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Worshipping together since 1882
(Founded in 1943)
We trace our roots to the first protestant missionary who came to Guatemala. The Reverend John Clark Hill was brought to Guatemala by President Barrios in 1882. A few English, Americans and Germans who understood English felt the need of religious services, and many wished to have a Protestant Minister available for baptismal, marriage and funeral services. Reverend Hill was happy to begin weekly Protestant Sunday morning services in English. Except for a few very short suspensions due to earthquake, revolution and unexpected absence of the pastor, these services have continued until today.
In 1943, Dr. Wallace J. Anderson was a Presbyterian missionary on home leave in the States and was unable to return to Korea because of World War II. He was sent to Guatemala, and not yet able to speak Spanish, was assigned to the pastorate of the English Church. With a pastor and the significant influx of North Americans assigned to Guatemala because of the war, the organization of the Union Church was a natural. When the congregation was formed, Dr. Anderson was called as the first pastor.
Mrs. Evelyn Blane, a long-term resident and faithful member, felt there was a need for a Sunday school for the children of the English-speaking families. She lived in a house on the Plaza Espana and invited parents to bring their children to her home for classes before going downtown for the Sunday Services which were held at the Central Presbyterian Church downtown.
Spurred on by Mrs. Blane's enthusiasm and faithfulness, some of the leaders of the church began to see the possibilities and opportunities of having a church building of their own.
On March 2, 1947, Dr. Charles Ainslie, a medical doctor with the American Hospital run by the Presbyterian Church, and John Blane, Evelyn’s husband, were named as a committee of two to initiate a search for a plot of land suitable for a church building. They formed a preference for zone 9, and were impressed with the area around the Plaza España. Charles and John approached Mrs. Martha Klein de Calvo, who owned the land of our present campus and she consented to sell. A building committee was formed under the chairmanship of Mr. Nathan Perry. The church building was designed by Mr. Harry L. Pierce, a distinguished California church architect.
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