A Church Rich in History

First Presbyterian Church had its beginning in 1841 when some members of the Beersheba Church began thinking about organizing a church in the town of Yorkville, closer to where they lived. On April 7, 1842 some citizens of Yorkville applied to the Bethel Presbytery to constitute them into a church under the care of Bethel Presbytery. Two months later on June 9, 1842 a congregation was assembled, and consisted of only 15 persons.

By 1845, the congregation expanded to 39 members.  For 20 years, from 1842-1862, the congregation met in a building which is still standing across the street, now known as the "Neely house".  Inside there was a solid block of pews facing the pulpit down the middle and then two rows of pews, each against the two walls of east and west.

 The congregation continued to grow as many young people from the nearby female college and the military academy began attending. Thus in 1859 the construction of our present place of worship began. The total cost of the church was about $12,300.00 and was completed in 1862. On the inside, a gallery lined three sides of the sanctuary and was supported by oak pillars. The first organ was a pump organ situated in the gallery. The choir sat in the balcony, as did the African-American members of the congregation. Downstairs the present straight-backed wooden pews had little swinging gates - "pew gates". The pulpit was situated in the center front.

In 1916, Mrs. S.M. McNeel donated funds to erect a magnificent Sunday school building as a memorial to her late husband.  Later department rooms were added at the back sides of the sanctuary.  Also during this period, the installation of the first pipe organ was undertaken.

In 1945, significant changes were made in the structure of the sanctuary and the chancel of the church was remodeled.  Then in 1957, due to damage by a hail storm in 1955, the original stucco was completely redone.

In the early 1990's, the church approved the largest addition to the church since its inception.  The Session unanimously approved the building of a Family Life Center.  The large structure was connected to our existing Sanctuary and McNeel building and included access to all floors via a new elevator.  The project was approved for 1.7 million dollars with $300,000 of that amount going for immediate repair of the Sanctuary and McNeel building.  Construction began in 1997 and the project was completed and the congregation took possession of the Family Life Center in November of 1998.  The church underwent three capital campaigns from 1996 to 2007, and the loan for $1.3 million was paid off in April 2007.  The Family Life Center has become a wonderful place to congregate, host athletic events and celebrations!