A Brief History
Extracted and Updated from the brochure "Centennial!", 1979
The First Presbyterian Church of Grand Forks, Dakota Territory, was organized on April 5, 1879, and it was recognized on July 15, 1879 by the Secretary of the Territory of Dakota with a "Certificate of Existence" issued to "The First Presbyterian Society of Grand Forks". The founding members of the congregation were:
Robert Anderson
Mary Anderson
James Adair
Margaret Adair
Mary Charlesworth Jr.
Mary Charlesworth
Valeria V. Freeman
Grace L. Freeman
Donald G. Gunn
Sarah Gunn
Catherine Gunn
Malissa L. Hamilton
Carrie M. Iddings
William Jackson
Mary Ann Jackson
Christina Kenn
James Kenn
Alice L. Metter
John McKelney
Mary Jane Patterson
Thomas Patterson
Ann Saunders
Thomas R. Saunders
Robert Stewart
Eleanor Walsh
Services of the newly formed congregation were held in the Methodist Church until November 1879, when the congregation moved to the Griggs and McCormack Hall.
The "Ladies' Aid Society", which later became Presbyterian Women, actually predates the organization of the church, as it was organized in June, 1878 at the home of Mrs. Valeria V. Freeman, on the farm now known as Lincoln Park.
Colonel Frank Viets, a trustee, presented land to the congregation at the corner of Belmont Road and Fifth Street; ground was broken in 1880 and the building was first used in June 1880. By the fall, the church was bricked up on the outside and pews were installed to replace the boards which had formerly served as seats. The building was not dedicated, however, until January 25, 1885, at which time the debt had been retired.
The bell, which has hung in each of the congregation's buildings, was presented by Mr. H. R. Bishop of New York City, who had visited Grand Forks in the summer of 1880. The bell was cast by the Clinton H. Meneely Bell Company, Troy, N. Y.
Education has always been an important part of the church's mission. Although no record remains of when the first education classes were formed, records show W. A. Gordon made the first report of the Sunday School to the congregational meeting April 4, 1888. A John M. Smith, however, reportedly recalled that in 1880, the mercury stood at 32 degrees below zero, there were 32 pupils present, and the offering amounted to 32 cents!
On March 5, 1911, the last services were held in the original building. Don McDonald, a pioneer member of the congregation spoke about the early days of the church during the farewell service. In the address, as reported in the Grand Forks Herald on March 7, 1911, Mr. McDonald said the first pastor, F. W. Iddings (photo, left) "would not perhaps take high rank as a preacher, but was a sincere Christian man, fearless in expression of opinion and even in the early days took strong ground on all public questions. He had the respect of the entire community. In 1881, owing to throat trouble reluctantly gave up the charge and has never resumed work in the ministry."
On May 7, 1911 the cornerstone of the new building was laid on the same plot as the original building. This building, designed by Joseph Bell DeRemer, an elder of the church and later one of the architects for the North Dakota State Capitol, was dedicated March 3, 1912.
The 1911 building was home to the congregation until April 1997, when it sustained extensive damage during the major flooding that devastated Grand Forks. A farewell service was conducted there in September 1997, with bagpipers escorting the congregation out of the building.
While "homeless", the congregation held services at the Memorial Union and Hughes Fine Arts Center at the University of North Dakota.
After making the difficult decision to sell the building at Belmont Road and Fifth Street, the congregation hired YHR Partners of Fargo to design the building at 5555 South Washington. The core building, including the sanctuary, Great Room and kitchen, was dedicated September 26, 1999, with the same bagpipers escorting the congregation into the new building. A classroom extension was added in 2002.
First Presbyterian Church, Grand Forks, has been fortunate to be served by a succession of talented pastors:
On February 12, 2012, Ken Dawes spoke to First Presbyterian on the history of Grand Forks churches.
Extracted and Updated from the brochure "Centennial!", 1979
The First Presbyterian Church of Grand Forks, Dakota Territory, was organized on April 5, 1879, and it was recognized on July 15, 1879 by the Secretary of the Territory of Dakota with a "Certificate of Existence" issued to "The First Presbyterian Society of Grand Forks". The founding members of the congregation were:
Robert Anderson
Mary Anderson
James Adair
Margaret Adair
Mary Charlesworth Jr.
Mary Charlesworth
Valeria V. Freeman
Grace L. Freeman
Donald G. Gunn
Sarah Gunn
Catherine Gunn
Malissa L. Hamilton
Carrie M. Iddings
William Jackson
Mary Ann Jackson
Christina Kenn
James Kenn
Alice L. Metter
John McKelney
Mary Jane Patterson
Thomas Patterson
Ann Saunders
Thomas R. Saunders
Robert Stewart
Eleanor Walsh
Services of the newly formed congregation were held in the Methodist Church until November 1879, when the congregation moved to the Griggs and McCormack Hall.
The "Ladies' Aid Society", which later became Presbyterian Women, actually predates the organization of the church, as it was organized in June, 1878 at the home of Mrs. Valeria V. Freeman, on the farm now known as Lincoln Park.
Colonel Frank Viets, a trustee, presented land to the congregation at the corner of Belmont Road and Fifth Street; ground was broken in 1880 and the building was first used in June 1880. By the fall, the church was bricked up on the outside and pews were installed to replace the boards which had formerly served as seats. The building was not dedicated, however, until January 25, 1885, at which time the debt had been retired.
The bell, which has hung in each of the congregation's buildings, was presented by Mr. H. R. Bishop of New York City, who had visited Grand Forks in the summer of 1880. The bell was cast by the Clinton H. Meneely Bell Company, Troy, N. Y.
Education has always been an important part of the church's mission. Although no record remains of when the first education classes were formed, records show W. A. Gordon made the first report of the Sunday School to the congregational meeting April 4, 1888. A John M. Smith, however, reportedly recalled that in 1880, the mercury stood at 32 degrees below zero, there were 32 pupils present, and the offering amounted to 32 cents!
On March 5, 1911, the last services were held in the original building. Don McDonald, a pioneer member of the congregation spoke about the early days of the church during the farewell service. In the address, as reported in the Grand Forks Herald on March 7, 1911, Mr. McDonald said the first pastor, F. W. Iddings (photo, left) "would not perhaps take high rank as a preacher, but was a sincere Christian man, fearless in expression of opinion and even in the early days took strong ground on all public questions. He had the respect of the entire community. In 1881, owing to throat trouble reluctantly gave up the charge and has never resumed work in the ministry."
On May 7, 1911 the cornerstone of the new building was laid on the same plot as the original building. This building, designed by Joseph Bell DeRemer, an elder of the church and later one of the architects for the North Dakota State Capitol, was dedicated March 3, 1912.
The 1911 building was home to the congregation until April 1997, when it sustained extensive damage during the major flooding that devastated Grand Forks. A farewell service was conducted there in September 1997, with bagpipers escorting the congregation out of the building.
While "homeless", the congregation held services at the Memorial Union and Hughes Fine Arts Center at the University of North Dakota.
After making the difficult decision to sell the building at Belmont Road and Fifth Street, the congregation hired YHR Partners of Fargo to design the building at 5555 South Washington. The core building, including the sanctuary, Great Room and kitchen, was dedicated September 26, 1999, with the same bagpipers escorting the congregation into the new building. A classroom extension was added in 2002.
First Presbyterian Church, Grand Forks, has been fortunate to be served by a succession of talented pastors:
- Rev. Francis W. Iddings, 1878 - 1881 (Stated Supply)
- Rev. Rockwood Maquestion, 1881 -1882 (Supply)
- Rev. H. H. Brownlee, 1882 - 1883 (Supply)
- Rev. Normal W. Cary, 1883 - 1884 (First regularly installed pastor)
- Rev. Dr. Harlan G. Mendenhall, 1884 - 1889
- Rev. Hamilton W. Spence, 1889 - 1897
- Rev. Frank H. Hays, 1898 - 1906
- Rev. William H. Matthews, 1906 - 1918
- Rev. F. Halsey Ambrose, 1918 - 1931
- Rev. G. DeFoldessy Fischer, 1926 - 1928, Assistant Pastor
- Rev. H. G. Klemme, 1932 - 1936
- Rev. James Robertson, 1936 - 1942
- Rev. Alvin O. Carlson, 1942 - 1943
- Rev. George Abernethy, 1943 - 1950
- Rev. Harry P. Sweitzer, 1951 - 1958
- Rev. Owen W. Dukelow, 1951 - 1952, Assistant Pastor and United Campus Ministry
- Rev John S. Shew, 1958 - 1969
- Rev. Lewis P. Sheldon, 1960, Assistant Pastor
- Rev. Vernon P. Van Bruggen, 1965 - 1967, Associate Pastor
- Rev. Larry R. Johnson, 1968 - 1969, Assistant Pastor
- Rev. Richard E. Zabriskie, 1970 - 1986
- Rev. David T. Alger, 1971 - 1974, Assistant Pastor
- Rev. David T. Alger, 1974 - 1975, Associate Pastor
- Rev Anne G. Huey, 1975 - 1980, Assistant Pastor
- Rev. Dr. Tyra Talley, 1986 - 1987, Interim Pastor
- Rev. John T. Lindquist, 1987 - 1991
- Rev. Dr. Gary D. Cecil, 1990 - 1993, Associate Pastor
- Rev. John Stahlman, 1991 - 1992, Interim Pastor,
- Rev. Dr. Gretchen Daneke Graf, 1993 - 2011
- Rev. Stephen Kenney, 1995, Associate Pastor
- CRE Kevin Kaufmann, 2001-2003, Associate Pastor
- Rev. John T. "Ted" Schuldt, 2012 - 2013, Interim Pastor,
- Rev. Ken Ribe, 2013 - 2015, Interim Pastor
- Rev. Spencer S. Homan, 2016 -
On February 12, 2012, Ken Dawes spoke to First Presbyterian on the history of Grand Forks churches.
