including a small house,
in pastoral Rockville, along then-unpaved Seven Locks Road. After a
door-to-door survey of the neighborhood by seminarians, Presbytery decided
that there was sufficient reason to establish a new Presbyterian church
in the area. That church is Geneva. Using the land on Seven Locks, with
the existing house temporarily pressed into service as the "church"
building, the first service was held on September 7, 1963 in the "recreation
room." The service was conducted by the Rev. William A. Gibson, Geneva's
first pastor, who had moved to the area with his family from Pennsylvania.
Seven adults and nine children attended that service, including Bill
and Betty Gibson. After a busy winter, however, 73 persons had joined
in worship and were listed as charter members in May of 1964, when the
church was formally organized.
Within a year Geneva began holding services and dinners in neighboring
schools, having outgrown the little house. A new sanctuary was added
in the form of a white country "chapel" attached to the original house,
but within another year growth necessitated further expansion. Christian education, which has waxed and waned in size of classes but never in quality and attention, has always received high priority in Geneva. In addition to an active Christian education department which ministers to children and adults, the church in the early days also initiated a pre-school education program as an outreach to the community-at-large. Originally in operation for two days a week and staffed in part by the Geneva women's association, the Geneva Day School, state accredited with a firmly established reputation for excellence, now operates daily with an enrollment of 250 children, a professional staff of 31, and a summer camp. Geneva's music liturgy was led by talented brave volunteers in the start-up days and since by a succession of skilled professionals. In early 2004, James L. Turk became Geneva's music director. His extensive experience and talents have brought wonder and joy to our worship services. The music program features an accomplished Geneva choir, a well established Bells of Geneva and a state of the art organ. A drama group that presents theater relevant to Christian life is also present at Geneva. Church mission activity has been varied over the years but has included volunteer and/or financial support, at least in part, of hundreds of worthy Christian and community causes, including providing facilities for one local Girl Scout troop, and local community organizations. Geneva's membership numbers follow the fluctuations of the transient greater Washington area, but several founders of Geneva still participate with newest members in church activities. In the forty years of its existence, the impact of Geneva's Christian ministry has been strongly effective through its diverse, dedicated, and committed membership, guided by ministers and music leaders of great and varied talent. Geneva Presbyterian Church looks forward with enthusiasm to the future, led by our pastor, The Reverend Anne Benefield. Appreciation and affection are offered to all the members and friends who have helped lead the way through the exciting years of Geneva's existence.
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Fund-raising began and plans were made for a greatly expanded building, built
around the existing structures, including a 250-seat sanctuary. That
configuration was completed by May 17, 1970. In 1991, Geneva's congregation
voted to enlarge the church building again, to accommodate the need
for more and better arranged space for its music program and for Geneva
Day School to have quarters for increased enrollment. The Day School
space is shared with the church school and social groups in the church.
Since the early nineties the building has not changed again structurally.
| Home | Our Pastor | Worship | Sermons | Directions | Fellowship |
| Calendar | Committees | Photographs | Youth | Our Music | Geneva Day School |