First Presbyterian celebrates 100 years

This Saturday, July 11, marks 100 years for the First Presbyterian Church of Montrose. They will celebrate with a dinner that evening (tickets required) followed by a free program. A potluck open to everyone will be held after the Sunday morning worship service.

July 11 is also a very important day for our family—the birthday of my daughter-in-law, Gaye Cox who will be the big 5 – 0. Of course she doesn’t look it (or act it). I know she is going to enjoy this phase of her life, being a first-time grandmother, finally getting her little girl. Congratulations, Gaye, and I love you so. Fifty seems young, at least compared to the Presbyterian Church, so that makes you feel better, doesn’t it?

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote the first half of the church history, bringing it up to the time of Dr. Mark Warner who retired in January, 1957. That fall Rev. Leonard Knox was installed, serving until 1961. In January, 1959, he also started serving the Olathe congregation. His son, supported by the local church, became a missionary in the Sudan.

When Knox moved on, Anton Fabian served both Montrose and Olathe from 1961 until June, 1966. As the congregation continued to grow, they needed more room. A new sanctuary was built on the corner of North Second and Park, dedicated in January, 1965. The old sanctuary was used for Christian Education. The United Presbyterian Women became a very active organization, supporting many activities, raising money for missions by holding rummage and bake sales, maintaining a library and furnishing dinners for bereaved families.

During the term of Rev. Frederick Vander Meer, who served from 1967 until 1970, the old sanctuary was torn down and replaced with a new educational wing, modern kitchen and large fellowship hall.

It was a huge day for the church when they burned their mortgage during the tenure of Rev. Jim Patton who served until 1978. The next year, Rev. John DeSanto, who had served as college chaplain at the School of the Ozarks, arrived in Montrose. Through the efforts of DeSanto, a long commitment with the Presbyterian Church of Cancun, Mexico was established with numerous mission trips taken to assist in the construction or repair of church facilities in that area. A youth intern program was initiated at this time as well. Tim Osterland joined as an additional pastor in 1982.

The church outgrew its surroundings, needing not only a new building, but a larger campus. This is when the present location on East Niagara was selected. The new building opened Easter Sunday, 1985, under the name of the First Presbyterian Church of Montrose. The Sonshine Patch pre-school, under the direction of Sally Furuiye, opened its doors in September, 1986 and has served more than 1,500 children for the past 23 years. It is currently under the direction of Susan Eide.

When Pastors Osterlund and DeSanto left in 1987, they were replaced by interim pastor, Rev. George Moore who served until the arrival of Rev. Paul Parsons and his family. As the congregation grew and became very family oriented, Stephen Oglesbee arrived to help out until he received his own church in 2000. Rev. Moore returned from Wisconsin to serve as Calling Pastor and a program of summer youth interns was instituted. Rev. Bruce Greenough served from 2000 to 2003. More growth meant another new building for educational purposes, often referred to as the BOB (Building Out Back).

In the spring of 2003, Rev. Parsons left to begin a ministry in Kansas City, leaving Moore as the interim pastor, joined by Rev. Jo DeVinny as associate interim. Rev. Larry Zirschky arrived in February, 2005, serving until early 2008. Rev. Stephen Frank began as Interim Pastor in December, 2008.

Sally Fox, who prepared this 100-year-history, said: “Fellowship events are held regularly, strengthening ties within the body…we owe our gratitude to many members of the congregation who have served so faithfully over the last one hundred years. God has indeed blessed us in many ways!”