Formed on August 3, 1902, the church we know today grew out of the remnants of the First Congregational Church of Sausalito, whose church building stood on the corner of Pine and Bonita. The last six remaining members of that church were persuaded to come under the care of the Presbyterian Church by a Presbyterian missionary who came to town and volunteered to preach to their dwindling congregation.
The new congregation remained in that church for several years, although they longed for a “more central location.” This wish was fulfilled in 1904 when Mr. and Mrs. L.M. Hickman presented the congregation with the deed to the land on Bulkley, previously the tennis courts of the El Monte Hotel.
In the 1880’s, the El Monte was a destination resort favored by wealthy San Franciscans like Spreckels and Crocker. It sported a croquet lawn, tennis courts, “a first-class table,” and even a bowling alley just for women. But its allure eventually faded and it was demolished in 1904 and its lots sold off at auction — one going to the Hickmans.
In 1909 the Hickmans once again provided funds to build our current church, given in memory of their son. The brown shingled structure (shown above, upper right) was designed by Ernest Coxhead in Old English Gothic style. In 1916 the “manse wing” was built onto the church with funds from Frederick Robbins. It consisted of a living room and dining room downstairs and three bedrooms upstairs. These serve today as the pastor’s study, the bride’s room, and offices, respectively. The other major addition was the current manse next door to the church built in 1950, again with funds from the Robbins family. (Two benches now used for choir seating are the only items remaining from the Pine Street church.)
Generous donations continued throughout our history and included the Shoenstein pipe organ, later a digital organ, the cross on our steeple, an oil furnace, two wooden chandeliers, the 7-branch wooden candelabras, several sets of hymnals, Bibles, Thomson Hall renovations in the 60’s, and major restoration for the church in 2001 and 2002.