Our Story
About us
Noe Valley Church is a community seeking to follow Jesus in a changing culture.
Located near the geographical center of San Francisco in Noe Valley, we are a neighborhood church in the middle of a vibrant city, called to follow Jesus by loving our neighbors down the street, on the other side of town, and across the world. Our commitment to the way of Jesus leads us to value faith as a welcoming, affirming, and liberating force in the world.
Our Staff
Our Elders
Bill Jackson
Elder
Chris Keene
Elder
Dawn Summers
Elder
A more inclusive and expansive faith
- a proudly progressive Presbyterian congregation with a passion for justice
- a Christ-centered community of faith, seeking to live out God’s grace together
- a welcoming and affirming congregation valuing all people wherever they are on their spiritual journey
- a community & neighborhood hub and gathering place for groups and activities that serve our community
Locally, we’re a center for organizing social justice projects, a home for a music and dance programs, a bi-lingual nursery school, exercise classes, and 12-step meetings.
A House of Worship
We’re a community that values beautiful worship, humble inquiry, and searching prayer – with Jesus at the center of it all.
A Community Hub
We’re a gathering place for community members where diversity is an invaluable gift for becoming good neighbors.
A Life of Faith Together
We’re pursuing life together because none of us has all the answers and the road ahead is long and better with others.
Our Story Starts in 1881
The history of Noe Valley Presbyterian Church began in 1881 as a sparsely settled neighborhood of Irish working-class families on scattered farms and boarding houses. In 1888, the congregation—renamed Lebanon Presbyterian—moved up the hill on Sanchez Street to its current site where it laid the cornerstone for a one-story church building. This sanctuary—now raised to add a lower floor for offices, a school and meeting rooms—is still occupied by the congregation today.
By the 1960s, the original working-class families had either died or retired to the suburbs. Attracted by the low rents, a younger countercultural generation of artists, activists and spiritual seekers moved in. This generation had little interest in traditional religion and in 1977—after 96 years serving the Noe Valley community—Lebanon Presbyterian formally closed its doors.
The Rev. Carl Smith soon began to lay ground for a new church development capable of ministering to the changing community. Incorporated in 1984 as Noe Valley Ministry, the new congregation emphasized Eastern meditation, social justice and inclusive language. In San Francisco Presbytery, the congregation stood out as countercultural. Politically active, members participated in protests and the gay parade. After a 19-year ministry, Rev. Smith retired in 1996. Five of the congregation’s current active members and 2 of its active supporters joined the ministry during this period.
In 1998, Rev. Keenan Kelsey began a 14-year pastorate. Members took liturgy seriously as the “work of the people.” The congregation reconnected with its Reformed Presbyterian heritage, emphasizing a strong music program, the liturgical year, monthly Labyrinth walks, and spiritual disciplines. One of the early More Light churches, LGBTQ advocacy was taken seriously particularly in seeking the ordination of one of its members. The congregation maintained its artisic/activist identity and the ministry’s reputation as a place for performance and community events expanded city-wide.
Like the working-class generation preceding it, when Noe Valley neighborhood entered the 21st century, the hippie-activist generation was ageing out of the movement and moving away. The neighborhood began experiencing waves of gentrification while the church experienced declining numbers.
Undaunted, the Ministry began plans for a 4.1 million renovation of its historic 1888 building. Initially, it was hoped the renovated building would serve as a Tri-Faith sacred space where Jewish, Christian, and Islamic faith communities could worship together. Though this innovative plan did not work out, renovation plans continued and a donated parking lot on 24th Street was sold to acquire funds. The lot became a Noe Valley Town Square, now a vibrant center of the community.
In March 2011, with renovations pending, the congregation moved out of the building and into nearby St Luke’s hospital chapel for worship. Three years later, in 2014, the congregation returned to a beautifully renovated sacred space to begin a new chapter of ministry in Noe Valley and San Francisco.
Following Jesus Together
Some words that describe our aspirations as a community: welcoming, affirming, loving God and our neighbors.