First Presbyterian Church of Marion, Iowa
Encyclopedia
First Presbyterian Church is located in Marion, Iowa
, United States
. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
. It was originally called the Old School Presbyterian Church. While that generally refers to it being conservative, it also meant in the years before the Civil War
that it was anti-slavery.
Initially the congregation met for services in public buildings, including the Linn County
courthouse, which was in Marion at that time. There was no pastor in the early years. The Rev. Salmon Cowles, a Presbyterian missionary based in Keokuk
, visited about four times a year. The Marion and Linn Groves churches shared the Rev. J.S. Fullerton as a pastor starting in 1849.
Property on Market Street (now Tenth Street) was purchased for $60 in 1851. It took five years to build a church building with volunteer labor. In 1852 a Sunday School was organized. At the same time the Rev. Alexander S. Marshall began a nearly 40 year pastorate with the church. He saw that construction was finished on the church.
The congregation grew and planning for a new building was begun. Construction on the present Gothic Revival structure began in July 1884. Stone for the building was hauled in from Stone City, Iowa
. The church was dedicated on September 27, 1885.
The Westminster House was the first major addition since the church was built, and was built from 1954-56. A kitchen and a new Moller organ was purchased at the same time. A major remodeling project occurred in 1967, which included a new ceiling and new pews. A 1988 addition was built and it included a lounge, choir room, and pastor's office. The lot northwest of the church was acquired in 1989, the building on it was raised and it was made into a parking lot.
In 1997 the sanctuary was renovated with new carpet and new pew cushions. The following year the hand bell choirs were established. The first part of a three-phase restoration project of the stained glass
windows was completed in 1999.
In 2000 Pastor Howard Chapman served a Presbyterian church in Scotland
during the summer months, and First Presbyterian hosted Scottish Pastor Eric Foggit and his family. In 2001 the second phase of the stained glass window restoration was completed and the renovation of the Westminster House chapel as a multi-purpose room as well as a chapel was completed.
Marion, Iowa
Marion is a city in Linn County, Iowa, United States. The population was 26,294 at the 2000 census and was estimated at 32,172 in 2007. The city is part of the Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
History
The church was organized on February 5, 1842. There were originally nine members, many of whom transferred their membership from the Linn Grove Presbyterian Church near Springville, IowaSpringville, Iowa
Springville is a city in Linn County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,074 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Springville is located at ....
. It was originally called the Old School Presbyterian Church. While that generally refers to it being conservative, it also meant in the years before the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
that it was anti-slavery.
Initially the congregation met for services in public buildings, including the Linn County
Linn County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 211,226 in the county, with a population density of . There were 92,251 housing units, of which 86,134 were occupied.-2000 census:...
courthouse, which was in Marion at that time. There was no pastor in the early years. The Rev. Salmon Cowles, a Presbyterian missionary based in Keokuk
Keokuk, Iowa
Keokuk is a city in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Iowa and one of the county seats of Lee County. The other county seat is Fort Madison. The population was 11,427 at the 2000 census. The city is named after the Sauk Chief Keokuk, who is thought to be buried in Rand Park...
, visited about four times a year. The Marion and Linn Groves churches shared the Rev. J.S. Fullerton as a pastor starting in 1849.
Property on Market Street (now Tenth Street) was purchased for $60 in 1851. It took five years to build a church building with volunteer labor. In 1852 a Sunday School was organized. At the same time the Rev. Alexander S. Marshall began a nearly 40 year pastorate with the church. He saw that construction was finished on the church.
The congregation grew and planning for a new building was begun. Construction on the present Gothic Revival structure began in July 1884. Stone for the building was hauled in from Stone City, Iowa
Stone City, Iowa
Stone City is an unincorporated community in Jones County, Iowa, United States. Stone City began as a company town for the workers of the local quarries. Stone City is known for its Anamosa Limestone quarries, historic limestone architecture, and 1930's art colony...
. The church was dedicated on September 27, 1885.
The Westminster House was the first major addition since the church was built, and was built from 1954-56. A kitchen and a new Moller organ was purchased at the same time. A major remodeling project occurred in 1967, which included a new ceiling and new pews. A 1988 addition was built and it included a lounge, choir room, and pastor's office. The lot northwest of the church was acquired in 1989, the building on it was raised and it was made into a parking lot.
In 1997 the sanctuary was renovated with new carpet and new pew cushions. The following year the hand bell choirs were established. The first part of a three-phase restoration project of the stained glass
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
windows was completed in 1999.
In 2000 Pastor Howard Chapman served a Presbyterian church in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
during the summer months, and First Presbyterian hosted Scottish Pastor Eric Foggit and his family. In 2001 the second phase of the stained glass window restoration was completed and the renovation of the Westminster House chapel as a multi-purpose room as well as a chapel was completed.