Southern Heights Presbyterian Church has a long and storied past. Well, its parts certainly do. For you see Southern Heights Presbyterian is a church created through the joining of two separate presbyterian congregations - Southeast Presbyterian and Southern Hills Presbyterian in 1985 - each with it's own interesting story.

Southeast Presbyterian

In 1911, a non-denominational church was founded at 4619 Prescott Avenue. It was meant to serve the needs of the non-Adventist Christians living in the College View area of Lincoln. College View was an area that had developed around the Seventh Day Adventist college of Union College that was founded in 1891.

In fact, the church had the women of the Adventist Church to thank as the women felt there ought to be a church and church Sunday school for the non-Adventist families living in the area.

In 1953, after joining the Presbyterian denomination, the name was changed to College View Presbyterian Church and then changed again in 1973 to Southeast Presbyterian Church.

Southern Hills Presbyterian

In the early 1970's Homestead Presbytery initiated a new church development for south Lincoln. An elder from each existing Presbyterian congregation in Lincoln was "loaned" to form the Session of this new church. In 1975 this new church was fully formed and named Southern Hills Presbyterian Church.

In 1976 the congregation of Southern Hills received from Homestead Presbytery and moved a historic Presbyterian Church from Staplehurst, NE. The "Little White Church on the Hill" was a landmark of southeast Lincoln until the late 1980's.

Southern Heights Presbyterian

In the early 1980's it became apparent that both congregations - Southeast & Southern Hills - were facing building and space challenges and had reached their growth potentials.

• While Southern Hills had outgrown its little country church, membership was static because program ministries had no space.
• Southeast Presbyterian on the other hand was land-locked with very little parking and no room for expansion.

Both congregations determined that long-range planning was needed to determine the best solution for the limited size of their sanctuaries, the costs of remodeling old structures, and changes in their neighborhoods. Invidually, and without the knowledge of the other, each sought a solution. Southeast decided to move and notified Southern Hills.

It then became apparent that south Lincoln needed one strong, viable Presbyterian church, and not two smaller ones. Therefore, in March of 1983 a design team from each congregation was elected. The 12 member team, assisted by advisors, determined that the two churches should join to become one.

Certainly God's Spirit and guidance touched both congregations and by a vote of each a consolidation was mandated. The design team continued to work dilligently and effective January 1st, 1985 the hard work of the design team and the congregations brought forth one church - Southern Heights Presbyterian Church.

Southern Heights - Building a New Church

The congregations originally joined in worship at the original Southeast Presbyterian Church location at approximately 46th & Prescott Ave. This Prescott location - roughly west of current businesses like Stacy's Lockerroom and the Mill in the current College View Area served the new Southern Heights Church while the new Southern Heights could make plans for a new building on the former Southern Hills location at 40th & Old Cheney Road - our current location.

Additional land was purchased south of the original smaller plot of land Southern Hills had been located on. On our current property this ground is the open area south of the parking lot.

Through the planning phase of the new building a search was made to try to find a new home for "The Little White Church". The old building had served both Staplehurst and the Southern Hills Presbyterian congregations so well that many felt finding a new home and purpose for the small building was of utmost importance. They succeeded and the "Little White Church" became a chapel for the Ambassador Nursing Home at approximately 45th and Normal Boulevard.

Once the old building had been moved the new building was built and Southern Heights dedicated the building for worship in October of 1990.

Southern Heights Presbyterian - Centenial Celebration

Currently, Southern Heights is in the planning stages to celebrate the 100 years it has served the southeast Lincoln Community. A variety of celebration events are planned throughout 2011.

A Centennial Committee has been formed and in addition to their role to plan the celebration they are also gathering additional historic stories, photos, and memories we hope to add to these pages in the future.