By SALINA POST
Salina Post proudly presents Flashback Friday in partnership with the Smoky Hill Museum. Enjoy a weekly tidbit of local history from the staff at Salina Post and the Smoky Hill Museum as we present "Salina-Flashback Fridays."
First Presbyterian Church
Although Methodists met earlier, Presbyterians were the first actually to organize a church in Saline County.
Presbyterianism was founded in Scotland and since most of Salina’s founders were of Scottish descent it followed these Presbyterian pioneers who got the earliest start in Salina. Even before the church was organized, Christina Phillips held Sunday School classes in her home.
William A. Phillips, one of Salina's founders, was a Scottish Presbyterian as were most of the first settlers of the town, so it was quite natural that the Rev. A. T. Rankin and Dr. William Bishop of the Old School Branch of the Presbyterian Church should come to Salina to organize a church in the community.
The two missionary ministers arrived in Salina Wednesday morning, May 9, 1860. They had started from Lawrence about ten days earlier, traveling the one hundred and fifty miles in a buggy over the “Phillips Road”—the route later used for Highway 40.
On Saturday, May 12, 1860, Mrs. Christine “Grandma” Phillips, Mrs. Christina Campbell, Mr. D. L Phillips, Mr. W. W. Morrison, and Mr. H. H. Morrison met with Rev. Rankin and Dr. Bishop in the Garlitz Carpenter Shop, which stood on the northeast corner of Santa Fe and Iron.
The five men and two ladies completed the organizational plans for a Presbyterian Church, the first church in Salina. Mr. D. L. Phillips and Mr. W. W. Morrison were elected Ruling Elders.
On Sunday morning, May 13, 1860, the first church service was held in the court room, located on the second floor of the Tressin Hardware Store on the southeast corner of Santa Fe and Ash. Rev. Rankin preached the sermon and in the afternoon, he administered communion and baptized Christie Campbell, the first child born in Salina.
Soon after the organization of the church, Rev. A. A. Morrison arrived from Illinois and preached to the small congregation until October 7, 1860, when Dr. William Bishop became Stated Supply, a position he held for five years.
During 1860 the church grew to fifteen members and here it remained with little change until the end of the Civil War.
In 1868, Rev. J. L. Jones became the minister of the church and the plan of rotary Eldership was adopted. On September 6, 1870 A. C. Sloan, C. A. Campbell, Jacob Bishop, Maxwell A. Phillips and Robert Muir signed the Charter of Incorporation for the First Presbyterian Church of Salina, Kansas.
In 1870 the congregation of a few more than 50 members started the construction of a church on 8th street. It was finished and dedicated April 2, 1871. This frame building, with a seating capacity of 200, cost about $4,000. In 1876 the ladies of the congregation bought a bell, which was transferred to the two later buildings.
January 12, 1874, Rev. W. A. Simkins became pastor of the church and during his 13 years of service, the church grew from a small congregation to one of the largest in the Synod of Kansas. In 1888 Dr. William Foulkes began a memorable ministry of 12 years, serving with energy, ability and consecration.
Four years after Dr. Foulkes became pastor it was decided larger quarters were needed. In 1892 the frame building was moved and later sold to the United Brethren congregation, who had it moved to South 5th Street. The new building was built on the same land where the first building had been.
In April 7, 1892 “Grandma” Phillips laid the cornerstone and by January 1893 it was formally opened for services.
The completed large church, costing $20,000, was dedicated May 13, 1900. During Dr. Foulkes’ ministry 452 members were added to the roll and three sons of the church went out into world service for Christ— William Blair, his brother, Herbert Blair, and William Hiram Foulkes, Jr. Dr. and Mrs. William Blair’s missionary work in bringing Christianity to Korea during the early 1900s was financially supported by First Presbyterian Church, Salina.
When the current building was built, Blair Hall was named in his honor. From 1900 to 1904 Dr. Stephen E. Estey was pastor. The church had a remarkable growth in all departments of its work, and a pipe organ was installed. In 1905 Dr. Frank McKean became pastor. The church prospered under his leadership. Dr. Alfred E. Van Orden became pastor in 1910 and continued until 1919. This was a time of remarkable growth in the membership of the church.
Dr. Joseph Clokey became pastor in 1920, remaining for seven years. Dr. Clokey led the congregation in building the third home of the First Presbyterian Church on Mulberry from Eight to Ninth Streets and local architect Charles Shaver designed it at a cost of approximately $225,000.
Dr. Raymond V. Kearns was installed as pastor May 12, 1927 on the 67th anniversary of the founding of the church. During his pastorate of 19 years, the membership became 1500 communicants and there was a steady growth in all departments, particularly in the ministry to the youth though the church schools and Westminister Fellowship programs.
The most significant accomplishment of Dr. Kearns’ ministry was clearing the church of all indebtedness. Thanks in part to the continuing efforts of the women’s organizations the debt of $90,000 was raised with $7,200 in cash above the amount in spite of the depression and the drought years of the 1930s. In 1946 Dr. Kearns resigned as pastor to become Associate Secretary for the Department of Evangelism of the Presbyterian Church of the U. S. A.
Dr. James S. Elliott became pastor on December 30, 1946. At this time there were four separate women’sorganizations in the church: The Women’s Missionary Society, the Willing Workers, The Daughters of the Church and the Presbyterian Women’s Guild.
In order for the women to have a sense of “oneness” and a greater interest in what the church was doing at home and abroad, Dr. Elliott suggested forming an inclusive Women’s Society, a plan that was being adopted by Presbyterian and other churches throughout the country.
On October 7, 1948, the Presbyterian Women’s Association was born. During Dr. Elliott’s 18 years of ministry, the Shaver Architectural Firm was commissioned to redesign the sanctuary. John Shaver, son of the building’s designer, removed the organ pipes from the chancel arch to expose the Resurrection window telling the story in Mark 16.
A new pipe organ was also installed and the choir loft was moved to either side of the chancel.
In 1954, 200 members of the congregation were encouraged to start Sunrise Presbyterian Church. In the latter part of the 1950s, $400,000 was pledged for the construction of a Christian Education Building costing $273,000. It was dedicated September 27, 1959 in time for the church’s centennial celebration in 1960.
During Jim Elliott’s years as pastor, the church showed large increases in new members (231 in one year) and attendance (550 enrolled in Sunday School). In 1964, Dr. Elliott resigned as pastor.
First Presbyterian Church has been a key positive force in Salina, starting with its support for servicemen during World War II through a Soldier Center. Over the years, the church has helped initiate several community programs, including Presbyterian Manor, Meals on Wheels, and Habitat for Humanity.
It has also housed the Salina Day Care organization for over 40 years and supported The Family Hope Center, which provided support groups, counseling, and health care for more than 25 years.
Information courtesy of Smoky Hill Museum and 150 Year Church Anniversary Brochure.