Author tells church story

The First Presbyterian Church on the corner of McPherson and High streets was once two separate churches, occupied several buildings and worshipped outside during some time in Kirksville's history.

Georgia Walter, author of "The History of the First Presbyterian Church of Kirksville, Mo.," said she has been a member of the church since 1938 when her family moved to Kirksville. She was part of the Centennial Committee formed to celebrate 100 years and was appointed to put together the short book. Walter was the director of the library at A.T. Still University of Health Sciences for 17 years and has written several other books, including the "First School of Osteopathic Medicine" and "The First D.O., Dr. Andrew Taylor Still."

Presbyterianism in Kirksville dates back to 1846 when the Cumberland Presbyterian Church was established, according to "The History of the First Presbyterian Church of Kirksville, Mo.," . Reverend James Dysart came to Kirksville only five years after the small settlement had been established. The members started the Cumberland Academy in 1859, where the congregation used the auditorium for their worship and rented it to other churches for worship. The building eventually was sold to Joseph Baldwin, who used the building to start the State Normal School, now Truman State University.

"The Cumberland Academy was built where Memorial Park is now," Walter said. "It was a nice two-story building, and it was never completely finished. They used it for a hospital during the Civil War. Then it was finally sold to Joseph Baldwin."

The old First Presbyterian Church was established in 1857 According to "The History of the First Presbyterian Church of Kirksville, Mo.,". One of the founders, W.P. Mason, erected what is said to be the first schoolhouse on the corner of Florence and Buchanan streets where he taught classes and allowed members to worship in the school on Sundays. The members commissioned to build their own church in 1868 on the corner of McPherson and Franklin streets, where Sieren's Palace currently is located. It was the first brick church in Kirksville, but the church burned down in 1892.

"I like the part in history where we switched churches with the Baptists," Walter said. "The Baptists had erected a brick building at McPherson and High streets, which they found was too big for their needs. So in 1877, there was an exchange of properties. So that's the current building we're in."

The merger of the two churches happened in 1906 when the pastor of Cumberland resigned. Their members were invited to the old First Presbyterian, and they began to worship together.

Jeanette Hartje is a current member who has been very involved in the church as a deacon, an elder and a member of the congregation since 1957.

"When I first became a member, the sanctuary extended in the front where the choir used to sit, and the organ was there," Hartje said. "The organ pipes were exposed, and it was really beautiful."

The church has added on to the original building several times, according to "The History of the First Presbyterian Church of Kirksville, Mo." In 1922, much of the construction was completed, and in 1923 the new sanctuary, activities area, Sunday school classrooms, offices, a kitchen and restrooms were completed.

"We have added on so many different times," Hartje said. "So now the brick doesn't match perfectly, and the newest portion of the building is a huge maze."

The newest addition, known as the Traver's Addition, was constructed in 1985 to the back end of the church. The wing has classrooms, a kitchenette, restrooms and easy access from the parking lot for elderly members.

Mary Giovannini grew up as a member of the church. She said that much has changed throughout the years but it has been interesting to watch the church through its ups and downs.

"When I was growing up in the '50s, we had a wonderful minister," Giovannini said. "I still hear stories about him from people in town that don't even attend this church."

Walter's book contains the church's history from 1846 to 2006. In the back of the book, stories and occurrences that didn't fit in other places are listed by year.

According to Walter's book, "an interesting episode occurred in the fall of 1989 when someone noticed that the crosses in two of the stained glass sections of the doors to the main entrance were upside down. The anonymous person donated money to have them corrected."

"We wonder how long they had been like that," Walter said.

The church has a service and Sunday school classes every Sunday and welcomes to new members, students and visitors.