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 SHPC has its roots in Second Presbyterian Church, San Anselmo, organized in 1908. In 1948, the church celebrated its growth and the ordination of its own pastor with a change of name to Trinity Presbyterian Church. In 1957, Trinity dissolved to form a new church in Sleepy Hollow. Members met in the home of Dr. Jessie Baird of the San Francisco Theological Seminary (located in San Anselmo) until a new building was constructed. December 6, 1959, saw groundbreaking at the current SHPC site. By April of 1960, the first service was held in the present SHPC building.
Over the ensuing years, the church has evolved and changed, as have many community churches. In 1990, the Revs. Andy (1990-2000) and Wendy (1990-2004) Dreitcer were called to serve jointly as a clergy couple. The youthful couple, noted for their diaper bags and two small children, began to connect with other young families in the area. Through Andy’s academic ties (he completed his doctoral work at the seminary and later served as a member of their faculty) and Wendy’s life-long association (Howard Rice, Wendy's father, was a SFTS professor and served as chaplain), the Dreitcers were able to build on their longstanding experiences with the seminary.
In 1998, to meet the challenge of supporting a Pastor in one of the most expensive housing markets in the nation, the Church built a Manse adjacent to the Church Sanctuary. The Manse includes a three bedroom home and a private office to support church operations. Completion of the Manse was a complex and remarkable achievement for a congregation of Sleepy Hollow’s size.
During the early 2000s, the congregation traveled a difficult path marked by the loss of two key staff: Wendy Dreicter, our then-pastor, and Janice Baumsteiger, our secretary/sexton, both of whom lost courageous battles with cancer. They remain an inspiration for those of the congregation who knew them.
Beginning in 2004 and continuing through mid-2007, SHPC was wonderfully served by an Interim Pastor, Renée Rico. Renée brought an easy spirit, a gifted sensitivity for environmental issues, and experienced leadership to navigate the selection process for a permanent pastor. Under Renée’s leadership, SHPC completed a comprehensive Mission Study and a year-long Pastor search.
In mid-2007, our permanent Pastor, Tici Truly, took over the SHPC pulpit. Tici is a vibrant, enthusiastic leader – she is “Truly” a gifted preacher with a unique ability to connect easily with the congregation. Tici and her extended family joined the SHPC community after serving for many years with a congregation in Ohio (see our “Pastor’s Message” page for more from Tici). Also in 2007, the church launched an innovative Youth Program: “Kids About Town (KAT), Molding Civic-Minded Middle-Schoolers.” The KAT program was launched with financial support from a grant by the Marin Community Foundation (see our “Youth Programs” page for information about youth services).
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