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As metropolitan Washington
grew, housing demands steadily moved southward along Interstate 95. When it
became apparent that Dale City would be a large residential area,
representatives of Washington City Presbytery (UPUSA) and Potomac Presbytery (PCUS)
determined they should work cooperatively in this new town. The Dale City
mission became their first union church.
In the spring of 1970, a minister was called by the Presbyteries to begin work.
The Rev. William N. Clark arrived in August, and the first two worship services
were held in his home in September of that year.
On April 16, 1972, a Commission of the Presbytery (on January 1, 1972, the two
Presbyterian bodies became joined to become National Capital Presbytery)
organized us as the "First United Presbyterian Church of Dale City." This name
was chosen because it described the spirit of unity many have felt in this
particular church group, and because we were the first union church formed by
the two Presbyteries in the metropolitan Washington area.
A Building Committee was authorized in the summer of 1975 to hire an architect,
raise funds and oversee construction of the first phase of our building on a
six-acre church site located along Minnieville Road. The ground breaking was
held on Jan. 23, 1977. The building was completed on December 18, 1977.
In March 1986, a new Building Committee was appointed to double our Christian
Education space and add more office space. The ground breaking for the new
addition was April 9, 1989, and occupancy occurred in the spring of 1990.
In November 1989, the Rev. Robert T. Jones was named Parish Associate by
Presbytery. Many years earlier, he served the Presbytery as an associate for new
church development and was instrumental in selecting Bill Clark as pastor for
First United. He served until May of 1992. He died in January 1994, and his
funeral services were conducted in this church.
Bill Clark retired March 11, 1992, after 22 years of service as
our pastor. He was succeeded by the Rev. Edward G. Taylor, interim pastor, who
served through September, 1993.
The Rev. John G. McFayden became the second pastor of First United Presbyterian
Church of Dale City on October 1, 1993. While serving as pastor, he completed
his doctorate and was elected to a seat on the General Assembly Council of the
Presbyterian Church (USA). We continued to grow as a result of his inspired
preaching and leadership gifts.
On Nov. 1, 1996, the Rev. Carolynn Winters-Hazelton joined the pastoral staff as
our first associate pastor. With Carolynn on staff, we expanded and developed
various areas of ministry including pastoral care, leadership for educational
programs, small groups, and mission trips to Sonora, Mexico.
In April 1997, we celebrated our 25th anniversary as a congregation and in 1998,
we welcomed as interim pastor the Rev. Bill T. McDaniel after Dr. McFayden
accepted a call to serve a church in Illinois.
In July 1999, we celebrated the arrival of our new pastor and head of staff, the
Rev. Dr. Robert A. Edmunds. He initiated mission trips to the Mayans in the
Yucatan in Mexico and youth mission experiences.
Carolynn Winters-Hazelton left our staff in August 2000, and the Rev. Scott
Fouts became our new associate pastor in May 2002.
As we look back, many unusual events have accompanied our growth in terms of
meaningful personal relationships, the appearance of needed people at the right
time and the kindling and rekindling of Christian faith. We can only attribute
this to the spirit of our Lord. Many have found a trust and an enthusiasm that
nurtures a deeper faith commitment. Our prayer is that those who join us will
feel some of what we have felt -- the "breath of God" in our fellowship.
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