Walking, Serving, Singing and Sharing in the Light of God
A Brief History of First Presbyterian Church
The Presbyterians have been walking in the light of God in Mt. Pleasant, IA since April 15, 1840 when a small group of Presbyterians, under the leadership of The Rev. Lancelot Bell, organized what was to become our church. During those early years the church met in homes and in the Henry County Courthouse. Membership was slow to increase and the church struggled to exist. In 1848 The Rev. Bell led the construction of a wood frame building at the corner of Main and Madison (the current site of Southeast Iowa Community College in Mt. Pleasant). As church membership increased a larger brick building ($12,000) was constructed in 1857. During the 1880's church services were provided for people living east of Mt Pleasant at East Highland School. When a tornado struck Mt. Pleasant on June 17, 1882, the church was damaged severely. Repairs were made, but the last service was held in that building in 1897, since the building was unsafe. The new church ($15,000 plus $2,500 for the organ) was built on the same site and was dedicated in 1898. The German Presbyterian church located on South Jefferson Street closed and the congregation joined First Presbyterian. The Southern Conference Presbyterian Church (site of the old Mt. Pleasant Public Library) had closed earlier and also joined their neighbors across the street.
The brick building of 1898 served our congregation until it was severely damaged by fire on the last day of the year in 1965. A new church was built on South Walnut Street and was dedicated on February 11, 1968. The church's 150th Anniversary was celebrated in 1990. A remodeling project in 1999 saw the bell tower and roof replaced and the parking lot paved.
Our congregation has served in the light of God by supporting both home and international mission work. In 1873 a Woman's Missionary Society was formed, followed by the Woman's Aid Society in 1874. The church has sponsored various missionaries, including Drs. Lynn and Sharon Fogleman in Kenya. (Sharon's parents, Dick & Marty Goodwin were active members of our church.) Through the years our church has supported local ministries such as the Christamore House, Henry County Habitat and the Henry County Hospice. In 1982 Loretta Ross-Gotta, who grew up in our congregation, was the first woman ordained as a pastor by the East Iowa Presbytery. First Presbyterian Church was part of the vision to create Midwest Old Threshers Reunion and in 1950 provided the first food tent. After twenty two years this project was abandoned. Since then our congregation has been manning our church parking lot during the Reunion. Proceeds help fund our youth ministry. Another fundraiser in recent years has been our spaghetti supper held on the Wednesday evening before the Reunion. The Presbyterian Church has allowed God's light to shine through them by sponsoring, financially supporting, and providing ESL classes as part of the relocation process for several Tai Dam and Laotian families. Our youth have served in the light of God through various mission projects and trips to: Phoenix, AZ (1970), Chama, NM (1972), Menaul Indian School in Albuquerque, NM (1986), Project Reach in Des Moines, IA (2003), and Hope for the Heartland Mission Trip-Williamsburg, IA (2004). Several adults from our church have served in the light of God through a church-sponsored mission trip to Kenya, Africa in 1997, Jerusalem, Israel and Fortaleza, Brazil.
Music has always been an integral part of singing in the light of God for our church. Some of the musicals in which the Presbyterians have sung include: "Christ in the Concrete City" (1970), "It's Cool in the Furnace" (1982), Madrigal Dinner (1984), "Moses and the Freedom Fanatics " (1985), "Joseph & the Technicolor Dreamcoat" (1986) and "Daniel & the Lion's Den" (1986). Our music ministry includes the Westminster Choir who have presented both Christmas and Easter cantatas and two bell choirs, Sound Appeal and Soul Notes.
Part of our mission statement declares we are committed "to encourage and nurture diverse expression of the love of Christ in our congregation and community." The diversity of the groups in our church helps us walk and serve in the light of God. Some of those groups include: The Session, Deacons, Westminster Choir, Children's Church School Choir, Sound Appeal, Soul Notes, Clipper Mariners, Presbyterian Women, Ruth Circle, Men's Group, Pathfinders, Prayer Chain, Praying and Caring Ministry, Bread Ministry for first-time visitors, Book Group, Press On (Youth group for middle school and high school students), Adult Church School, Rotation Church School and Intergenerational Bible School. Our church reaches out in the light of God by providing space in our facilities for the following groups: Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, WIC,
Al-Anon, AA, NA, and cloggers.
Throughout our history we have been blessed with strong pastoral leadership that has helped us hold high the light of God. Our pastors include: Rev. Edward Jeambey (1932-1940), Rev. Owen Wilson (1945-1966), Rev. Gerald Roseberry (1966-1974), Rev. Ronald McMenamin (1975-1983), Rev. Larry Mitchell (1984-1999), Rev. Dr. Douglas Hall (1999-2000) and Rev. Dr. Jerry Kelly (2001-2007). Pastor Robert David started as Interim Pastor on October 2, 2007.
