When the First Presbyterian Church of Santa Fe was organized on January 6, 1867, it was the only Protestant church in the Territory of New Mexico. Its ministry focused on worship, education and health care.

Early Presbyterian missionary pastors and teachers came to New Mexico because they believed there were needs here the church could answer. Three weeks after the Rev. David F. McFarland stepped off the stagecoach that brought him to Santa Fe, he started a school; many of the children had no one to teach them to read and write. This was the first of dozens of schools the Presbyterian church opened in villages scattered throughout the mountains and valleys of northern New Mexico.

How does one compare the needs of 1867 with contemporary concerns about hunger, war, political oppression, family life, ecology, and the stranger at the gate? The good news of God's love and justice still comforts and challenges those who gather to hear the Word, whether they come in buggies or Buicks.
 
The first congregation purchased a crumbling adobe Baptist church on this triangular property. Since its founding more than 140 years ago, the physical structure has been remodeled, even rebuilt, from time to time. Yet, this Presbyterian outpost at the end of the Santa Fe Trail tries to remain faithful to God's call.

A short history of the church is available through this link.

During the summer, a vignette of the history of the church was read during worship. Here, in pdf format (Adobe Reader required), are those vignettes of past history for you to enjoy.