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Beginning with thirty-three people meeting in a college chapel, the continuing health and growth of College Hill Presbyterian Church is a dramatic witness to God’s faithfulness to His people—and of His people’s joyful obedience to Jesus Christ, God’s Word, and God’s visions. Settled in the early 1800’s, College Hill, then known as “Pleasant Hill,” was a small, unincorporated community north of the city of Cincinnati. Since the life of the village centered on its two colleges, Farmer’s College (located near the present site of Aiken High School) and the Ohio Female College (on the site of Emerson North Hospital), in time the area became known as “College Hill.” A number of families from the Mt. Pleasant Presbyterian Church, of the area now known as Mt. Healthy, began to worship in the Farmer’s College chapel. The Rev. J. S. Edwards, of Mt. Pleasant P.C., preached part-time. On April 23, 1853, thirty-three people met with an authorized committee from the Hamilton Presbytery to form a new church. The founding families presented their “letters of dismissal” to the Mount Pleasant Church a covenanted to “organize and walk according to the rules of the Presbyterian Church.”
Soon the building was filled with believers worshipping the Lord “with a joyful noise.” The church spire and bell, financed by a “grand concert” given by city musicians, added to the melody in 1859. The bell was cracked in 1865 by exuberant ringing announcing the end of the Civil War. It was later melted down and recast into the one which now calls the Church family to worship. In 1862, the melodeon that had assisted worshippers for many years was sold, and an organ was installed that functioned until replaced in 1886.
What might be referred to as “divine remodeling” occurred in August, 1888. An hour after the close of the Sunday worship service, a sudden storm completely destroyed the Church building, but left the two-year-old organ undamaged. Services were held in the College Hill Town Hall until the new stone structure with three memorial windows was dedicated on October 5, 1890. The chapel area and east end of today’s Sanctuary were parts of the 1890 building. The chronicle of God’s faithfulness and blessings for His people continued as the Church grew. In 1926, the Parish House was built to provide additional Sunday School facilities and a center for community activities. In 1935, the original Manse was built. On June 17, 1951, ground was broken for an enlarged Sanctuary. During construction, worship services were held in the Hollywood Theater. Finally, on Sunday, January 4, 1953, almost one hundred years after the Church was formed, the new Sanctuary was dedicated to the service of God.
In January 1975, the congregation asked, “Where is CHPC going? What would Christ have us do as a family of faith? What are our needs?” The Session responded, “We need to plan for and facilitate ‘wholeness in the Lord.’” How? By nurture of the Body, growth of the Body, and provision of resources to support nurture and growth (leadership, buildings, and finances).  In
October 1978, the people asked, “What is God’s unique calling
to CHPC? What are His priorities?” The response, after
extensive prayer and study, was: The first Call of CHPC is to
“equip the Saints for the work of the ministry.”
(Ephesians 4:12) The full text read: “The primary call is
to glorify God and minister to our own people in order to bring
about ‘wholeness in the Lord’ in obedience to Jesus Christ through
Scripture.” Our
staff, elders, and other leaders are called:
In April, 1979, the Session acted by stating, “As we are ‘to grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ’ (Ephesians 4:15), we believe buildings should be supportive of the diversity of growth inspired by the Spirit in the life of members of the Body. We should not be limited by insufficient resources, including buildings, in our growth toward wholeness, and in our equipping for the work of Christ in the world.” In March 1981, the people acted by authorizing a two-portion Building Program that met the double-faceted need for facilities and additional funds for ministry. The first phase of the $4 million (1981 costs) building expansion and renovation portion, named the Barnabas Center for Spiritual Growth, was dedicated September 11, 1983. Changes to the Teleios Center (the former Manse), the Sanctuary, and the full renovation of the Ministry Center (formerly the Parish House) followed. The revised Call of College Hill Presbyterian was adopted in July, 1994. It serves as the basis for the church’s ministry into the next century. This Call reflects an added emphasis on reaching out to those who do not know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. “College Hill Presbyterian Church is called to be a community of spiritually maturing Christians knowing, believing, praying, and living the Word of God. We are called to give ourselves away in unconditional love to God, one another, and others so that we and all those we touch may know God personally and intimately through Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. All to the glory of God.”  During
1994 and 1995, the Session addressed whether College Hill Presbyterian
Church’s life and ministry would continue within the Presbyterian
Church (USA). In October 1995, the Elders reaffirmed the 142-year-old
covenant of the church to “organize and walk according to
the rules of the Presbyterian Church,” which includes
being “salt and light” within the PC(USA). In
January 1997, the Session affirmed that: “In response
to the Call of God to CHPC, we seek to be a redemptive community
in which God is worshipped, the gospel is proclaimed and members
are transformed, equipped and empowered to give themselves away
in service to Jesus Christ.” The
Session also adopted “Five Operating Emphases” to highlight specific
aspects of the Call. A dynamic balance of the five is desired.
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The
“First Presbyterian Church of College Hill” continued to meet in
the Farmer’s College chapel, but within a month began to solicit
subscriptions for the present church building site. One-half of
the $12,000 cost was given by William and Samuel Cary, major land
owners in the area. Brick for the new building was purchased from
Pleasant Hill Kiln, located directly across Hamilton “Turnpike”
from the Church’s property. On January l, 1857, an 800-seat church
Sanctuary was dedicated—200 seats more than the current Sanctuary.
That’s faith!—faith in a God who gives and empowers the visions
He entrusts to His people. 
While
the Sanctuary developed rapidly, Sunday School continued to be
held in the Farmer’s College chapel. Teachers and pupils traveled
between the two locations for nearly twenty years, until 1877
when the village school, on the Church grounds, was purchased
and dedicated. 
In
1953, the Pounsford family donated the Chatfield property, including
a white frame house over 100 years old. The building, which served
as the residence of head custodians and the birthplace of CHPC’s
Teleios ministry, was razed during the 1981 building program.
The Fellowship Hall, dedicated in January 1961, provided expanded
nursery, kitchen, lounge, and auditorium facilities. In 1967,
the Lewis property, north of Fellowship Hall, was purchased to
provide a much needed area for additional parking. In 1971, the
50-rank, 4-manual Schantz pipe organ was installed and dedicated.
The chancel area was also modified to provide seating space for
the 100-member choir and orchestra (during special musical worship
services). 
The
secondary calling of CHPC is renewal in the Spirit (individual,
congregational, and theological) of the Body of Christ by serving
as an equipping center for Christian leadership. 