a brief history of ...

THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

“We the undersigned members of various evangelical churches, in order to secure regular Presbyterian preaching and privileges of the church, do hereby request the Rev. Sheldon Jackson, Superintendent of Presbyterian Ministries, to organize us into a Presbyterian Church. “

This petition begins the original Book of Minutes of First Presbyterian Church.

First Presbyterian Church was officially founded on Sunday, February 27, 1870 through the combined efforts of the Reverend Sheldon Jackson and four pioneer families. The services held in the adobe school building located at 11th and Court. This was the first church organized in what was to become the Presbytery of Pueblo. Today the Presbytery encompasses all of Southeastern Colorado.

The first meeting place for services of worship was in an adobe school building located at 11th and Court. One year later this group moved to the Court House which was on the same site as the present Court House. The first church owned building was at Ninth and Court. It had a small bell tower in which an 800 lb. bell was installed. The bell arrived in 1876 from Troy, New York, and was among the first freight brought to Pueblo by the Santa Fe Railroad. Because of growing numbers, the Trustees purchased property on Tenth and Court and began construction of a new church of red sandstone with a steeple rising 140 feet. The bell was moved to the new building, which was dedicated on September 7, 1890.

In 1925 a high-quality Kimball pipe organ
was placed in the sanctuary.

	A year later, three stained glass windows were installed. The north window was designed by Tiffany Studios of New York. The west wall window was designed in St. Louis, the third window by the Bavarian Art Works of Germany.
	An Educational Building was added in 1926 which included a gymnasium, stage, meeting rooms and a new kitchen. In 1954 the two-story gym was converted into two floors to make more room for the Church School attendance. In 1964 the Sanctuary was remodeled with the inclusion of new pews and furnishings.
In 1987 extensive remodeling included the Sanctuary, much of the first floor, the addition of a new East entrance and landscaping on the remainder of the church property. The heating and cooling systems were completely replaced in 2002. This included necessary electrical updates and air conditioning for the sanctuary.