Our History
United Church of Angel Fire (UCAF) embodies an exciting ecumenical vision and is a multi-denominational Christian congregation of about 200+ members. About half of the members are full-time residents and half are associate members who reside in the Moreno Valley part of the year. Worship service attendance averages 55-75 while summer worship attendance increases to 125 -150.
Beginning as the Angel Fire Presbyterian Fellowship, in late 1992 the group began to explore a way to become an ecumenical congregation with people of several denominations united in a single mission yet retaining their ties with their own tradition. This was accomplished and the United Church of Angel Fire is supported by and affiliated with four denominations; The Presbyterian Church (USA), The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), The United Methodist Church and The United Church of Christ. Currently, the membership of the congregation is composed of people from ten denominations, and we are striving to be inclusive of all God's children. The church building was first occupied in May of 1999 and dedicated in June of 1999. Both during the original building construction and the later fellowship hall completion much of the construction work was accomplished by members of the congregation.
1994 the congregation called its first full-time pastor; the Reverend Dr. Tracey Miller. Rev. Miller, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), served until 2002. The church’s second full time pastor, Rev. Dr. Murray Thompson, Presbyterian Church (USA), served from early 2003 through April 2009. The Rev. Peggy Trott was commissioned as Minister in Residence in April 2004 to assist the pastor and work with Christian education. She continues to serve the congregation on an as-needed basis. October 2009 UCAF installed an interim pastor, Rev. Dr. Doug McPherson, United Methodist, who served during the pastor search for a full-time pastor. Rev. Richard Safford, Presbyterian Church (USA), accepted the next call and served at UCAF from November 2010 until his retirement at the end of June 2020. Rev. Peggy Trott served as interim pastor in the summer of 2020 until the arrival of the next minister. From October 2020 until August 2022, Rev. Dr. Andrew Konigsmark was our full-time Minister. In July 2023, we welcomed our new full time Minister, Pastor David Wilman.