Mission History
Established in 1849, the First Presbyterian Church celebrates its significant heritage as the second oldest Presbyterian Church in Northern California. This future-focused congregation has served the greater San Jose community in many ways for more than 150 years.

Local Mission Activities include serving people who are impoverished seeking services such as food, shelter, emergency transportation and medical care.

We are an inclusive and caring community in Downtown San Jose where you can answer a call to follow Jesus, to serve, receive and celebrate our spiritual and human lives.

First Presbyterian Church in the Mission Field
Since it was "planted" in the mission field, it seems only appropriate that First Presbyterian Church takes great pride in its ongoing work in the area of mission and outreach to the community and the world.

The minutes of the Woman’s Board of Missions, the Home Mission and Foreign Mission societies of our church date back to 1874! In truth, much of what is recorded would not be considered "Politically Correct" today. Words like "heathen" "uncultivated" (referring to the Chinese, yet!) and "demons." There was a lot of effort expended towards the immigrants in San Jose’s Chinatown, teaching English, providing food, discouraging opium usage and aiding young Chinese girls sold into prostitution here.

Eleanor M. Wright

For example, on March 1, 1876, Nellie Eyster, secretary of the Ladies Mission Society, reported on the "glorious promise" of the local mission field in San Jose’s Chinatown. She wrote "Soy Ying, a girl of 16 who, threatened by her parents to be sold into prostitution, said she would die instead. Aided by Christian friends, the girl escaped from Chinatown and fled to the refuge for such unfortunate ones, “The Home” in San Francisco. (This is now known as Cameron House). Mrs. Carey urged the necessity of her support there and the secretary was requested to correspond with the Matron of the Home.  Later entries report the monthly cost to support Soy Ying was $6. Mrs. Carey visited Soy Ying numerous times, taking sewing materials to her and teaching her about Jesus. On one visit, which occurred on a Sunday, she found Soy Ying sewing and told her that "American women who love Jesus do not sew on Sabbath." "Very well," Soy Ying was reported to reply, "I not sew."

On December 18, 1926, Eleanor M. Wright sailed for China under the auspices of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions. Miss Wright joined First Presbyterian Church in 1907 and her service in educational and social service mission work was conducted at Ming Deh Girls School, at Nanking, China.

Miss Wright was killed in the line of duty in Nanking. She had been in charge of social work for the mission, doing pioneer work organizing a dispensary, playground, Mothers’ Club, bathhouse for women and children; sanitary, health and religious education and conducted the choir in Hansimen Church, Nanking.

On the occasion of the 90th Anniversary of First Church, the courageous Miss Wright wrote (just six weeks before her death): "This is no era for marking time or waiting for a more convenient day… As Christ’s followers we cannot stand by with folded hands when so many call to us for help. We must work united and much more effectively not only to relieve suffering, but for peace and good will among men." As First Church celebrates its 150th Anniversary, Miss Wright’s words still ring prophetically true.