Rock Spring Congregational United Church of Christ (UCC)

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)