HISTORY OF ORCUTT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Following the discovery of oil in 1904 in the Orcutt area, people flooded into the area in search of black gold. Among the arrivals was a Reverend Sloan, preaching the Gospel from the back of his chuck wagon church. The next year, William A. Ferguson, who was surveying the townsite for the Union Oil Company, suggested to W.W. Orcutt that land be set aside for a church. The church was built in 1907 at the corner of Pacific and Union streets. The still standing structure housed the ministry of this congregation for more than 55 years.

The Orcutt Community Church was affiliated with many different Christian traditions in its early years, being served by various itinerant preachers and dedicated laymen. In 1941 it was formally affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, which developed the congregation as a mission church. The creation of Vandenberg Air Force Base caused great growth in the community and the church was reorganized as a self-sustaining congregation in 1961. Two years later the church relocated from the heart of Old Orcutt, purchasing 3.5 acres which comprise the current site. In 1969, the Rev. Robert Wedaa began a 25 year pastorate during which a new sanctuary was completed on the site in 1994.

In 1996, Rev. Bruce Lethbridge, our present pastor, came to Orcutt Presbyterian Church.