Saline County Churches-Salina Presbyterian Church
This history was written in 1892, on the occasion of the laying of the cornerstone for the new church:
It was organized May 12, 1860, by a committee of Highland Presbytery (Old school),
consisting of Rev. A. T. Rankin and Rev.
Wm. Bishop, D. D. The charter members
were Mrs. Christina Phillips, Mrs. Christina
Campbell and Mrs. Mary Morrison. Messrs.
D. L. Phillips and W. W. Morrison were
chosen ruling elders. They both and Mrs.
Morrison also have gone to their reward.
The other gentleman and two ladies are still
active and faithful members. Mrs Phillips,
or "Grandma Phillips" as she is more commonly known, although in her ninty third
year is remarkable for her strength and
vigor of mind and body. Soon after others
joined the new organization, among whom
was Col. W. A. Phillips, who happened to be
absent at the date of tbe organization.
The
newly organized church was supplied during
its first summer by the Rev. A. A. Morrison.
In the fall ol the same year Rev. Wm. Bishop accepted a call to the pastorate, which
position be successfully filled for five years.
During these five years of hardships and
pioneer struggles, the youthful organization
tripled its membership. The resignation of
the pastor and his removal to Highland in
1865 left the church vacant till the following
year, when Rev. Z. V. Blakely became stated
supply for one year. In October 1867 Rev. J.
C. Hanna became the preacher in charge,
which position he occupied with success for
several months. November 7, of this same
year, 1867, Rev. J. L. Jones came here and
organized another church (New school),
consisting of sixteen members, which he
continued to serve for sometime. Dr. V. E.
Grier and Mr. C. E. Wilbur were elected ruling elders.
After the reunion of the Old and New
School General Assemblies in 1869 it was
thought desirable that these local organizations should be united.
The union was consummated December 30, of that same year,
Messrs. H. H. Morrison, D. P. Bishop and D.
L. Phillips being chosen elders, and Rev.
J. L. Jones being retained as pastor of the
united church until August 20, 1870. In
that year was built the present church
edifice, which was dedicated in April 1871.
In October 1871, Rev. G. W. Hays became the
pastor and remained for one year and a half.
After his departure the church had only an
occasional supply till January 1874, when
Rev. W. A. Simkins was chosen pastor,
which position he occupied for thirteen
years; during which time he labored faithfully and earnestly; doing much excellent
service for tbe community at large, as well
as for the church of his charge. In August,
1887, Rev. Ross Stevenson, of Washington,
Pa. was invited as Stated Supply, and remained to serve the church in that capacity
till April of the following year. Early in
that month a call was extended to Rev. Wm.
Foulkes, who entered on the work in the following month, and was formally installed
one year later, April 10, 1889, as pastor of the
congregation by a commission of Solomon
Presbytery.
The church is in a flourishing
condition. The greatest unanimity prevails
throughout the entire congregation. The
work is being steadily and substantially advanced. The present membership is over three
hundred and fifty, of whom one hundred and
eighty hare been added during the present
pastorate. Tbe Sabbath School is prospering under the faithfull superintendency of
Mr. P. L. Gebhart.
The Session at present consists of elders J.
W. Burke, W. C Tuthill, L. O. Thoroman, E.
W. Blair, H. H. Morrison and W. C. Addison.
The trustees are Messrs. D. Whitehead.
M. M. Briggs, T. F Garver, S. Seaman and
V. McHenry.
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This website created June 15, 2011 by Sheryl McClure.
� 2011 Kansas History and Heritage Project
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