LOYAL. LOCAL. COMPLETE.
The Presbyterian Church of Paris will celebrate its bicentennial anniversary Sunday, Nov. 3, with a special worship service at the church. The service begins at 10:30 a.m. and is followed by a catered lunch at 11:45. A program and community reception are at 12:30.
Reservations are required for the lunch and individuals planning on attending can call 1-217-465-5118, or e-mail the office at office@parispresbyterian.org.
The special worship service includes the current pastor, Rev. Rodger Allen, former co-pastor Rev. Laurie Williams and former church member and current Associate Pastor of Discipleship at the First Presbyterian Church of Normal, Ill., Rev. Karol Farris Schilling. The service will also include a choir and a puppet performance.
The Presbyterian Church of Paris was constituted on Nov. 6, 1824, with 12 members in a log school house near the Alexander House on N. Central Avenue, now The Link Art Gallery. The congregation elected three ruling elders, Samuel Vance, John Bovell and William Means. After the Session examination, 14 additional people were admitted to membership the following day.
The first church building was constructed in 1834 at 114 E. Washington Street. It was a plain brick structure on a sandstone foundation. The structure was 30 feet by 50 feet and was made of bricks, most of which came from Springfield, with some bricks handmade in Paris. It was the second brick church in Illinois at the time.
The church was not permanently floored and seated until 1839. Prior to its construction, the congregation conducted worship services in a school house, a courthouse, private homes and a grove of black walnuts.
The first regular pastor, Rev. Samuel Newell, began service in 1853, following a long list of “Stated Supplies.” In 1854, the cornerstone was laid for the second church building located at 213 N. Central Avenue. It was a larger brick building, 75 feet by 44 feet and 110 feet high to the top of the steeple.
The church was constructed at a cost of $9,000. At the time, the congregation had grown to more than 100 members.
Ground-breaking for the third and final building was March 21, 1900. The church was dedicated on March 31, 1901, with this quotation “Dedicated this day to the worship of God and His glory forever.”
It was dedicated free of debt; the cost of the building and site was $41,750.
Although the previous church had had a bell, which was rung weekly by the sexton, the congregation decided to do without it in the new church. For years it was stored in a barn at the rear of the old building. It was later moved, and its present location is, unfortunately, unknown.
The sanctuary of the church, located at 241 W. Court Street, has long been considered particularly beautiful with its dark wood, including the exquisite high ceiling, and the spectacular stained-glass and leaded windows, which have been lovingly cared for over the years.
Stained-glass windows are also in other sections of the church. One of the larger two sanctuary windows, on the east side, came from Ford Brothers—Art and Glass of Chicago and Minneapolis at a cost of $1500. The other windows may have come from a church in Chicago, the building having been destroyed by fire. The baptismal font, a notable sanctuary addition, was dedicated in 1900 in honor of Susannah Huston. It was carved of Italian marble bearing ivy vines.
Numerous building changes have been completed during subsequent years, and careful maintenance of the building continues. Throughout the church’s history, 13 ministers served as “Stated Supplies” followed by approximately 23 full-time ministers.
The local congregation is proud to have had four of its members pursue the ministry. Samuel E. Vance, grandson of founding member and elder Samuel Vance, attended the Seminary of the Northwest (now McCormick Theological Seminary) and was ordained in 1863; Joseph H. McCord attended Princeton Theological Seminary and was ordained in 1963; Raymond I. Massey (RIM) attended McCormick Theological Seminary and later earned his Doctor of Ministry and was ordained in 1978; and Karol Farris Schilling attended Louisville Theological Seminary and was ordained in 2014.
In the 1950s, the congregation sponsored a Hungarian refugee family, the Kerekgyartos, Louis and Elizabeth, and their infant daughter Lillian, who had escaped Hungary during the Soviet invasion.
The Session, three of whom are designated trustees, and its five committees, Christian Education, Worship and Pastoral Services, Membership and Evangelism, Property and Stewardship, lead the congregation. Another active committee has been the Mission Task Force. The Board of Deacons and the Board of Parish Visitors are critical sources of leadership and service. Most recently, the longest-serving Clerk of Session has been Jerry Benson.
Five “Wheels,” individual groups within the Women’s Association, were active for many years. The Women’s Association also held the Williamsburg/Victorian Luncheon for a number of years. It attracted many attendees and always required two seatings due to its popularity.
Multiple Sunday School classes met weekly under the lengthy service and oversight of Sunday School Superintendent Walter Kimble. Several extremely loyal church members served as Sunday School teachers for many years. In recent years, Beth Ruff has worked faithfully with younger children as a teacher and a Junior Church leader. Junior Church was an extremely active group that met weekly during part of the regular worship hour. The program began under the leadership of Sharon Bowers.
Bible study for high schoolers was also held weekly for several years at 6:30 a.m. on a school morning under pastoral leadership. It was followed by a group breakfast at a local restaurant.
Until recently, the Presbyterian Church and the First United Methodist Church held a joint service each year, with the two church choirs singing together and both ministers leading the service. The two local Presbyterian Churches, Paris and New Providence, continue joint services and potluck dinners each year at the lovely country New Providence location.
For more than 20 years the Sonshine Puppeteers were an integral part of worship and general ministry. In addition to monthly worship participation, they performed in other local churches, at area events, at a convention in Decatur, and in other cities in Illinois and Indiana. They will be performing during the special worship service and at the program/reception following lunch. The younger Sonbeam Puppeteers were also a beloved addition for several years. Barbara Bergdolt began and led both puppet teams with Mary Anna Ludington as assistant director.
The Presbyterian congregation has consistently been recognized for its outstanding dedication to music, both vocal and pipe organ and its excellent choirs, choral directors and organists over its history. Most recently and for many years, Susan Farris has served as organist and choir director. The choir loft is also home to a beautiful Steinway grand piano. The Sanctuary Choir will be singing during worship Sunday morning.
Other musical endeavors that occurred for many years included three youth choirs: The Cherub Choir, The Happy Carolers and the Westminster Choir. More recently the Youth Choir was active.