First Presbyterian Church, Boise

Founded in 1878, First Presbyterian Church of Boise has played a vital role in the spiritual and civic life of the city for well over a century. The church held its first sermon in 1877, at a time when Boise’s population barely topped 1,100. From modest beginnings-sharing space with a Baptist congregation and counting only 17 charter members, including Elvina Moulton, Boise’s only early Black pioneer woman-the church has steadily grown into a vibrant community grounded in Presbyterian values of service, education, and inclusion.

The current sanctuary, completed in 1894 in a Free Gothic Revival style, was a labor of faith and perseverance, with much of the construction completed during an economic downturn by just two contractors and a loan from the National Church Board.