Timeline

1827: An Episcopal Missionary from Mt. Vernon, Ohio organized a “Union Sunday School” which met in a store front on N. Sandusky Ave. It is probably from this Sunday school that the First Presbyterian Church was founded. Rev. Jenks was probably the first Presbyterian to preach to this mixed group.

1828: The church was formed by a supply pastor, the Rev. Robert Lee, a missionary, with 27 members.

1829: The church was in turmoil for obscure reasons.

1830: Services were performed in Morton’s Grove, which is approximately where the True Value store is now located. It was a walnut tree grove, and that is how Walnut St. got its name.

1831: Thomas Cratty appointed assistant supply to Robert Lee. This caused problems.

1833: The church was re-organized after some disarray. The Columbus Presbytery took Bucyrus as a member with 34 members. William Mathews and John Smith were appointed as co-supplies.

1835: First record of church minutes was written to paper, but all records prior to 1838 have been lost. The church was in “a state of inaction.”

1836: Marion Presbytery takes Bucyrus as a member.

1837: A controversy begins in the national denomination.

1838: Rev. James Boggs installed as the first pastor of the church. All previous pastors were supplies. The local church splits again over the national “New School - Old School” controversy. Boggs sides with New School. Boggs lasted one year.

1839: Rev. William Hutchison (Old School) installed. We apparently rented our present lot from the Norton family and erected a fraame meeting house. It was 36x40 feet on lot #220. It is believed that this original lot is one of only two in the city that still has the original deed and is still being used for the original purpose, the courthouse being the other.

1840: Rev. Hutchison got most of the New School members back into the Old School fold.

1843: The present lot #220 was purchased from the Nortons for $125.

1848: Rev. Hutchison resigned due to failing health. He died in 1860 and was buried in Oakwood Cemetery, the only Presbyterian pastor interred there.

1849: Rev. George Engles was stated supply for one year. Rev. Robert Colmerry installed.

1850: Rev. Colmerry moves on. The pulpit was empty for about two years.

1852: Rev. Silas Johnson installed and became the first Sunday school superintendent of the newly formed Sunday school. This was in addition to pastoral duties.

1856: First choir formed, faded away, and was re-formed in 1860.

1857: Silas Johnson left. His 5 years marked by a number of “trials.”

1858: Rev. George Graham installed.

1859: The church was incorporated on June 10. A new brick church was built. The old frame structure was sold to the Roman Catholic Church and removed. It was used by them until May 27, 1888.

1860: Rev. Graham moved on due to failing health.

1861: U.S. Civil War began. On May 26, the new brick church was dedicated. It was 44x72 feet. An auditorium was on the second floor with 20 foot ceilings. It cost $9,000. Rev. John Walcott installed.

1864: Rev. Walcott left. Purchased bell at a cost of $667.70. Rev. A.S. Milholland began.

1865: The Civil War ended.

1866: Rev. Milholland left, and the pulpit was empty for about a year.

1867: Eleven-year pastorate of Rev. John H. Sherrard began. It has not been surpassed by anyone since. In these times, the session met “as needed.” When there was some business to take care of, the pastor would call them together.

1868: The church bought the home immediately to the north of the church for $2,300 for a manse. This home was sold in 1882 and removed. Number of session members was increased from four to six.

1869: Session met only four times all year.

1870: The Bellefontaine Presbytery was formed with Bucyrus a member. Session met six times.

1874: The Women’s Foreign Missionary Society was formed.

1878: Rev. Sherrard resigned. Rev. J.T. Pollock was stated supply.

1880: Home Missionary Society was organized.

1881: Session met once all year. Rev. Pollock moved on.

1882: Congregation voted to erect manse at 402 West Warren St. on lots donated by Major Kearsley and George Gormly. Total cost was $4,252.96. Pastorate of Rev. John K. Black began.

1885: Number of elders was increased from six to nine and were elected to three-year terms for the first time. Three elders were elected for five years, three for four years, and three for three years. Then the three-year terms began. Five deacons were elected, and this was the first time they were mentioned. Ladies of the church began making Presbyterian dolls as a money-making project for a new church. $8,000 was raised for the church fund, and the new building was dedicated in 1906.

1886: Rev. Black received 62 members into the church in one day. 37 were by confession. AU of the names are listed in our microfilm records. AU were in a semi-circle around the pulpit, taking each one by the hand and repeating from meemry an appropriate verse of Scripture to each one, and in no case repeating the same verse.

1887: Rev. Black moved on, and Rev. P.H.K. McComb installed.

1888: The two missionary societies were merged to form the Women’s Missionary Society. Trustees mentioned for the first time. The trustees and deacons reported to session, and they all met monthly.

1891: Rev. McComb left.

1892: Rev. Charles McCaslin, was installed and he served for eleven years.

1899: 25th anniversary of the Missionary Society. First Kings Daughters Circle was formed with 20 women.

1903: Rev. McCaslin left, and Dr. Otto S. Thornberry was installed. The local YMCA was started with the initiative of a number of Presbyterian men. The building was donated.

1905: Easter of this year saw the last services in the brick church, and it was subsequently torn down.

1906: The cornerstone for the present stone church was laid on May 20.

1907: The new building (our present one) was dedicated on April 7. Cost was $33,503.24.

1908: Ladies’ Social Union was formed.

1910: Rev. Thornberry moved on, and Rev. Howard Wilkinson installed. We had approximately 259 members at this time. The manse just west of the church was erected at a cost of $5,850.11.

1911: Manse was dedicated and was lived in for the first time by Rev. Wilkinson.

1912: $8,000 mortgage on church paid off. Marion Presbytery was formed again, and Bucyrus was again a member.

1914: World War I began.

1915: Men’s Bible class chartered. The “Picking Lot” north of the church was purchased for $2,800 ($800 down, $500 per year at 6%).

1918: World War I ended. Rev. Wilkinson left, and the church had 443 members.

1919: Rev. Curtis E. Shields installed.

1920: First social meeting of the newly formed Optimist class was held.

1922: Rev. Shields moved on, and Rev. Hodge M. Eagleson was installed.

1924: The church basement was excavated under the church sanctuary and dedicated. The cost was $1,300.

1925: Rev. Eagleson moved on.

1926: Rev. Edgar J. Wykle was installed.

1927: The church interior was redecorated, and the Presbymen was formed.

1928: The Centennial should have been celebrated, but due to a mix-up, was not celebrated until 1933. The first church birthday was celebrated and has become an annual affair.

1930: The Gormly Trust Fund was given to the church.

1932: Sue Picking gift given to honor her parents, the Gormly’s. Rev. Wykle left.

1933: Rev. David Roller installed, and the Centennial celebrated.

1935: Women’s Missionary Society and the Ladies’ Social Union merged to form the Women’s Guild with four circles. Mrs. Robert Picking was first president.

1936: Rev. Roller moved on.

1937: Rev. R. Frank Mitchell installed. John Q. Shunk made substantial gift to church.

1939: World War II started, but the USA not involved yet.

1940: Organ chimes donated by Robert Picking and were dedicated. The Presbymen disbanded.

1941: Rev. Mitchell exchanged pastorates with Rev. Clement D. Loehr from Greenville, IL. The church and manse were redecorated. Pearl Harbor was bombed, and USA entered WWII.

1943: Special service was held to honor veterans. Service flag was unveiled. The organ was rebuilt.

1945: WWII ended. Lot north of church purchased again. Gamma Delta class formed. Apparently the deacons mentioned in 1885 faded away, because in 1945, they are officially formed (again?).

1948: Lot north of church sold again ($4,500). Alice Sears made a bequest.

1949: Rev. Loehr left, and Dr. George Arthur Johnson was installed. He was also a commissioner to the General Assembly this year.

1950: Catherine Mader bequest received. Korean War started. The Presbymen were active again. Session had nine elders: six trustees and nine deacons. We had approximately 350 members.Helen Schott had an organ recital to celebrate 15 years of service. First Boy Scout Committee formed.

1951: Church redecorated again. Our first constitution was adopted. We had approximately 394 members.

1952: Remodeled kitchen. The Do class was formed. Men’s softball team formed. The Sunday school celebrated 100 years of existence.

1953: Celebrated 125 years since founding. Korean War ended. The policy of posting pictures of past pastors was started. The Do, Optimist, and Gamma Delta classes were all functioning.

1954: We voted to sponsor a foreign missionary. Mr. and Mis. John Healy were first.

1955: The miissionaries visited us. Average church attendance was 167, and on Easter Sunday was 329. BSA Explorer Post formed. A Strich & Seidler piano was purchased from memorial fumds. New medical missionaries were appointed: Dr. & Mrs. Jack Payne, whom served in Africa.

1956: Dr. Johnson left, and Rev. Hillis S. McKenzie was installed. New communion plates were begotten, in honor of Archie Holloway. N4ajor organ repairs made. The Doll Society was reactivated after many years of inactivity.

1957: Cub Scout Pack formed. Youth group formed.

1958: Marion Presbytery dissolved, and we went to Wooster Presbytery.

1959: Rev. McKenzie exchanged pastorates with Rev. Charles Nicoll of the Church of Scotland for six months. Rev. Nicoll’s church was the Parish Church of Strathkinneess, Fife, Scotland.

1960: Rev. McKenzie got his Doctorate of Divinity and then left to be associate professor in the dept. of religion and assistant to the president of Missouri Valley College. Dr. J. Arthur Baird became our interim pastor, 1960-1961. Our organist Helen Schott celebrated 25 years with us.

1961: Rev. Dr. John Maclntosh installed.

1962: Presbymen reorganized. Mary Young and Alice Tupps honored for meritorious service to the church. The manse became the Christian Education building. The church library was started with direction from Alice Tupps. Session voted to give 20% of our income to benevolence.

1963: Tom Overholt, son of our member Jim Overholt, became a pastor and spoke from our pulpit. Dr. Maclntosh left, and Rev. Kenneth J. Wilkinson was installed.

1964: This was the first year our church extended a no-interest loan to arriving pastors used to help in buying a home ($6,000).

1965: Church redecorated. USA became involved in Vietnam War.

The church records for the years 1966 through 1972 are missing. We do know that, during that time, Wayne Guillerey was a commissioner to the General Assembly in 1967. We also know that Rev. Wilkinson left in 1968 and Rev. Russell Mase was installed in 1969 and served until 1976. ALso, in 1969, USA was out of the Vietnam War. Sometune durmg this period, we switched from a bicameral (session and trustees) system to the unicameral (session with a finance committee) system. At this time, we had twelve elders and twelve deacons. The Navigators, Gamma Delta, and the Doll Society were active.

1973: The Maumee Valley Presbytery was formed from parts of the Southern Michigan, Wooster, and Maumee Presbyteries. Joe Kewley and Bob Hubble accepted Committee assignments in the new presbytery. Rev. Russ Mase was a Commissioner to the General Assembly. The Synod of the Covenant was formed. Our local church adopted new by-laws, and new choir robes were purchased. The lot just west of the church annex was purchased for $13,200 for a parking lot.

1974: The first first-aid kits were placed in the church. New oak bookcases were installed in the pastor’s study. A new walnut piano was purchased. We had approximately 358 members at this time.

1975: Dorothy Love Home completed. Rev. Russ Mase was elected moderator of Maumee Valley Presbytery. Mimeograph machine replaced with electronic copier. New hymnals (The Hymnal) were purchased to replace the worn out books.

1976: Rev. Russell Mase left. New Schantz organ ordered for $43,000, and the DoU Society donated $21,000 towards the cost. The small stained-glass window (over the choir at the north end of sanctuary) was exposed for the first time. One of the early members of the DoU Society, Mrs. Edith Miller, died at age 95. Helen Schott, our organist for 41 years, retired.

1977: Rev. Clayton Turner installed and stayed 10 years (third longest tenure).

1978: A substantial Shelley Maintenance gift was given to the church. Our 150-year celebration was held. The Doll Society ended. Robert Hubble was commissioner to the General Assembly.

The session minutes from 1979-1991 are missing as well. We do know some of the things that happened during that time. The Columbarium was donated by Alice Tupps; she and Millard are resting there now. In 1987, Rev. Turner moved on. Larry Bertsch came to us as supply pastor from the Pietist Church north of town, and in 1989, the church sponsored him at Louisville Seminary. Individual contributions financed that venture. In 1990, Rev. Paul Eric Detterman was installed. (In 1993, he got his doctorate.) The nursery was remodeled in 1991, and 8 AM services began with communion every week. The funeral pall was purchased. The large blue spruce tree was cut down. Saturday evening services were started. The 1933 hymnal (The Hymnal) was retired and replaced by The Worshipping Church hymnal. New choir robes were donated in 1986.

1992: New first aid kits and oxygen tanks were placed around the church. The elevator was installed. Choral and band bell choirs were provided with a room in the basement.

1993: Large stained glass windows repaired. Mariners group formed. Heritage room designated. Session sent overture to General Assembly regarding ordination of practicing and unrepentant homosexuals. Plastic communion cups replaced the traditional glass cups. Saturday evening services were suspended. Local Habitat for Humanity was formed with a lot of help from local Presbyterians.

1994: Church members upset over Minnesota Re-imagining Conference. (Divinity of Jesus Christ questioned.) Another overture sent by session to the General Assembly. The kitchen was remodeled again. In this year, the church had four lay preachers: Len Horst, Donna Brause (Laipply), Brad Bradford, and Robert Hubble. They, in addition to Bob Byrne and Judy Howard (Rhode), can serve communion with session approval each time. Handbells were donated by the Ken Sharrock family.

1995: Church redecorated, including new carpeting. Robert Clark Neff serves as conunissioner to the General Assembly. Donna Brause (Laipply) and Hazel Kuehm funds used to purchase a new grand piano. Rev. Dr. Detterman left. Rev. Ross Gootch was appointed as interim pastor.

1996: Rev. Gootch left, and Rev. Robert D. Taylor was installed. Robert Clark Neff’s service as clerk of session ended just short of 40 years. New speaker system with lapel mikes purchased along with speakers for the hearing-impaired. Bucyrus celebrated its 175-year anniversary.

1997: Ten round tables were donated by Mariners, and all new chairs were donated by the Gamma Delta class.

1998: A rough year: We lost 11 members through death. New bookcases installed in the Heritage room. Bucyrus After School Enrichment (BASE) was formed. Church volunteers, spearheaded by Ed McCarthy, built a new retaining wall in our west parking lot. A $100,000 capital improvement program was launched. A mission statement was adopted for our church. The Christian Education position was made a staff position for the first time and with a salary. Session approved a sexual harassment policy.

1999: Awning installed at rear entrance near the elevator. New refrigerators and a dishwasher (first one) purchased and installed. Rev. Taylor elected as a commissioner to the General Assembly. The church cornerstone was opened early to allow Julliard Blicke to be present, since he was a witness to the original event.

2000: Alice and Millard Tupps made a large financial gift to the church. New choir robes were used for first time. Rev. Robert Taylor accepted a call in Michigan. Session gave approval to Bob Hubble and Lisa Fingerhuth to participate in the three-year program to be commissioned lay pastors—this is a presbytery program.

2001: Rev. Ken Wessler from Upper Sandusky was appointed as our moderator. Kevin Clancy was appointed as temporary supply and was later made Christian Education and Outreach director. Rev. Dr. Stanley Walters was selected as our Interim Pastor. The church enjoyed the first church-wide air-conditioning system. The church and annex were “bat-proofed.” The church’s active role was reduced from 273 to 166, and there were 42 inactive. A substantial financial gift was received from Courtney Stevens Deibert. The Bucyrus church became part of “the confessing church movement” which basically reaffirms our belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and we do not support the ordination of practicing and unrepentant homosexuals.

2002: A committee was formed to make plans for our 175th anniversary celebration. We experienced a fire in the chapel area that could have been disastrous but turned out to be minor thanks to fast action by Jim Coliene. The 175th anniversary celebration was kicked off this year in November with a hymn festival, featuring former pastor Paul Detterman and noted organist Don Hustad. A “memorial” calendar was prepared for sale to the community. Kevin Clancy left. His wife accepted a can in Maine.