Plain City Presbyterian Church

Celebrating 200 Years of Worship

The Early Years

“One afternoon, in the fall of 1800, a clerical looking man came riding out of the south into town, tied his horse to a tree, and knocked on the door of one of the three or four little houses in the town.”

History of the Presbyterian Church, PO Robinson

Founders of the Church

Rev. Archibald Steele James Robinson David Mitchel Samuel Kirkpatrick Robert Snodgrass Joshua Ewing

The Church is Established

“The first church building was erected in 1815 on about four acres, just west of the city limits on Route 161. It was a large frame building, had no chimney, and no way of heating; therefore it could not be occupied in the winter. The men sat on one side of the church and the women on the other.”

The Sesquicentennial Album of Presbyterian Church, Mrs. PO Robinson

Church Service in 1815

“Sunday school was in the morning at 9:30; church at 11:00. The church service had two prayers and a sermon an hour in length, then came a half hour’s intermission for dinner, carried in baskets. . . . then back to church for another long sermon.”

The Sesquicentennial Album of Presbyterian Church, Mrs. PO Robinson

Session Records

“From 1821 until now, the records of the meetings of the session are complete. They show the joy and gladness of birth, baptism and marriage, and the sorrow of separation and death.”

The Sesquicentennial Album of Presbyterian Church, Mrs. PO Robinson

Brick Building 1870-1893

By 1870, Plain City had grown, so it was decided to move the church building to the present location. The old building was torn down, the bricks hauled here, and the new church was erected.

Brick Church Ministers

1870 – 1871 Rev. William Galbreath

1871 – 1873 Rev. J. H. Stevenson 1876 – 1879 Rev. H. K. Crow 1880 – 1884 Rev. Isaac Thomas 1885 – 1887 Rev. James Hawk 1888 – 1893 Rev. T. B. Atkins 1893 – 1893 Rev. E. C. Jacka

Church Building 1893

The congregation quickly outgrew the first church. Rev. JM Work spearheaded the building of the current church in 1893.

1890’s Bulletin

Ministers of Current Building

Rev. J. M. Work

1893 - 1896

Rev. W. O. Wozencraft

1910 - 1911

Rev. C. A. Hunter

1903 - 1910

Rev. A. B. Morrow

1915 - 1919

Ministers of Current Building

Rev. Frank Patterson

1920 - 1946

Rev. David Redding

1952 - 1956

Rev. Joseph Hedges

1948 - 1952

Rev. Mark Allen

1956 - 1959

Ministers of Current Building

Rev. William Payne

1959 - 1963

Rev. James Browne

1993 - 1997

Rev. Charles Stenner

1964 - 1991

Rev. Don Hilkerbaumer

1999 - present

Gathering through the years

Youth Ministries

Family Night Gatherings

Church Floats

Christmas Pageant

Christmas Food Baskets

Honoring Members

Plain City Presbyterian Church

Celebrating 200 Years of Worship