Bloomfield United Presbyterian Church

The first Presbyterian church in Bloomfield existed before Bloomfield was established.

The local congergation was formed on 9 August 1823 at an out door meeting on what was then the Van Vorst farmand Later the Lew Jones addition. The site of the meeting was probly in the block west of the present intersection of Seminary and Spring Streets - a camp grove. Thus was the beginning and establishement of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

The founders of the church were: Rev. A. W. Downey with the following ruling elders: Carpus Shaw, John Van Vorst, Daniel Watson, William Roach and John Benham. John Vorst was the first setler in Richland township, having settled there in 1817.

The next ruling elders of the church were: William Bynum [great grandfather of Daniel A. Bynum] and Grace Bynum; and Alex Downing [great grandfather of Mrs. Marion Bassert].

The church continues to meet in the Camp grove until 1837 and in 1840 it started meeting at a place called Camp Ground located on the George Kutch farm in the Burlington area and were held the until 1855. Among one of the first campers at the Camp Ground was George Steel

At the closing of the Camp Ground the congrgation continued to meet in various schools and the old courthouse at Burlington and also was allowed to share the new Methodist church building..

In 1838 Rev. Ephraim Hall became pastor of several churches in the area including the Bloomfield Church. For 16 years he faithfully and effectively served the congeragation riding on horse back from his home in Elletsville which was 30 miles away.

During the ministry of Ephraim Hall the ruling elders were: Alfred L. Kutch, Jeremiah Buckner, John Simpson, William Anderson, W. T. Ferguson and E. H. C. Cavins. Those whe had been ordained as deacons during this time were: WIlliam C. Hicks and W. K. Routt.

During the next 70 years, 20 ministers served the church. Among these were: Rev. W. T. Ferguson [son of Bloomfield piooneers and later Moderator of the General Assembley and Mrs. Brasser's father], Rev. L. P. Marshall who served the church from 1879-1883 and again from 1912-1915.

The ruleing elders ordained during this 70 year pertiod were: A. J. Mason, J. N. Conley, John Kutch, J. D. Leavitt, J. D. Alexander, David Myers, R. T. Burrell, O. W. Shyrer, P. J. Harrah, D. A. Long, J. A. Cravens, J. H. Smith, R. B. Duff, Church Covert, D. H. Baldridge, Charles Chaney, L. E. Mc Donald, and A. Page.

This deed has been found transferring property to the church:

Deed Record Book I, Pages 27 & 28:
Deed Filed Nov. 6, 1850, 12 O'clock
PM.

This Indenture Witnesseth that Alfred L. KUTCH and Rachael KUTCH his wife of the County of Greene and State of Indiana for and in consideration of the sum of one dime to them paid by James BUCKNER, David COWAN and John SIMPSON of said County and State the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged do hereby bargain sell and convey to the said BUCKNER, COWAN & SIMPSON as Trustees and to their successors in office the following Real Estate in Greene County and State of Indiana and described as follows to=wit: beginning at the South East Corner of Section No. 2 in Township No. 7 North of Range No. 5 West, thence due north 13 rods, thence West to the State road, thence South 13 rods, thence East to the beginning, Containing one acre, more or less to be used, occupied and enjoyed as a site for a Cumberland Presbyterian Church and for that purpose only, and in case said tract of land so conveyed is ever used for any other purpose by said grantees, then this deed to be void and of no effect together with all the privileges and appurtenances to the same belonging in form and manner aforesaid to have and to hold the same to the said BUCKNER, COWAN & SIMPSON for the purpose aforesaid and their successors. The grantors and their heirs heirs and assigns hereby covenanting with the grantees and their successors and assigns that the title so conveyed is clear free and unencumbered, that they are lawfully seized of the premises aforesaid as of a same perfect and indefeasible Estate of inheritance in fee simple and that they will Warrant and defend the Same against all claims whatsoever, while used as above for a church building. In witness whereof of the said Alfred L. KUTCH and Rachael KUTCH his wife who hereby relinquishes her dower in said premises have here unto set their hands and seals this seventh day of September 1850.

A. L. KUTCH {Seal}
Rachael (her + mark) KUTCH {Seal}

State of Indiana Greene County

Personally appeared before me the Subscribed Recorder in and for said county Alfred L. KUTCH and Rachael KUTCH the grantors in the above conveyance and acknowledged the same to be their voluntary act and deed And the said Rachael KUTCH the wife of the said Alfred L. KUTCH being examined by me separate and apart from and without the hearing of her said husband and the contents and purport of said deed being by me first made known and explained to her she declared that she executed the same by her own free will and accord and without any coercion or compulsion from her husband. Witness my hand this fourth day of November 1850.

S. M. CAVINS, R.G.C.
By Wm C. HICKS, Dept

The first church building was erected in 1856 at the site of our former manse on East Main Street about the 300 block and its manse was on Church Street [where in 1989 the Shady Grove Apartments were].

Due to the untiring work of Rev. I. N. Yorkely, pastor, the present church building was erected during 1897-1899 and was dedicated 15, October 1899.

This was before it had been remodled

The Ladies Aid Society , under the name of Sewing Circle, was organized about 1851; the Woman's Missionary Society was formed on 27 August 1890. The Woman's Missionary Society and Ladies Aid Societybecame the Women's Association which is now a part of the United Prebyterian Women.

In 1881, Miss Julia Latimer Leavitt was sent as a missionary to Japan where she served for many years.

Maude Cavins Isenhower is revered for her unsual dedication and service to the church in that during its most stringent years when the church had no offical minister, she went daily to the church attending to its needs. She also taught the primary Sunday School class all her fuctinal life.

The Young Peoples Society of Christain Endeavor was organized 7 April 1891 and the young people group in 1958 was known as the Westminster Fellowship.

In 1904 the congregation joined the Presbyterian Churh, U.S.A. which in 1958 became a part of the new United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Also in 1904 the manse was built on East Main Street where the old church had stood but several years later it was sold. Another new manse was built on Madeline Street.

A centennial celebration was held in 1923, while Rev. T. B. Mc Amis was pastor. Following Rev. Mc Amis resignation in April 1924 Rev. Monroe Seals served one year as pastor. Rev. Jack Masters was pastor from November 1926 until January 1931.

Those he became members under Rev. Masters were: Joe Russell Laughlin [pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Urbana, Il. and Moderator of the Synod of Illinois].

The church afer remodling:

The following ministers and students have served us since Rev. Masters: Paul L. Garber (student), May 1934-June 1937; Rev. Wm. S. Behrick, July 1937-October, 1939; Rev. Wallace I. Mc Donald, May 1940-Nov. 1941; Oral Van Horn (student, October 1944-February 1945; Rev. Homer Weibecker (who held Sunday evening services) Sept. 1946-1954; Mavo Smith (student) 1954. Mr. Smith was ordained in November 1955 and served until May, 1957.

A new church was built a new manse at 306 Madeling Ave.

Bruce Beardsley came as a student supply pastor in May 1957 and was ordained in May 1959.

The 1st Presbyterian Church of Scotland merged with the Bloomfield Congregation to form the United Presbyterian Church of Bloomfield, Indiana sometime before 196

In 1988 it was determined that the church building was unsafe and the task of building another building was under took. Ground was secured for the new building and the new church building was occupied by the end of 1989.

Last updated 22.10.2009