The Beginning
In January, 1963, twenty-seven people came together to organize Potomac Presbyterian Church (PPC). Initially known as Potomac United Presbyterian Church, the new church was recognized as the 68th member of the Presbytery of Washington City. With a spirit of strong faith, hope, and boldness, fifty-one charter members were dedicated to establishing a community of faith that would serve the Lord amidst a time of profound change in the nation. It was in 1963 that the US, USSR, and England signed a nuclear test ban treaty, and Dr. Martin Luther King delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech. All were signs of hope for a better, brighter future. However, November brought a deep sense of grief and anxiety when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas.
Thanks to the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur C. Hyde who donated the land on which a church could be erected, and through the dedication of the early members of the congregation, a substantial building fund was established and work begun on the sanctuary and education wing. The first service in the new sanctuary was held on March 23, 1967 (Maundy Thursday) after four years of holding services in Potomac Elementary School.
In seven years, PPC had called two pastors to organize and provide spiritual guidance for the new church, a building was erected, a manse purchased, and numerous programs begun, many of which continue to this day.