The beginnings of S.U. Church date back to the coming of the American Presbyterian missionaries to the Philippines in 1899. Two years later, they established the Dumaguete Mission Station in January of 1901. Seven months later, Dr. & Mrs. David & Laura Hibbard founded Silliman Institute.
The regular services were organized together with the first classes. An unorganized evangelical congregation in Silliman apparently existed as early as 1903 but the plan to have a church organized materialized only upon the establishment of the Presbyterian Church of Dumaguete on December 6, 1911. This church, which later would become known as the Dumaguete Evangelical Church, was composed of both the Dumaguete townspeople and the Silliman Community. This event marked the official founding of the present Silliman University Church.
The first forty years saw a tremendous growth of the Church in terms of its programs and membership. Religious organizations were soon organized for the students and members of the congregation.The increase in church attendance saw the need for the construction of a new church building with the old Silliman Hall having been outgrown. With the help of local friends and those abroad, the dream of having a new CHURCH began to materialize on Founder’s Day 1941 when the cornerstone was finally laid.
The end of the war saw the beginning of a new life for the Church. The new building miraculously survived the war and was finally completed in December 1949. The first service was held on the eve of the New Year.In the 1960’s, The Church played a vital role in establishing new relations with the Catholics. Through the efforts of Dr. Paul T. Lauby, President Cicero Calderon, and other members of the Silliman Community, the first ecumenical service/rally in the Philippines was held fostering a warmer Protestant-Catholic relation.
Perhaps an important event that affected the Church in the 70s was the proclamation of martial law in 1972. The closure of the University that followed the proclamation resulted in the significant decrease in church attendance. Yet despite the prevailing tense atmosphere under military rule, the fellowship of the Church continued along with the regular services.
Today, the Church is still alive as ever. Her members come and go but she remains. She is the heart and soul of the Silliman community.Through the years Silliman University Church has grown but not without trials and challenges. But through it all the Church has weathered all the storms standing true to the claim that, indeed, “THE FOUNDATION OF GOD STANDETH SURE.”
The regular services were organized together with the first classes. An unorganized evangelical congregation in Silliman apparently existed as early as 1903 but the plan to have a church organized materialized only upon the establishment of the Presbyterian Church of Dumaguete on December 6, 1911. This church, which later would become known as the Dumaguete Evangelical Church, was composed of both the Dumaguete townspeople and the Silliman Community. This event marked the official founding of the present Silliman University Church.
The first forty years saw a tremendous growth of the Church in terms of its programs and membership. Religious organizations were soon organized for the students and members of the congregation.The increase in church attendance saw the need for the construction of a new church building with the old Silliman Hall having been outgrown. With the help of local friends and those abroad, the dream of having a new CHURCH began to materialize on Founder’s Day 1941 when the cornerstone was finally laid.
The end of the war saw the beginning of a new life for the Church. The new building miraculously survived the war and was finally completed in December 1949. The first service was held on the eve of the New Year.In the 1960’s, The Church played a vital role in establishing new relations with the Catholics. Through the efforts of Dr. Paul T. Lauby, President Cicero Calderon, and other members of the Silliman Community, the first ecumenical service/rally in the Philippines was held fostering a warmer Protestant-Catholic relation.
Perhaps an important event that affected the Church in the 70s was the proclamation of martial law in 1972. The closure of the University that followed the proclamation resulted in the significant decrease in church attendance. Yet despite the prevailing tense atmosphere under military rule, the fellowship of the Church continued along with the regular services.
Today, the Church is still alive as ever. Her members come and go but she remains. She is the heart and soul of the Silliman community.Through the years Silliman University Church has grown but not without trials and challenges. But through it all the Church has weathered all the storms standing true to the claim that, indeed, “THE FOUNDATION OF GOD STANDETH SURE.”
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