Church celebrates 155 years

The congregation of the Salina Presbyterian Church, located at 2807 180th St., Salina, is celebrating the first 155 years of its journey with the Lord on Aug. 14.

Worship begins at 11 a.m., followed by a potluck dinner. Photos, membership lists and old records will be displayed, as well as a review of the church history. The church will be open from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The church was organized in the Lynn schoolhouse at Richwoods in July 1856 by the Rev. McCune and J.F. McKinney of the Presbytery and the families of John and Mary Park, Andrew Johnson, John Carse, John Dunlap, J.B. Foote, Isaac Garmoe and Nancy Webb.

J.B. was the first elected elder. McClure served as the first pastor.

Other early members included Eber Ogden, Robert Young and Joseph Schillerstrom.

The first church was built in Salina, a more central location and a growing village. Land was purchased for $25 from the Charles Kyle family. The church as Quaker-style, with a bell cast in Essex, England, in 1863. The bell still hangs in the red-brown brick building that was dedicated in July 1922.

One of the two large stained-glass windows depicting Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane is dedicated to William Krumboltz, whose descendents are members of the current congregation. Krumboltz?s son Dwight left law school and gave a year of his life to work for the fulfillment of his father?s dream.

The other window of Jesus with children is dedicated to the Foote family. In the late 19th century, Grier and Will Foote traveled the countryside organizing Sunday schools and churches, composing words and music with their little portable organ. Their father compiled a book, ?New Hymns,? and the church has several copies.

Many pastors serving the church were Parsons College faculty or students. Current pastor Clarence Anderson served as a summer supply while he was a student at Bob Jones University in the 1950s and returned to serve the church in 1995.