Shepherd of the Hill Presbyterian Church was chartered with 47 members on March 23, 1969. Designated as the "Woodland Project" by the Presbytery of Olympia, the first services were held in the Furitland Grange on April 19, 1968 with 35 persons in attendance.
In the summer of 1967, outdoor worship services were held on primitive log benches in a grove of trees on the five-acre site where our current church home stands.
The name "Shepherd of the Hill" won out over other suggested
names such as "South Puyallup", "Faith", "Good Shepherd", and "South Hill-Puyallup".
The church's first service was held on Dec. 1, 1967 in the home of the Rev. Paul Hackett as the organizing pastor. He was installed as the church's first pastor on July 23, 1969. In August 1971 the Rev. Albert DeHaven was called. Groundbreaking ceremonies were held for the new church building on March 19, 1975, with the first service in the new building on Dec. 28, 1975. On October 12, 1980 groundbreaking ceremonies were held for the Christian Education Building. Rev. DeHaven resigned in July 1979, the Rev. Ken Irwin was called as interim pastor three months later, and the Rev. Peter Notehelfer was called as the church's third pastor in Dec. 1980. The new building was dedicated in June 1981. Rev. Notehelfer resigned in Oct. 1989. The Rev. Tom Lane was called as interim pastor in March 1990. The Rev. Gary Mathiesen arrived as the new pastor in June 1991.
Shepherd of the Hill has 260 members.
In the summer of 1967, outdoor worship services were held on primitive log benches in a grove of trees on the five-acre site where our current church home stands.
The name "Shepherd of the Hill" won out over other suggested
names such as "South Puyallup", "Faith", "Good Shepherd", and "South Hill-Puyallup".
The church's first service was held on Dec. 1, 1967 in the home of the Rev. Paul Hackett as the organizing pastor. He was installed as the church's first pastor on July 23, 1969. In August 1971 the Rev. Albert DeHaven was called. Groundbreaking ceremonies were held for the new church building on March 19, 1975, with the first service in the new building on Dec. 28, 1975. On October 12, 1980 groundbreaking ceremonies were held for the Christian Education Building. Rev. DeHaven resigned in July 1979, the Rev. Ken Irwin was called as interim pastor three months later, and the Rev. Peter Notehelfer was called as the church's third pastor in Dec. 1980. The new building was dedicated in June 1981. Rev. Notehelfer resigned in Oct. 1989. The Rev. Tom Lane was called as interim pastor in March 1990. The Rev. Gary Mathiesen arrived as the new pastor in June 1991.
Shepherd of the Hill has 260 members.
