Title
First Presbyterian
Subject
Local news
Description
In August of 1856 a steamboat which came up the Missouri river carried Rev. John Hancock, who became the first pastor of the First Presbyterian church; Thomas Officer, one of the church's first elders; James B. Rue and Cinncinnatus W. Boyers.
Rev. Mr. Hancock was commissioned to work in Council Bluffs by the board of domestic missions of the Presbyterian church.
On October 12, 1856, the church came into being. Its charter members were Narcissa Beck, Malena R. Hardin, Martha E. Hugart, Mr. Boyers, Margaret A. Boyers, Sarah Ellen Pusey, Maria J. Hancock, Henry P. Warren, Hannah L. Warren, Mr. Rue, Mr. Officer, Elizabeth M. Officer and Susan Lee.
Officer, Rue and Boyers formed the first official board of the church, which had a charter membership of thirteen.
First services were held on the third floor of the Empire block. Later services were in Concert hall, Keller's hall and the Congregational church.
A frame church building was erected on Pearl street, near the present location of the Citizens Power and Light company.
Foundations of a permanent place of worship were laid in the summer of 1857 at Seventh street and Willow avenue. Because of a depression the super-structure was not completed until April 18, 1866.
In 1883, owing to increase in membership, another building, the present church, was proposed. It was completed on Jan. 20, 1889.
The church today has more than 600 members.
Its pastors have been: John Hancock, William McCandlish, James H. Clark, William Hamilton, T.H. Cleland, Alfred K. Bates, Stephen H. Phelps, W.S. Barnes, Marcus McClure, Frederick W. Evans, Alfred Van Orden, Paul Calhoun and C. Carson Bransby, present pastor.
Rev. Mr. Hancock was commissioned to work in Council Bluffs by the board of domestic missions of the Presbyterian church.
On October 12, 1856, the church came into being. Its charter members were Narcissa Beck, Malena R. Hardin, Martha E. Hugart, Mr. Boyers, Margaret A. Boyers, Sarah Ellen Pusey, Maria J. Hancock, Henry P. Warren, Hannah L. Warren, Mr. Rue, Mr. Officer, Elizabeth M. Officer and Susan Lee.
Officer, Rue and Boyers formed the first official board of the church, which had a charter membership of thirteen.
First services were held on the third floor of the Empire block. Later services were in Concert hall, Keller's hall and the Congregational church.
A frame church building was erected on Pearl street, near the present location of the Citizens Power and Light company.
Foundations of a permanent place of worship were laid in the summer of 1857 at Seventh street and Willow avenue. Because of a depression the super-structure was not completed until April 18, 1866.
In 1883, owing to increase in membership, another building, the present church, was proposed. It was completed on Jan. 20, 1889.
The church today has more than 600 members.
Its pastors have been: John Hancock, William McCandlish, James H. Clark, William Hamilton, T.H. Cleland, Alfred K. Bates, Stephen H. Phelps, W.S. Barnes, Marcus McClure, Frederick W. Evans, Alfred Van Orden, Paul Calhoun and C. Carson Bransby, present pastor.
Creator
Nonpareil photos
Source
Daily Nonpareil July 26, 1936
Publisher
Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil Archives
Date
1936-07-26
Format
Black and white photograph
Type
Photograph
Identifier
First_Presbyterian_Church_07_26_1936_01.jpg
Coverage
Council Bluffs, Iowa
Rights
The Council Bluffs Public Library is unaware of any claim of copyright in the images in the collection. We encourage use of these materials under the fair use clause of the Copyright Act (17 U.S.C. ยง 101 et seq). The Council Bluffs Public Library has provided in the catalog records for these materials all known information regarding the photographer or other persons associated with the materials. This information is provided as a service to aid users in determining the appropriate use of an item, but that determination ultimately rests with the user.
Original Format
Photograph
Physical Dimensions
21 cm x 26 cm