Robert King Churchill was born in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada, on September 11, 1903. He became a naturalized citizen of the United States during his first year as a student at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1936, he graduated from that institution and soon thereafter, was one of a group of young men ordained to the gospel ministry by the First General Assembly of the newly formed Presbyterian Church of America (later renamed The Orthodox Presbyterian Church). He served in that church until the time of his sudden death on September 20, 1980.

Mr. Churchill labored as missionary/pastor in Berkeley and Sonora, California; Roswell, New Mexico, and Amarillo, Texas. He pastored Calvary Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Cedar Grove, Wisconsin, from 1948 to 1959. He was always interested in young people and conducted off-campus classes with university students during his years at Berkeley. He was also active in working with young people at various camps and conferences. He served on the Board of Trustees of Westminster Seminary for more than thirty years and represented the seminary for almost two years as Field Representative.

In heart and life, Bob echoed the cry of the apostle: "Woe is me if I preach not the gospel." He delighted unceasingly in the "Marvelous grace of our loving Lord...grace that is greater than all our sin." He was zealous for the whole counsel of God and had to proclaim it. But his awe before the majesty of our sovereign God did not stop at the wonders of redeeming grace: He heard the heavens declare the glory of God and reveled in the display of his handiwork in nature - in ocean, clouds, trees, hills, the green earth, and its fruit. He heard the whole creation shouting, "glory!" But most of all, he rejoiced in the songs of Zion and loved to lead the people of God in singing his praises.