Who We Are
We are a congregation of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) which seeks to share the light of Jesus Christ to our neighbors, both near and far. Our tagline speaks to our identity as a church: Open. Caring. Community.
Open
All are welcome who come to John Knox, no matter your background or past experience with the church. You will be greeted by a smile, and we will be here to help in whatever way we can.
Caring
Just as God has loved us abundantly in Jesus Christ, so we seek to love one another by caring for all who are connected to John Knox. Whether you are a long-time member, a first-time visitor, a neighbor who comes asking for assistance, or anyone in-between, you will be cared for in a way that makes you feel valued and loved.
Community
We are a community of believers who seek to serve our community with energy, intelligence, imagination and love. Through our strong bonds of community, we then serve our community in multiple ways, opening our doors for groups to meet, gather, heal, and be nurtured. We are committed to being a light of hope to our immediate neighborhood, while sharing that light in our individual lives of faith.
Come and explore John Knox Presbyterian -- Open. Caring. Community!
Read more about our history
In the early-1960s, it was evident that a new Presbyterian congregation was needed on the growing edge of Speedway and the Northwest side of Indianapolis. Land was purchased at the corner of 30th Street and High School Road in January 1961, and Laurence Sunkel, associate minister at Irvington Presbyterian Church, was called as the organizing pastor in September 1961. The first worship service was held at St. John’s Episcopal Church (3 blocks away) on September 17, 1961. The congregation soon chose the name “John Knox” to remember its heritage and roots in the Reformed faith. The organizational service was held on March 4, 1962, at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, where 121 charter members were welcomed.
In John Knox’s nearly 60 years of ministry, there have been five pastors who have served the congregation. Rev. Larry Sunkel served from 1962-1971. Then Dr. Roger Dean was called as pastor from 1971-2000, serving the congregation for nearly 30 years. During that time, Rev. Mark Merrill was called as associate pastor, and served in that capacity from 1977-2002. Rev. Frank Mansell was called as pastor in 2003, completing his ministry with us on May 16, 2021. Lisa Crismore was called as Commissioned Lay Pastor in 2004.
In 2010, John Knox completed and dedicated a new sanctuary after a three-year process. This sanctuary symbolizes our congregation’s commitment to our community, and we celebrated paying off the loan for this space in January 2020. We are grateful for our past 60 years of ministry, and we look forward with anticipation for what God has in store for us in the years ahead!