Church History

Parkside began in the garage of Rudy and Ann Volz as a community church for the newly developed suburb (Land Park) of Sacramento in 1957.  It was formed as a progressive church before we started calling churches progressive!  The visionaries of Parkside wanted a church in which anyone could attend regardless of their religious background or ethnic heritage.  Founded as a multi-racial congregation in the late 50's, Parksiders have remained diverse, welcoming, and committed to social justice issues of equality.

At approximately the same time, a new denomination was forming called the United Church of Christ.  The early church leaders wanted the congregation to be part of a denomination and found in the UCC shared values and vision of continuing God's work in our world.  So, the newly formed little church in South Land Park and the new denomination, the United Church of Christ, "grew up together".  We have enjoyed the last 50+ years of mutual support and working side-by-side to accomplish God's mission of justice for all people.

The first building project of Parkside was the parsonage for the first pastor, Lew Knight.  The congregation met in the garage of the parsonage while the new chapel was being built. Later when I-5 was constructed, the parsonage was torn down in its wake.  The 1st phase of Parkside's building project was complete by then and included the Chapel, Fellowship Hall, and classrooms.  Phase 2 - the building of the main sanctuary - took another 50 years to accomplish being, finished in time for Easter of 2009!

In 1995, the congregation called, for the first time, a woman as its pastor. The first female senior Pastor to serve a Sacramento area UCC church, Rev. Dr. Susan Hamilton has brought creativity and vitality to Parkside since then. 

Who knows what the next 50 years will hold for Parkside Community Church, but you can come and help make history with us!