In 1882 members of Cape Town's oldest Presbyterian Church, St. Andrew's, decided to establish a Sunday school that would serve the growing congregation of the "still sparsely-populated residential areas" of Gardens, Oranjezicht and Tamboerskloof. It was not long before the need for worship services in the rapidly growing area, and on 27 May 1890, HE Sir Henry Loch, then Governor of the Cape Colony, laid the first foundation stone that was to be the new church and school on the corners of Orange, Hatfield and Annandale Streets. The first service of worship was held on 10 October of that same year. "Within four years, the new congregation, originally established as an adjunct of St. Andrew's, had become an independent church" with Rev. John James McClure of the Irish Presbyterian Church as its minister - a ministry which lasted 29 years. In 1889, the still growing congregation acquired land beside the existing church and began raising funds for the construction of a new church. On 29 August 1901, the then Governor and High Commissioner, HE Lord Milner, laid the foundation of the present Gardens Presbyterian Church. The building was completed two years later and dedicated on 11 October 1903. The original structure remains in use today as the "Founders' Hall" and a larger hall was added in the 1970's.
The Shofar Christian Church also holds services in this church on Sunday mornings and evenings.
