Our History

The story of Fairmount Presbyterian Church is more than a timeline. It’s a living legacy. For over a century, this community has been shaped by people who believed faith should make a difference. People who gathered to teach children, rebuild after fires, welcome refugees, challenge injustice, and imagine a more human way of living together.

That story continues today. With every act of love, every bold question, every new voice added to the circle, we are still becoming the church God dreams of. We invite you to find your place in this unfolding story. Because your gifts, your questions, your hopes – they belong here too.

Since 1916, Fairmount Presbyterian Church has grown from a charter group of 85 men and women, devoted to the Christian education of their children, to a congregation of persons committed to worship, fellowship, service, and Christian education for all ages and internal and external missions.

Although the original Charter was approved and signed on October 23, 1916, the beginnings are documented as early as 1912. As young married couples with children moved into the newly developed neighborhood along Fairmount Boulevard, the mothers joined together to begin a Sunday School for their children. Sunday morning services were held at the Real Estate office on the corner of Lee Road and Fairmount Boulevard and at a farm on the corner of Wellington Road and Fairmount Boulevard. Adult services were held Sunday evenings in various family homes.

The first Church building, on the corner of Fairmount Boulevard and Scarborough Road, was built in 1915 by the Presbyterian Union and was furnished with $600 raised by the members of the newly formed Women’s Aid Society. The women organized Bible study, sewed for the Red Cross, hosted lectures, raised funds, and planned church gatherings. The first service of FPC, with 45 men and women in attendance, was held in the little white church on November 5, 1916.

The Rev. Percy Elwood Erickson, from Newark, NJ, was the first permanent pastor and led his first service on June 3, 1917. Just a few months later, on September 5, 1917, lightning struck the church and destroyed the building by fire. With remarkable resolve, the congregation rebuilt quickly. A white frame church was erected within three weeks using insurance funds and support from the Presbyterian Union. As membership grew, the church began to outgrow its space. By 1924, a new Parish House was completed and dedicated.

Under the leadership of successive pastors, the church grew steadily. By the time Dr. Frank Halliday Ferris became the third pastor in 1931, the congregation had expanded, and momentum continued. The mortgage on the Parish House was paid off, and a campaign began to build a new Sanctuary. That vision became reality when the first worship service was held in the new Sanctuary on Palm Sunday, March 29, 1942.

After Dr. Ferris’s retirement in 1950, Dr. Richard Pacini became Fairmount’s fourth pastor. During this time, Fairmount helped establish the Inner City Protestant Parish and supported the resettlement of 64 refugee families from Europe. As Sunday School attendance swelled, a new Chapel and additional classrooms were built and completed in 1956.

In 1967, Dr. John Magill became Fairmount’s fifth pastor. That same year marked two major milestones: the completion of the Fairmount Village housing development and the beginning of a yoked fellowship with The Greater Avery A.M.E. Church. Also in 1967, Josephine Morris became the first woman to serve as an ordained Elder on Session.

Dr. Henry W. Andersen was called in 1974 as Fairmount’s sixth pastor. His leadership saw continued growth in membership and the expansion of ministries focused on spiritual formation, Christian education, and community outreach.

The Rev. Kent M. Organ was installed as Fairmount’s seventh pastor in 1991. During his tenure, the congregation was invited into new challenges and opportunities. A new Schantz pipe organ was installed, launching a series of concerts for the church and wider community.

The Rev. Louise Westfall became Fairmount’s eighth and first female pastor, bringing thoughtful, compassionate leadership that emphasized interfaith engagement and expanded community programming. One highlight of her time was the creation of the Heights Youth Club for school-aged children.

In 2013, Pastor Derek Starr Redwine became Fairmount’s ninth pastor. His early ministry included deepening connections within the congregation, meeting with community leaders, and updating both worship governance and Sunday services to be more inclusive of children and youth.

The Rev. Ryan Wallace was called to Fairmount Presbyterian Church in February 2022 as the church’s tenth senior pastor. With a background in community organizing and public policy, Rev. Wallace brings a passion for justice and collaborative leadership. His experience aligns with Fairmount’s enduring call to be a servant leader in the community — a church actively reclaiming what it means to be human, together.