History
|
from Bicentennial
Biographies: Congregational Histories of the Presbytery
of Cincinnati 1790-1990 |
1844 The First Presbyterian Church, with a nucleus of ten
members, was organized by a committee of the Presbytery of Madison.
1848 In April land
was obtained and excavation for the present church building was
begun.
1850-56
Services were held in the completed basement after December 8, 1850.
On July 1, the Rev. Mr. Amzi Freeman was installed as Stated Supply.
It was a relationship that continued for 23 years. The second
floor was completed late in 1855. The town clock, at the
request of the City of aurora, was installed in the steeple.
January 20, 1856, the church building, designed by J.R. Hamilton of
Cincinnati, was formally dedicated.
1874 The
Women's Missionary Society was formed by Mrs. Freeman. It was
the first group of its kind in Southeastern Indiana.
1877 The church was
split into two factions. The Whitewater Presbytery was called
upon to mediate the problem. The Rev. Freeman was dismissed to
the congregational Church, at his request. But the
Presbyterians were barred from the church building. April 8,
1883 by order of the Indiana Supreme Court the Presbyterians
regained possession of the church.
1878-83 On
April 1, 1978, the Rev. Addison Chapman was installed as Stated
Supply minister. he and a small band of Presbyterians met in a
hall in Aurora for their services.
1905 The Rev.
Howard Wilkinson was installed as the first regular pastor since
Rev. Freeman. A new organ was installed that year.
1926 The
stained glass windows were dedicated.
1959 In June,
construction of the Christian Education Building was begun.
1970 The
remodeling of the organ was undertaken and the console was moved to
its present location.
1978 The manse
on Fifth Street was sold. It had been purchased in 1915 and
needed extensive repair.
1986-1990 A
modern home on Woodlawn Ave. was purchased for the Rev. Lloyd
Dunavant who accepted a call to our church in May. He resigned
in December 1990 to accept the position of Stated Clerk of the
Presbytery of Cincinnati.
1992 In March,
the Rev. Melissa Bane Sevier began her ministry with us. |
