Compass Church

(Was Salinas First Presbyterian Church)

830 Padre Drive
Salinas

The first Presbyterian congregation in Salinas was organized by Rev. George McCormick who arrived in 1867.  By 1869, the congregation had incorporated and completed the first church building at 327 Pajaro.  That building has once again become a church after many years as a restaurant.

The new church at 830 Padre Drive was built in 1950.  It was designed by architect Charles E. Butner of Salinas and San Jose.

The stained glass windows in the new church were created between 1952 and 1958 by Carl Huneke, Century Stained Glass Studio, San Francisco.  The theme for those windows was selected by Rev. M. L. Kemper, D. D.  It includes the Gospel story, the Apostles, the Evangelists, Jesus of Nazareth, Christ the King, and the Holy Trinity.  The major window in the chancel is Christ, I Am The Light Of The World.  The Choir window is the Old Testament including Moses with the Ten Commandments.

Several of the stained glass windows from the old church were reset in the McCormick Chapel.  The origin of those windows is unknown.

The windows were repaired in 1997 by Frank Warthemann, European Art Glass, Watsonville.