The history of the First Presbyterian Church Granite City Illinois begins in
1906 and then joins with the history of the Mitchell Presbyterian Church Mitchell
Illinois for in November 1998 the Mitchell church merged with the congregation
of the First Presbyterian Church and retaining the name as the First Presbyterian
Church.
In 1906 following a series of weekly meetings, twenty-five individuals met in the old Kinderhook School Building in Granite City to consider the possibility of organizing a Presbyterian church. On February 18, 1906, a call was given to Dr. Milton Page to serve as the first pastor. At the beginning of April, 112 charter members signed a petition and sent it to Alton Presbytery. Several weeks later on Easter Sunday, April 15, 1906, the First Presbyterian Church was officially organized. After the Niedringhaus Trustees donated the corner lot at 2160 Delmar, committees were formed to plan the building of the stone basement. While the basement was under construction, services continuing in Kinderhook. Once the basement was completed in 1907, services were there until the church proper was completed in 1916. At that time the stone basement was converted into a fellowship hall and dedication services took place. The pipe organ had been purchased as a used instrument and installed in 1913. In 1926 it was electrified and rebuilt by George Kilgen and Sons of St. Louis. The stained glass windows dipect scenes in the life of Chgrist.
With the church's steady growth in membership, it became necessary to provide additional facilities for Christian Education classes, additional office space and a lady's parlor. The Educational Wing was added and dedication services were held in
January 1930 for the new building
During the 1940's, 119 church members served in World War II. Emphasizing the importance of music to the church, the church organist and choir director became paid positions for the first time in 1942. In 1951 the pipe organ was enlarged and moved from the chancel to pipe chambers. Later, in 1968 an antiphonal organ and carillons were added.
After the war the Navigators club was formed. During the 1950's the Presbyterian Women's Organization and the Seafarer's club were formed. In 1960 a new manse was built at 30 Oaklawn Terrace.
Over the years amenities were added in order to make the church accessible to a wider population. An electric wheel chair lift, aids for the hearing impaired, and an improved sound system were added. In recent years, gifts have made it possible to add an elevator and ground floor entrance so as to make the church fully accessible.
During the 1970's in keeping with the changing role of women in society, Betty Schmedake was installed as the first women Clerk of Session. During the 80's, First Presbyterian joined the Dowentown Neighberhood Restoration Society. Neighborhood block parties were held with games, music, and food.
A disastrous fire swept through the building in September 1994, with extensive
damage to the interior and destroying the organ. Thankfully, the Granite City
Fire Department responded quickly, as five minutes later the entire church could
have been lost. Neighboring church St. Peter UCC graciously offered the use
of their building until worship services could again be held at 2160 Delmar.
The congregation was able to return on February 5, 1995. Under the leadership
of the present pastor Dr. Lewis Trotter, members sing praises to the Good Lord
for His blessings as they continue to devote their energies in worship, study
and service.
In 1998 First Presbyterian and Mitchell Presbyterian were approved for merger. The ministry of the mereged church serves the Granite City community more fully. The ministry of the church in recent years has featured "multi-media" worship, ecumenical ministry throught the Ministerial Association, a cooperative children's ministry with joint Vacation Bible Schoo;. Light the Night celebration in October, a two-week drama camp during the summer, and involvment in social justice issues through United Congregations of MetroEast. A puppet ministry and a children's choir, and a summertime "Cool-It" program are more recent program additions.
Pastors Serving our congregation---
1906-1908 Dr. Milton Page
1909-1913 Dr. Wallace Waits
1913-1914 Rev. Simon McDonald
1915-1920 Dr. E. W. McKluskey
1920-1924 Dr. C. D. Brown
1925-1935 Dr. John Sanders
1936-1957 Dr. A. Ralph Lynn
1958-1982 Dr. David B. Maxton
1982-1989 Rev. Richard K. Hunt
1991-xxxx Dr. Lewis E. Trotter
MITCHELL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, MITCHELL, ILLINOIS
About 1871 in Mitchell Illinois, John Jay and William Mitchell were pioneer
cattle ranchers and farmers in the area. These men donated land for a school.
They also donated land for a Roman Catholic and Protestant Churches. It is said
that the Mitchell brothers were Baptists and donated the money in 1897 for the
construction of a Protestant church with the understanding that the church would
be Baptist. However, it also stated that the land donated for the Protestant
church was given with the provision that the title to the property was to be
awarded after the church had been established and operated by any one congregation
for twelve years.
Apparently, both St Elizabeth’s Catholic Church and the Protestant church
were started in 1871. The article states that the Catholic Church was started
in 1871. In another place it states that Frank Troeckler, foreman for the Mitchell
Brothers Ranch, hauled the first load of rock for the Protestant church in 1871.
The article states that, typical of the times, both churches were build by the
combined labors of the inhabitants. In our generation we are happy to note that
there is a growing goodwill between Catholics and Protestants.
There seems to be general agreement that the first Protestant church in the
Mitchell area was located where the Donaldson Café now stands, on the
south side of Chain of Rocks Road and about a block east of route 203. Apparently,
this church was a Baptist church at first, but it would seem that this arrangement
did not continue for more than a few years. It is reported that, later, there
was a movement to tear down the church since it was inactive. However, this
plan was abandoned when the Methodist denomination agreed to operate the church.
It is not known how long the Methodist operated the church, but the time certainly
fell short of twelve years. It seems impossible to reconstruct the history of
these early years for which no records are available. One might be justified
in guessing that there were long periods when the church did not function or
if it did function, it was as a non-denominational Sunday school with occasional
evangelistic services by itinerant preachers.
At a still later date, maybe fifty years after the church was erected, the people
in the congregation were able to secure the assistance of a student minister
named Thorton. It is recalled that the preaching and looking after the pastoral
needs of the congregation, he was paid $3.00 per week. It is thought that this
arrangement continued for four or five years. Apparently, this student minister
was a Presbyterian. It was during his period of service, in 1927, that Ida Hanfelder
moved into the Mitchell area and became active in the Protestant church at Mitchell.
When he resigned, it looked as though the church might again become inactive.
Mrs. Hanfelder conferred with Rev. C. E. Bowman of the Presbyterian Church in
East St. Louis, who in turn presented the need of the Mitchell church to the
Presbytery. The Presbytery appointed the Rev. N. C. Griffin to serve the church
at Mitchell. He was pastor of the Wynstanley Presbyterian Church at East St.
Louis where he lived, but served the Mitchell church in addition to his other
duties. He was able to travel by using the interurban, which operated at that
time, and Sunday worship services were held in the afternoon. Apparently, Presbyterian;
leadership was more tenacious than previous efforts, for it continued and the
church has been under Presbyterian administration ever since. After operating
the church continuously for twelve years, the property was deeded to the Presbyterian
denomination.
On March 20, 1956, the old building burned, and it was decided to rebuild on
a different location. In order to have a larger plot of ground and be away from
the noise of the railroad tracks, the new site was at Greenway Drive and Chain
of Rocks Road being an excellent choice. The present building was erected in
1957 on three acres of land. In 1971 primarily William Norris built a manse
with members of the congregation assisting. Dr. William and Pearl Reipschlager
were the first residents. In 1973 the mortgage was paid and the church debt
free. The church remained continuing to hold services until 1998. With expenses
rising and church growth near non-existent, operations were to cease resulting
in a merger with First Presbyterian Church of Granite City, Illinois.
Record of Pastors:
Rev. N. C. Griffin 1932-1940 E. St. Louis & Mitchell
Rev. Walter Lindemann 1940-1941 Madison & Mitchell
Rev. Daniel A. Moore 1942-1944 Madison & Mitchell
Rev. W. P. Fink 1945-1947
Rev. Homer Chapin 1947-
Rev. Frank Campbell 1956-1957
Rev. John DiGiacomo 1957-1968 Mitchell (First Full Time)
Rev. Dr. W. F. Reipschlager 1971-1976 Mitchell
Rev. Jeffrey Cheadle 1977-1981 Mitchell (His First Church)
Rev. Linda Shugert 1982-1991 Mitchell
Rev. Scott Kroener 1994-1996 (Mitchell's final pastor.)
November 12, 2003
The Mitchell church for many years had desired a proper sign but upon looking
at the expense and their unending battle to work within the budget, always set
these ideas aside for a repainted highway sign hung on four by fours.
This cross as was erected at the Mitchell Presbyterian Church in 1984 was brought
about through the inspirational motivation of a Rev. Linda Shugert who held
the Celtic Cross as special. Walter “Dick” Sparks having been a
businessman and in the county government for many years, a past Choteau Township
Supervisor, had many acquaintances to provide the design, material and labor
to construct the cross. Through his efforts all material and labor were provided
without charges. A particular aspect with the cross is that being made of aluminum;
he had to search someone talented in welding this particular material. Charles
Norris, Russell Katzman and Jack Filkins installed the cross adding outdoor
lighting. As erected the cross stood some fifteen feet nine inches. The cross,
weighing 84 pounds, was made of aluminum tubing eight by ten inches and placed
on a concrete pier.
In August 2003, the cross was brought to First Presbyterian Church. As the cross
is now placed on the exterior wall of the church, its length, or height, has
been reduced approximately two and one-half feet now measuring about eleven
feet in height. Being lit with back lighting it presents a pleasant image for
the First Presbyterian Church.
May we give thanks to those at Mitchell for giving us a cross, unique in itself,
original and symbolic to their journey of faith.