Everyone is Welcome Here

Our History

A Brief History of the Congregation

In 1912, a group of neighbors in the part of Arlington then known as Vanderwerken met on a snowy night to discuss forming a church. A vote was taken and those present decided to form a Congregational Church, then known as Vanderwerken Congregational Church.  The founding congregation consisted of ten men and fifteen women on May 17, 1912. Later that year, the first church building was erected.  The structure of the building was acquired from Walker Memorial Chapel UMC, and was placed on the site currently occupied by Neighborhood House.  For several months, the congregation worshiped “among the native trees and flowers.”  The first worship service held “indoors” took place on October 22, 1912. The first pastor, Rev. Franklin Noble, was hired at part-time in the same year.  Rev. Noble oversaw the tremendous growth of Christian education for adults and children.  The history reports that worship attendance would be 25 people, while Sunday School was 75 (and 104 on Children’s day!).

Our history tells us, “From the beginning, Neighborhood House was regarded not only as a place of worship and religious instruction, but as a community center.”  Our Boy Scout Troop (#106) was organized in the same year, and remains part of our living heritage of community outreach.  Neighborhood House   acted as community center, place of worship, and even a movie theater! On November 14, 1940, the congregation rededicated itself, and the newly constructed sanctuary building, as Rock Spring Congregational Church.

The Rohrer Memorial Library was founded in 1915 to serve the surrounding neighborhood.  It is historically the first public library in Arlington County, and still lends to the community today.

Over its nearly 100 years, Rock Spring Church has had long-tenured pastors.  Beginning with Rev. Paul R. Hunter in 1932, the church called its first full-time pastor.  Rev. Hunter served 24 years as Pastor.  He was followed by Rev. Sidney Lovett in 1957, serving 11 years.  Rev. Lovett saw the congregation though the civil rights era, and many historical moments in the life of the church.  Rev. George H. Booth was called in 1967, serving for 20 years.  Rev. Booth engaged the congregation in social action, and active lay ministry.  Rev. Charles L. Wildman was called in 1989, serving for just under 20 years.  There is an historic photograph of the Revs. Lovett, Booth, and Wildman in the Saegmuller Room, encompassing over fifty years of ministry at Rock Spring Church.

In 1943, community and church members organized the Rock Spring Cooperative Preschool (www.rockspringpreschool.org), which is housed in the Hunter Building on the church campus.

In 1996, the church dedicated its new Christian Education wing, named for Rev. Hunter, and a renovated fellowship hall, named in memory of long-time church member Agnes Carpenter.  These renovations mark the “completion” of the current property.

Going Deeper

Much more needs to be said of the impact of the members and friends of Rock Spring Congregational UCC.  We are looking forward to the centennial of the congregation in 2012, and a history project is under way to augment the existing volumes.  There are two booklets that comprise the congregation’s long history, both available in the library:

Making History: Celebrating 75 Years (1912-1987)

Rock Spring Congregational Church: The First Fifty Years (1912-1962)


RSS UCC Daily Readings

  • A Shared Witness
    News Flash: The letters of the Apostle Paul, sent to churches throughout the region of Asia Minor in the first century, were not e-mailed, faxed or texted to individual church members. They were sent to corporate bodies of believers and they were always read aloud in the collective settings of Christians, gathered together. The letters of Paul were never int […]
  • Asking for Help
    It's better to give than receive but the best givers are good receivers. Otherwise giving is one-sided and leads to resentment. We act as though others need us more than we need them and miss what they have to give. […]
  • Address: 5715 Broken Spirit
    Where does God dwell? Where is God to be found? If you're looking for God, where should you look? […]

Join Us!

Service Times:

Beginning the second Sunday in June:
10:00am

Beginning the Sunday after Labor Day:
9:00am & 11:00am

We're Located At:

5010 Little Falls Road
Arlington, VA 22205

Map and Directions