First Presbyterian Church - Mount Vernon, Iowa - Presbyterian Churches on Waymarking.com

Architect/Builder - Unknown
Date(S) - 1895-1896

DESCRIPTION:
Basically rectangular shape with asymmetrical tower massing at entrance (SE corner) slight projection of mass at center of east wall and at SW corner. Gable roof over main mass extending in N-S direction. Gable roof over east projection and projection on SW corner. Hip roof over entrance mass (bell tower) with ornament at peak. Walls are undressed limestone with dressed stone around all doors and window. Horizontal back of dressed stone at main floor line. Wood shingles at upper portion of gable on main mass and small mass and SW corner. Small pent roof at lower end of shingles portion; Semi-circular arched windows in south facade and in east projecting mass. Semi-circular arched openings into bell tower. Other openings with stone lintel. Entrance tower has trio of windows, two high, with stone lintel between. All glass is stained glass. Large undressed limestone chimney at north end. Romanesque Style.

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE:
This church and the Methodist Church opposite (#52) guard the eastern entrance to the district. Their size and massing contribute to their evaluation as pivotal structures.

Presbyterianism came to Mount Vernon in 1843 when this community was beginning to take on the form of a village and Iowa was still a territory.

In February 1843, a group known as the New School Branch that met in rural homes asked to be recognized as a church. In 1847, another group known as the Reformed Branch became a recognized church. The third group known as the Old School Branch was meeting in the Bell Schoolhouse east of Lisbon. They became members of the Cedar Presbytery in 1854 and later moved to Mount Vernon.

It was the merger of these three branches in 1870-1874 that formed the First Presbyterian Church USA. They worshipped in the church erected by the Old School Branch. The building still stands on east Main Street and is known as the Mount Vernon Rest Home.

The church became independent of the Board of Missions, prospered and purchased a parsonage and grew in benevolence. For the next twenty years the church had full time ministers. One of the most noteworthy pastorates in the church was that of Andrew K. Knox. He began in 1894 and continued until his death in 1906. The plaque in the rear of the sanctuary commemorates his pastorate.

During these years the present stone building was erected. The attendance had outgrown the wood structure, the membership being about 190. It was decided by the congregation that a new church was to be built on the north-west corner of Main Street and First Avenue.

Stone for the church was from the quarry one-half mile away in the east end of town. It is said to be made out of the finest building stone in the state, Anamosa limestone. The cornerstone of the church was laid on September 5, 1895, and the dedication of the new building was on March 5, 1896.

In 1911, the church received a fine pipe organ in memory of the William Armstrongs, former members. It came from their son who lived in Chicago. Later, in 1911, John Leigh, also a former member, willed a farm, the income from which would service the organ and create a music fund. These gifts have added much to the worship services of the congregation.

The next era was an austere one, wartime and economic depression predominated. Many young ministers passed through the church at this time giving of themselves ably.

Organizations within the church did their part as we came into better times. Benevolences increased and the women’s groups organized into the United Presbyterian Women. The Sunday School remained strong and well staffed. The Keedick Scholarship Fund was set up, and on-going gifts went to Camp Wyoming. A new manse was built, and the sanctuary and fellowship hall were remodeled. The Parish House, formerly the living quarters for the pastor, became the church office and Sunday School rooms.

Pastor Emory Gillespie, came to us in 1993. Church membership grew, along with its programs and ministries.

In 2006, the congregation decided to embark on a building program. An architect drew up preliminary plans for a new Christian Education and Administrative building, and a capital fund drive was completed.

Construction was to begin in June 2008. Everything was moved out of the Parish House and into the fellowship hall in anticipation of the demolition and the start of construction.On Memorial Day Weekend, the Sunday of which of Pentecost, the church steeple was struck by lightning during a storm. Seven fire departments were called in and the fire was put out. While the fire and smoke damage were limited to the steeple and roof, water ran down into the sanctuary and into the fellowship hall. Quick thinking fire fighters covered the pews and the organ and those were saved. Unexpectedly, the sanctuary building had to be repaired and remodeled at the same time the new building was under construction!

The community of Mount Vernon stepped in to help. Rick and Trude Elliott offered us office space in the First Street Community Building. Linn Grove Presbyterian Church gave us the use of their sanctuary on Sundays in the summer. In the fall, Denny and Mary Morgan allowed us to used Morgan’s Funeral Home on Sunday mornings for choir practice, worship, fellowship and Christian Education.

The sanctuary building was finished in late March 2009, and the new building was completed in April 2009.

While a new elevator was included in the new building, there was no way to use it to get to the sanctuary. Recognizing that many members would benefit from connecting the main level of the new building with the sanctuary, in 2016we asked an architect to come up with a simple hallway connection between the two, and then engaged in another capital campaign. The hallway was completed in December 2017 and has been a wonderful addition to our building.

Presently, there are 130 members and many “friends” of First Presbyterian Church. We are known for our creative worship services, excellent music program, compassionate service to the community and beyond, and our “rainbow steps” that proudly proclaim that all people are welcome here.