On Ascension Day in 1868, William Collier, Charles H. Wardlow, N. B. Cooley, Joseph Sutphin, James and Robert Johnston, Alexander Radcliff and J. W. Taylor came together to officially form a new church to be called Ascension. At first, they held services around at various homes and as the congregation grew they met in the old North School building until a church structure could be built. In 1877, the congregation secured a lot on First Avenue and raised the money for a new church structure. It was opened amid great rejoicing in 1880 with the Rev. Stewart Means as the first rector. Unfortunately, hard times closed the church from 1890 to 1895 due to a dwindling congregation and was unable to maintain a rector. In 1905, renewed vigor came to the congregation which continued to grow and prosper till a decision was made in the late 20s to move and find more room.

A new church, with its welcoming red doors, was built in 1928 and dedicated October 27, 1929, the first Sunday after the stock market crash. Two additions years later only enhanced the beauty of the original structure.

The church is constructed in the English Tudor style of native blue quarry stone, wood and stucco, with a steeply pitched slate roof. The original windows on all sides have been replaced over the years with magnificent stained glass windows depicting Biblical events and scenes from the life of Jesus.

In 1954, ground was broken for the addition of wings on both sides of the church to house the much-needed Sunday school rooms, nursery, St. Francis Children's Chapel, offices, kitchen, Great Hall and Little Hall. The children's chapel is a unique feature of the church with its altar and furnishings designed on a child-sized scale. It is a beautiful place for the smallest member of this parish to worship and is used most Sundays.

The Great Hall is frequently used for dinners, concerts, wedding receptions and other community activities such as exercise classes. In recent years, improvements of carpet and new window treatments have made the Great Hall a comfortable room that can easily accommodate 150 to 200 people. The Little Hall is an attractively decorated multi-purpose room used for coffee hour, Bible studies, smaller meetings and workshops.

The next large addition was made in 1964, when the nave was extended to seat 300. A bell tower was constructed to the left of the church and a cloister was added to visually tie the two structures together. The distinctive bell tower was built with stepped buttresses able to support the weight of a thirty-five-bell memorial carillon, dedicated December 24. 1964. The carillon was totally renovated in 1992.

A Memorial Garden was designed in 1983. Tucked into a quiet corner of the inner garden, it provides a special place for the interment of ashes of Ascension members.

Again in 2000, the members of Ascension undertook a challenge and with a major Capitol Fund effort raised over $600,000 to make the building more accessable to the  handicaped and older members. In addition, many smaller projects were undertaken to upgrade much of the exterior plus a significant addition of Audio/Visual capabilites to the main chruch and the Great Hall.