North Park Church

This place, North Park Church, has housed faith in Dallas for over a century. It wasn’t always on North Central Expressway. The story begins much earlier, in the late 1800s, when a small group of 13 individuals met in the Dallas courthouse, birthing the first Cumberland Presbyterian Church in the city. This was the very first Presbyterian Church in Dallas, the second house of worship after the courthouse. Over the next few decades, they moved twice, building two new churches, one on Harwood Street and another on Commerce Street. It was their third church built in 1917, known as the City Temple, that truly marked a turning point. It stood proudly downtown, aiming to become a center for the community, not just a place of worship. This City Temple was a hub for lectures, concerts, and even recreation, a rare feat at the time when Dallas lacked such public spaces. The name “Central Presbyterian Church” was shortened to “City Temple” for a while, to reflect the church’s role as a community hub. By 1962, another move – this time to Park Lane and North Central Expressway. The name was changed to “NorthPark United Presbyterian Church” to reflect this new location. The year 1983 saw the denomination reunite. The church name shifted again to “NorthPark Presbyterian Church, (USA)”. In 1989, they broke ground for the current building on North Central Expressway. Today, North Park Church is a true testament to the evolution of a faith community, adapting to the changing landscape of Dallas while remaining steadfast in its principles. It stands as a beacon, welcoming all, embracing diversity, and focusing on serving others, a reminder that faith isn’t just about praying, but also about acting upon it.