Building A Church

John Calvin Presbyterian Church was conceived in 1958 and organized in 1959 by what is now called National Capital Presbytery. The Reverend Earl Christman from New York was called in April 1959 to be the organizing pastor of the new congregation, and the first formal worship service was held December 6, 1959 at Belvedere Elementary School.

Working with the Presbytery, the congregation purchased 5.75 acres at 6531 Columbia Pike in September 1960. Plans for a new church facility were submitted January 31, 1961 to an architect with the decision that the first unit of John Calvin Presbyterian Church would be the social hall structure, with additional buildings to be added as money became available. The first floor of the building was a dirt floor until classrooms were added in 1964. The new building was formally dedicated on June 3, 1962.

As the church grew, the session and congregation decided in 1976 to consider building a sanctuary on the property. This structure was completed in the fall of 1978, and dedicated on January 29, 1979.