October 10, 2023|| Attendance

𝙷𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢 𝚘𝚏 𝑺𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝑼𝒏𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝑪𝒉𝒖𝒓𝒄𝒉

The beginnings of Silliman University Church date back to the coming of the American Presbyterian missionaries to the Philippines in 1899.

Silliman started holding services alongside its initial classes. An outreach congregation appeared in 1903. The official Protestant church in Dumaguete, later known as Dumaguete Town Church, took shape on December 6, 1911, uniting Dumaguete residents and the Silliman community. This marked the city’s first Protestant church.

In 1916, recognizing the difficulty of maintaining two congregations—one in the town and one in the school—with distinct ministries, curricular interests, and worship languages, and because the town church had become independent from U.S. Presbyterian churches, they separated. Dr. Paul Doltz became the first pastor of the Silliman Student Church, which later evolved into the Silliman University Church, welcoming all Sillimanians regardless of their religious affiliations.

Since its inception, Silliman Church has prioritized the welfare of Silliman students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Its active program emphasizes evangelism. Despite its Presbyterian roots, students have the freedom to practice their own beliefs, with opportunities to expand their spiritual horizons and translate faith into meaningful commitments.