First Presbyterian Church
Pastor Harry Losey
339 South Santa Fe
Princeville, IL 61559
(309) 385-4402

Services:

• Worship Sunday 10:30 AM
• Sunday School 9:00 AM

Daniel Prince, the first white man to settle at Prince's Grove, came to the northwest section of Peoria County in 1821 and built his log cabin. In 1831 seventeen steadfast Presbyterians were among those who joined Prince. These Presbyterians felt the need to form a church. They petitioned the Presbytery of Peoria, Synod of Illinois Central, to do so. Having been granted permission, they met on August 16, 1834, in the grove near the cabin of Thomas Bouton. On testimonials of their good standing in their former churches, chiefly in the Carolinas, New York and Indiana, they organized Prince's Grove Presbyterian Church - the first Presbyterian Church in Peoria County. Sunday, August 17, 1834, the first services were held. Rev. Baldwin preached the first sermon. The seventeen charter members were: Jonathan E. Garrison, Hugh White, James and Elizabeth Marrow, Erastus and Mary Peet, John Morrow, Jane White, Mary White, Martha Morrow and Elizabeth Morrow Prince. Two more, John and Docia Miller, joined on confession of faith. Thus, with a total membership of nineteen, the church we know now as First Presbyterian Church of Princeville was born.

Elizabeth Morrow and Daniel Prince had been neighbors in Indiana and upon her arrival here they were married. Apparently, Daniel Prince did not join the church; however, he never objected to Elizabeth's offering their cabin as a place in which to worship since private homes had to be used for meetings whenever a preacher was available. Eventually, a log school house located in section nineteen in Akron Township (southeast of the Present Akron-Princeville Ambulance Building) became their regular place of worship.

Reverend Calvin W. Babbitt was the first pastor, serving from 1835 to 1836.

As the congregation grew, they saw the need for a larger building in which to meet. Mr. Stevens, who founded Princeville in 1837, generously donated the land upon which the church could be built. It was located at the corner of Canton (Main) and Walnut Streets. Later Cheesman Brothers' Store was built there. It is now the site of the Princeville State Bank. The members responded with much hard work and sacrificial donations. In the middle of the winter, lumber for the construction. Mr. Stevens gave plaster needed for his own house so that the church could be completed. After a long struggle, it was finished in 1844 as a cost of $2,000. This was the first Presbyterian Meeting House in Peoria County, except for a small frame building erected a short time before in the city of Peoria.

By 1866 the congregation had once again outgrown its facilities. The building was sold to a merchant who later sold it to the Catholic Church. They moved it to the southeast corner of the village and used it for many years.

In September 1866 the building - the main sanctuary of the present church - was dedicated to God, free of debt. It had cost $6,165.63. A plank sidewalk was constructed from the church to the village park.

During the pastorate of Reverend Charles PHillips, 1897-1903, a large number joined the church on confession of faith. This was up to that time the highest point in membership, 210 church members, 238 Sunday School members. Reverend Phillip's daughter, Ethel, married Charles Cheesman who served the church diligently for many years. Like his brother Charles, Henry Cheesman gave much of his time to the church. He was the secretary-treasurer for forty-seven years. In 1903 another devoted "servant", Dr. Robert F. Henry, one of the Ruling Elders and a Sunday School teacher, gained national fame for Princeville Presbyterian Church with his "Infant Class". The ages of the fourteen members totaled 1,000 years.

The members of the congregation were determined to acquire a pipe organ before the church's 75th birthday. Thus Marie (Rie) Henry and Edward Auten, Jr., selected the organ which is still used today. It was dedicated on July 9, 1905.

After the purchase of the pipe organ the congregation had a special celebration on August 15 and 16, 1909, for the church's 75th anniversary.

A number of major activities culminated during Reverend A.B. Ryan's pastorate beginning in 1926. The Women's Society was formed, the Winn Band for children was absorbed into the Christian Endeavor, and Mrs. Charles Cheesman started the Missionary Reading Contest.

When the Centennial was held in 1934 it was climaxed with the uniting of new members, once again, seventeen in number, bringing the total membership to 306.

The church has progressed in many ways. One of the first additions was the bell, which was obtained through a drive spear-headed by Dr. Robert F. Henry. It was purchased from Jones and Company, Founders, Troy, New Your. On August 13, 1867, it was dedicated, and has rung on all occasions ever since. The next major improvement to the building was the construction of the annex now known as the "Gold Room". This was built in 1888. It served for two years as the home of the Academy and was called the "Christian Endeavor Room". When the Academy no longer church work. Other significant additions included digging a basement, raising the structure, adding an office, partitioning the basement, adding a kitchen, installing vinyl siding and putting in a new entrance.

Reverend Kent Adrian was installed as Pastor by the Presbytery of Great Rivers, March 28, 1982. A special Sesquicentennial Anniversary was celebrated August 18 and 19, 1984. The motto for the celebration was "Pride in our Past, Faith in our Future". The church is mindful of that small band of believers who gathered together on the testimony of their faith and former the Prince's Grove Church. Those early members worshiped in a log school house. The church is proud of that heritage.

Today it has evidenced its faith in the future by building the Ruth Corney Fellowship Hall which provides a large meeting room for over 200 people. Along with it is an efficient kitchen. The lounge provides space for meetings while a cheerful nursery for infants is accompanied by a toddlers' room. The previously existing Sunday School rooms in the church building have been redecorated and remodeled.

The new Fellowship Hall was made possible by the generosity of a very modest, unassuming lady, Miss Ruth Corney. At her death she left First Presbyterian Church a farm and a large sum of money. The congregation voted to give a tenth of the money to missions, to operate the farm for a while, and to undertake a building project.

The Ruth Corney Fellowship Hall, like the log school house, is dedicated to the purpose of meeting the needs of the people of Princeville as they seek to further God's Kingdom in the world. The Ruth Corney Fellowship Hall was dedicated May 4, 1986. As a result of 153 years of labor First Presbyterian Church of Princeville does have "Faith in the Future"!

The above information is taken partially from the Sesquicentennial Princeville Illinois book from 1987.