St. John Presbyterian Church History
The first settler, the first family, and the first church in New Albany were Presbyterian. On February 16, 1816, the Rev. James McGready, a Scots-Irishman from Pennsylvania, commissioned by the General Assembly to do mission work and start new churches in the Territory of Indiana, founded the Union church of New Albany and Jeffersonville with eight members. The Jeffersonville members later left the area in December 1817 the presbytery approved renaming the church the First Presbyterian church of New Albany.
The church grew to a membership of 174 members, but there was a division in the congregation in 1837 and 103 members formed a new church known as Second Presbyterian. In 1853, 24 members of Second Church offered to establish a new church in the presbytery, Third Church. Second Church, first located at 3rd and Main Streets, moved to 13th and Elm Streets, the site of St. John today, in 1890. On July 30, 1917, Second and Third Churches were merged as Hutchinson Church in honor of Dr. Charles Hutchinson, who had been pastor of Third Church for 50 years. In 1929 “Memorial” was added to the name.
In 1969 the history of St. John came full circle when First Presbyterian Church and Hutchinson Memorial Church were merged. The new church chose the name St. John –“that we may all be one.” Remodeling was completed in 1973.
Extensive remodeling was done during the 1990s. The addition of a Family Life Center provided a fitness center, new classrooms equipped with TV/VCRs and new opportunities for community activities.
On September 12, 2009, St.
John was one on the sites featured on the Historic Home Tour by the New Albany Historic Preservation Commission.
Fitness room
The first settler, the first family, and the first church in New Albany were Presbyterian. On February 16, 1816, the Rev. James McGready, a Scots-Irishman from Pennsylvania, commissioned by the General Assembly to do mission work and start new churches in the Territory of Indiana, founded the Union church of New Albany and Jeffersonville with eight members. The Jeffersonville members later left the area in December 1817 the presbytery approved renaming the church the First Presbyterian church of New Albany.
The church grew to a membership of 174 members, but there was a division in the congregation in 1837 and 103 members formed a new church known as Second Presbyterian. In 1853, 24 members of Second Church offered to establish a new church in the presbytery, Third Church. Second Church, first located at 3rd and Main Streets, moved to 13th and Elm Streets, the site of St. John today, in 1890. On July 30, 1917, Second and Third Churches were merged as Hutchinson Church in honor of Dr. Charles Hutchinson, who had been pastor of Third Church for 50 years. In 1929 “Memorial” was added to the name.
In 1969 the history of St. John came full circle when First Presbyterian Church and Hutchinson Memorial Church were merged. The new church chose the name St. John –“that we may all be one.” Remodeling was completed in 1973.
Extensive remodeling was done during the 1990s. The addition of a Family Life Center provided a fitness center, new classrooms equipped with TV/VCRs and new opportunities for community activities.
On September 12, 2009, St.
John was one on the sites featured on the Historic Home Tour by the New Albany Historic Preservation Commission.
Fitness room