Whitworth Community Presbyterian Church

In 1921 a group of interested people living near Whitworth College in North Spokane, Washington met with the Reverend Bert Mitchell to form a mission Sunday school. Three years later W. A. Stevenson, President of Whitworth College invited the Sunday School to join in the newly formed college vesper services on the campus. Through these joint services the church was formed.

In 1929 when Dr. Ward Sullivan became college president, Dr. J. W. Countermine, head of the college Bible department, was appointed pastor, and his wife became superintendent of the Sunday school. The couple served for twelve years. By this time the little congregation had outgrown the college library. It moved to the home economics room on the campus.

In 1940 the Reverend Frank F. Warren became president of Whitworth College. He required students to attend a Sunday service. Many students came to this “church in a basement.” At the end of WWII Whitworth Church had grown to 75 members. Dr. Warren submitted a bid for the chapel attached to Baxter military hospital. Under the Mead Act of 1947 the building was granted to Whitworth College. It was set up on the southeast corner of the campus and later deeded to the church. The Reverend Mark Koehler became its pastor.

In 1948 the Reverend Harold Penhalurick was called as the first full time pastor. The Reverend A. Vincent Carr became the second full time pastor in 1950. In 1956 construction was begun on a new sanctuary and the building was first used on Christmas Eve of that same year. It was not dedicated until January 25, 1959. Dr. Carr served for 19 years.

In 1969 the Reverend Thomas Erickson was presented to the congregation and accepted. He brought a great love for adult education and expanded its offerings.

In 1972 $86,000 was pledged to remodel the kitchen, nurseries, Tiffany Hall (the first sanctuary), the choir loft and new ceilings in the newer sanctuary. In March of 1975 the Reverend Richard Gronhovd became senior pastor. In his early years an explosion of new programs took place. As 1978 ended the membership was around 600. Additional facilities were needed.

In 1979 a Christian Education wing was approved and started. In 1982, less than two years after dedication of the new wing, membership was over 800.

The Reverend James Singleton started in July of 1991. He began almost immediately to plan a whole new structure. A gym was proposed with additional rooms for junior and senior high school students. It was dedicated in January of 1995. Dr. Singleton left Whitworth Church in July of 1999 to teach at Austin Theological Seminary and to pastor Covenant Presbyterian Church, Austin, Texas.

From the guide to the Whitworth Community Presbyterian Church, 1924-2007, (Whitworth University Archives)