A Brief History

In 1947 a group of people interested in forming the first Protestant church in Apple Valley met at the home of Mr.  & Mrs. George Stott. Early in 1949 the congregation met at the Branding Iron at Highway 18 and Central Road. In 1950 the congregation was received by the Presbytery of Riverside with 54 charter members worshipping at the Apple Valley Community Center. In that year that Church of the  Valley’s first pastor, Ross Greek, came to serve the congregation and the first session of elders was formed. On September 18, 1951 COV was officially recognized by the Presbytery of Riverside.

The church came to its current location in 1954 by building the original sanctuary. The first worship service celebrated there was on July 18, 1954. In 1956 the Reverend Ross Greek tendered his resignation and a search began for a new pastor. At a congregational meeting held on February 17, 1957, the Reverend O. William Hansen was called to pastor Church of the Valley. When Pastor Hansen came to COV there were 154 members on the church roll.

Over the next 38 years of Pastor Hansen’s pastoral leadership the church added a new Christian Education wing (1960), a new sanctuary (1970) and a Family Life Center complete with gymnasium (1990). These buildings were a reflection of the ever increasing ministry at COV. The Church grew as Apple Valley grew, with increased attendance at COV and the addition of many other vibrant churches in Apple Valley.

Pastor Hansen retired in 1996 and Pastor Tom Taylor answered the call to come to Church of the Valley in 1998. Under Pastor Taylor’s leadership the church continued to reach out to Apple Valley by adding a contemporary service with a praise band in addition to the traditional service and choir. Thus COV embraced its multigenerational congregation with the timeless message of salvation through Christ Jesus and told the Good News in a timely way to all who called the church their spiritual home. Pastor Taylor left Church of the Valley in late 2002 to become the Senior Pastor at Glenkirk Presbyterian Church in Glendora.

From 2003 to the summer of 2008, COV was under the sure guidance of Dr. Alan Stones. Now with Senior Pastor Mike Clark, who began at COV in the summer of 2008, COV looks forward to sharing the "Heart of the Valley" at the center of Apple Valley as we love the Lord, each other and our neighbors in Christ's love.