The Oral History of Southside as told by The Reverend John Fife
Some stories are best told while sitting around a fire...or from a pulpit. On John Fife's last four Sundays as Southside's pastor, he told the story of Southside as only John can do. So pull up a chair and have a listen.
You won't be disappointed. Click HERE to listen.
A Brief History of Southside Presbyterian Church
Southside Presbyterian Church was founded in 1906 for Tohono O’odham families south of Tucson. There was a need for a Presbyterian church in the area of south Tucson because there was a great deal of migration from the reservation to what was then the outskirts of town in order to find work. Because the white Presbyterian Churches did not want to worship with Indians, Papago Presbyterian Church (later renamed Southside Presbyterian Church) was founded in order that the Tohono O’odham community might have a place to worship. Because it was a mission church the Tohono O’odham members where not allowed to govern themselves. Instead all governance came from the Mission Board of the National Presbyterian Church. Although originally organized as a church for the O’odham, from the beginning Southside also had Mexican and Chinese members.
Attendance was small in those first years and there was a significant language barrier. Few of the O’odham and Mexican-American members spoke English and so interpreters were needed for every service and for Sunday School. From the very beginning, church leaders were not just concerned with religious matters but with the needs of the neighborhood; they would spend time taking food and medicine to those in need, helping people find employment, and providing for entertainment for the neighborhood by having dances at the church.
There were a variety of missionaries and pastors who served Southside in this time and through good times and bad the church slowly began to grow but in 1937 came the most difficult blow of all: the church was almost totally destroyed by fire.
Despite this destruction, the spirit of Southside could not be so easily destroyed. Even though they were not able to rebuild right away because the Great Depression had struck the nation the congregation continued to worship as a house church until 1947. These were difficult times and many returned to live on the reservation.
In 1945 it was decided to make a new start and Southside was reorganized and they called a new pastor, Reverend Peter V. Samano. Under Rev. Samano leadership, Southside was rebuilt and renewed her vision of ministry. As he began to serve as pastor, Rev. Samano realized that the Tohono O’odham were not the only people living in the neighborhood, but there was no other Protestant church to serve the needs of the other ethnic groups. Rev. Samano had the vision of making the church into an inter-racial congregation. And though this idea was met with resistance, his vision was made into a reality when a multi-racial congregation gathered on January 26, 1947 to dedicate the new sanctuary. Since the membership now longer consisted of only Tohono O’odham, the decision was made to change the church's name from Papago Presbyterian Church to Southside Presbyterian Church.
In 1956, Southside was true once again to her vision of a multi-racial church and called an African American pastor: Rev. Caspar Glenn. Rev. Glenn provide leadership for the entire community in the Civil Rights struggle. It was during this time that the entire nation struggled to overcome our history of racism and Southside had its part to play, particularly in the struggle to desegregate public facilities. Rev. Glenn was the president of the Tucson chapter of the NAACP and after worship Southsiders would pick up picket signs on their way out of church and go to picket restaurants who had failed to desegregate.
1962 through 1969 was marked by a period of struggle and decline in the life of Southside and the Presbytery of Southern Arizona (now known as Presbytery de Cristo) decided to close Southside because of decline in membership (at that time there were 26 members).
In 1969 John Fife was called to be Southside’s new pastor tasked with the job of closing the church down; although it was Rev. Fife’s aim to bring new life to Southside and that he did!
During the time that Rev. Fife was pastor of Southside, the congregation continued to be true to its commitment to justice and to the neighborhood surrounding the church. Beginning with standing in solidarity with the American Indian Movement and the occupation of Wounded Knee, Southside began to forge its path as a force for social justice.
In the 1980’s, civil wars in Central America brought refugees to our borders. In spite of the atrocities that refugees were fleeing, the US government were deporting refugees back to death squads. In the face of this humanitarian crisis Southside and other people of faith in Tucson felt called to respond and so they opened the doors of their church to offer hospitality to the stranger. The sanctuary movement became a way for congregations to express their moral and ethical resistance to oppression and persecution and the movement quickly spread throughout the United States. The committed communities of faith formed an underground railroad that moved refugees throughout the United States to other sanctuary churches. The commitment of people in the sanctuary movement lead to the indictment of 16 individuals including Rev. Fife. During the Sanctuary Movement approximately 13,000 Central Americans found hospitality at Southside. It was during this time that the Central American refugees taught Southsiders about courage, hope and faith.
After the Sanctuary Movement, Southside refocused on our immediate neighborhood and re-energized their previous passion for affordable housing in the neighborhood. In partnership with Primavera Southside helped to build 7 homes in the neighborhood.
1993, Southside moved into a new sanctuary linked to our cultural past. Modeled after the Great Kiva of the Anasazi, the use of local building materials - pine logs, saguaro ribs, and flagstones - reflect building techniques used for centuries in the Southwest. Southside has been a long time supporter of the Headstart program and has provided space for children and staff onsite since the 1960s. In March 2003, the Southside Headstart program moved into a new building east of the Kiva and continues to serve neighborhood children.
In 1992 Rev. Fife was elected moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA). In his absence, the Reverend Marguerite Reed stepped up to be Southside’s stated supply pastor. After 35 years of faithful service, John Fife retired in 2005.
During this time members of Southside stepped up their own leadership and went through an envisioning process. In 2009 the Rev. Alison J. Harrington was called to be pastor of Southside. We continue to live the spirit of those elders who came before us and struggle for justice in our community and diversity in our congregation.
Southside Presbyterian Church was founded in 1906 for Tohono O’odham families south of Tucson. There was a need for a Presbyterian church in the area of south Tucson because there was a great deal of migration from the reservation to what was then the outskirts of town in order to find work. Because the white Presbyterian Churches did not want to worship with Indians, Papago Presbyterian Church (later renamed Southside Presbyterian Church) was founded in order that the Tohono O’odham community might have a place to worship. Because it was a mission church the Tohono O’odham members where not allowed to govern themselves. Instead all governance came from the Mission Board of the National Presbyterian Church. Although originally organized as a church for the O’odham, from the beginning Southside also had Mexican and Chinese members.
Attendance was small in those first years and there was a significant language barrier. Few of the O’odham and Mexican-American members spoke English and so interpreters were needed for every service and for Sunday School. From the very beginning, church leaders were not just concerned with religious matters but with the needs of the neighborhood; they would spend time taking food and medicine to those in need, helping people find employment, and providing for entertainment for the neighborhood by having dances at the church.
There were a variety of missionaries and pastors who served Southside in this time and through good times and bad the church slowly began to grow but in 1937 came the most difficult blow of all: the church was almost totally destroyed by fire.
Despite this destruction, the spirit of Southside could not be so easily destroyed. Even though they were not able to rebuild right away because the Great Depression had struck the nation the congregation continued to worship as a house church until 1947. These were difficult times and many returned to live on the reservation.
In 1945 it was decided to make a new start and Southside was reorganized and they called a new pastor, Reverend Peter V. Samano. Under Rev. Samano leadership, Southside was rebuilt and renewed her vision of ministry. As he began to serve as pastor, Rev. Samano realized that the Tohono O’odham were not the only people living in the neighborhood, but there was no other Protestant church to serve the needs of the other ethnic groups. Rev. Samano had the vision of making the church into an inter-racial congregation. And though this idea was met with resistance, his vision was made into a reality when a multi-racial congregation gathered on January 26, 1947 to dedicate the new sanctuary. Since the membership now longer consisted of only Tohono O’odham, the decision was made to change the church's name from Papago Presbyterian Church to Southside Presbyterian Church.
In 1956, Southside was true once again to her vision of a multi-racial church and called an African American pastor: Rev. Caspar Glenn. Rev. Glenn provide leadership for the entire community in the Civil Rights struggle. It was during this time that the entire nation struggled to overcome our history of racism and Southside had its part to play, particularly in the struggle to desegregate public facilities. Rev. Glenn was the president of the Tucson chapter of the NAACP and after worship Southsiders would pick up picket signs on their way out of church and go to picket restaurants who had failed to desegregate.
1962 through 1969 was marked by a period of struggle and decline in the life of Southside and the Presbytery of Southern Arizona (now known as Presbytery de Cristo) decided to close Southside because of decline in membership (at that time there were 26 members).
In 1969 John Fife was called to be Southside’s new pastor tasked with the job of closing the church down; although it was Rev. Fife’s aim to bring new life to Southside and that he did!
During the time that Rev. Fife was pastor of Southside, the congregation continued to be true to its commitment to justice and to the neighborhood surrounding the church. Beginning with standing in solidarity with the American Indian Movement and the occupation of Wounded Knee, Southside began to forge its path as a force for social justice.
In the 1980’s, civil wars in Central America brought refugees to our borders. In spite of the atrocities that refugees were fleeing, the US government were deporting refugees back to death squads. In the face of this humanitarian crisis Southside and other people of faith in Tucson felt called to respond and so they opened the doors of their church to offer hospitality to the stranger. The sanctuary movement became a way for congregations to express their moral and ethical resistance to oppression and persecution and the movement quickly spread throughout the United States. The committed communities of faith formed an underground railroad that moved refugees throughout the United States to other sanctuary churches. The commitment of people in the sanctuary movement lead to the indictment of 16 individuals including Rev. Fife. During the Sanctuary Movement approximately 13,000 Central Americans found hospitality at Southside. It was during this time that the Central American refugees taught Southsiders about courage, hope and faith.
After the Sanctuary Movement, Southside refocused on our immediate neighborhood and re-energized their previous passion for affordable housing in the neighborhood. In partnership with Primavera Southside helped to build 7 homes in the neighborhood.
1993, Southside moved into a new sanctuary linked to our cultural past. Modeled after the Great Kiva of the Anasazi, the use of local building materials - pine logs, saguaro ribs, and flagstones - reflect building techniques used for centuries in the Southwest. Southside has been a long time supporter of the Headstart program and has provided space for children and staff onsite since the 1960s. In March 2003, the Southside Headstart program moved into a new building east of the Kiva and continues to serve neighborhood children.
In 1992 Rev. Fife was elected moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA). In his absence, the Reverend Marguerite Reed stepped up to be Southside’s stated supply pastor. After 35 years of faithful service, John Fife retired in 2005.
During this time members of Southside stepped up their own leadership and went through an envisioning process. In 2009 the Rev. Alison J. Harrington was called to be pastor of Southside. We continue to live the spirit of those elders who came before us and struggle for justice in our community and diversity in our congregation.