First Presbyterian Church - Philipsburg, MT
Posted by: Groundspeak Premium Member T0SHEA
N 46° 20.045 W 113° 17.745
12T E 323309 N 5133728
This 1893 church was the place of worship for the Presbyterians of Philipsburg for 97 years until union with the Methodists. No longer used for services, the old church is now the Antique Inn but the building retains its striking bell tower.
Waymark Code: WMN055
Location: Montana, United States
Date Posted: 11/30/2014
Published By:Groundspeak Premium Member ZenPanda
Views: 1

First Presbyterian Church
Reverend Milton Cook organized Philipsburg’s first Presbyterian congregation in 1877 and Reverend George Edwards came from Missoula to preach once a month. But it was not until 1891 that Reverend Samuel Wishard established a permanent Presbyterian congregation in Philipsburg. Services and Sunday school were held in the schoolhouse until summer 1893 when the present building welcomed its first worshippers. An early cold snap, however, forced the congregation to move services to the Methodist Church until heating stoves could be installed. The building’s unusual hexagonal copper dome and intricate scrollwork make its steeple the most distinctive among Philipsburg’s churches. A Gothic window with tracery, lancet openings, and a round window embellish the simple frame façade. Fondly known as the "White Church," the building takes its place along “church row” on the north side of Broadway. The local watering holes are all on the opposite side of the street, maintaining the historic separation of secular and spiritual. Presbyterians held services here until 1990 when they joined with the Methodists to share their facility.
From the NRHP Plaque
Describe the area and history:
Though I can't place the others at the moment, I'm sure there are other B&Bs in Philipsburg, but none have quite the atmosphere and aura of this one, in a beautiful and historic old church. It's known as The Sanctuary On Kearney Street above downtown, the church/inn is in the residential area in which all the churches were built, and all of them 120 or more years ago.


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