Geneva Presbyterian Church

In 1958, a vision took root along the unpaved Seven Locks Road. The National Capital Presbytery, then known as Washington City Presbytery, purchased a modest house nestled on 6.5 acres. This land, once a simple farm and orchard, would become the site of Geneva Presbyterian Church. The first worship service at Geneva Presbyterian Church took place on September 7, 1963. The small recreation room in the basement of the house served as a makeshift sanctuary. Reverend William A. Gibson led the intimate gathering of seven adults and nine children. Geneva Presbyterian Church officially became a chartered church in May 1964. Seventy-three charter members formed the core of the growing congregation. The small house quickly proved too small. Services and dinners spilled over into neighboring schools, a testament to the burgeoning community. In 1965, a charming white country chapel was built next to the original house. Even this expansion couldn’t contain the growing congregation for long. When a new sanctuary was constructed in 1970, the interior of the chapel was lovingly preserved. Today, it’s known as the Founder’s Room at Geneva Presbyterian Church. A beautiful Celtic cross graces the Founder’s Room, crafted by founding member Bill Strain. He used wood from one of the church’s pews, which originally came from The New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, the very church attended by Abraham Lincoln. 1965 also marked the beginning of Geneva Day School, an outreach program aimed at serving the wider community. Initially operating two days a week and staffed partly by the Geneva women’s association, the school flourished. Today, Geneva Day School thrives with an enrollment of 250 children and a professional staff of 31. Its state accreditation and reputation for excellence speak volumes about its commitment to education. May 1970 witnessed the completion of a new 250-seat sanctuary at Geneva Presbyterian Church. A striking stained-glass lantern bathed the interior in a warm glow, becoming a signature feature of the church. The basement beneath housed a kitchen and provided much-needed space for the Geneva Day School and church social activities. Further expansion came in 1991, with the addition of a choir room upstairs and more offices and classrooms for the growing day school. In 2007, the sanctuary underwent renovations. The original glass lantern, weakened by time, was replaced with a solid roof. Other improvements included a stage curtain, an upgraded sound system, and new carpet and upholstery. Today, Geneva Presbyterian Church continues to thrive under the leadership of Reverend Patrick McElwaine, who became Pastor in August 2019. The church remains rooted in its Christian identity, growing and adapting to meet the needs of its community.