Since September 14, 1851, First Presbyterian Church of Anderson has stood as a gathering place for Presbyterians in Madison County, Indiana. The congregation was founded that year by the Reverend Edward Scofield and eleven other Presbyterians, just as the railroad reached Anderson and the young city began to grow. Today the church meets at 230 West Ninth Street, in a sanctuary completed in 1906, and it carries forward the same calling its founders articulated: to be transformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ and to proclaim the gospel in worship and in the world.
Member congregation of the Presbyterian Church (USA), First Presbyterian describes itself as a welcoming family of faith, called by God to believe in Jesus Christ and to be made more like him day by day. That spirit of welcome is the first thing visitors tend to notice, and the church has worked for years to make sure the building matches it.
Sunday Mornings in the Sanctuary
Worship begins at 10:00 AM on Sunday mornings. A fellowship and coffee hour starts at 9:30 in the Upper Room, giving visitors a chance to meet regulars before the service. The order of worship blends the best of traditional and contemporary music, and the dress code is simple: come as you are. Nursery care is offered during the service for families who would like it. For those unable to attend in person, services are livestreamed on the church's YouTube channel.
Music and Tiffany Light
Music has long been a defining feature of the church. The chancel choir rehearses on Wednesday evenings from fall through June, and child care can be arranged for rehearsals. The handbell program, directed by Barb Bowman, includes five octaves of bells and welcomes adult ringers. The church invites anyone who can count and tell left from right to learn. The sanctuary itself is home to a pipe organ, a Steinway piano, and a collection of Tiffany windows that catch the morning light, all contributing to a worship environment that is at once rooted in tradition and welcoming to newcomers.
Family Ministry Across the Generations
The Family Ministry Team, led by Music and Family Ministries Director Kirby Gilliam and supported by April Groves and Barb Bowman, plans activities for the whole congregation - from young children to senior adults, and everyone in between. Children's Sunday school is part of the regular rhythm of the week, and the team organizes special events through the year. The church holds up the family ministry as a place where grandparents, parents, teens, and little ones all have a place at the table.
From the Courthouse to the 1906 Sanctuary
The 1906 sanctuary is the third home of the congregation. The first worship services were held in the county courthouse. A first sanctuary on Meridian Street between Tenth and Eleventh was replaced by a brick structure on the same site, and a larger church was then built at the corner of Ninth and Jackson, one block east of the present location. The Education Wing and Fellowship Hall were added in 1954. In 2006, the Access for All campaign brought an elevator and ramps that made most of the building accessible to those using mobility devices. The result is a church that has grown with Anderson for more than a century and a half while keeping the older sanctuary at the heart of its life.
First Church has a tradition of long pastorates. Edward Scofield served from 1851 to 1861. B. F. Brundage served from 1912 to 1921, Frank Baker from 1921 to 1942, and George Taggart from 1942 to 1972, when the church grew to close to 1,800 members. Harry Thompson and Doug Hall followed with ten-year tenures of their own, Pastor Rick Kimmer led from 1998 until his death in 2007, Ryan Rasmussen served from 2010 to 2013, and Pastor Kevin Bausman has been there since March of 2014.
Weekly Rhythms Beyond Sunday Morning
Beyond Sunday morning, the congregation keeps a steady weekly and monthly rhythm. A Sunday night Bible study meets at 4:00 PM, both by Zoom and at the homes of rotating members, exploring God's love and teachings together. The Presbyterian Men gather on the third Saturday of each month for breakfast at Frisch's Restaurant in Anderson, a long-running tradition known as Presby Pride. The women of the church meet on the second Thursday of each month for lunch and fellowship at the Anderson Country Club, an event called Presby Chix. On the first Saturday of most months, the second-floor Craft Room fills with quilters, knitters, crocheters, and painters for an all-day Craft Day, with lunch brought from home and the door off Ninth Street ringing with visitors through the day.
Mission Partners Near and Far
First Presbyterian supports a network of mission partners, both locally and around the world. Christian Center Rescue Ministries, United Faith Housing, Operation Love Ministries, the Madison County Chaplaincy Board, and the Weekday Religious Education program are among the local efforts the church stands behind. Camp Pyoca, a Presbyterian camp in southern Indiana, is supported as well. Internationally, the congregation partners with Kwetu Faraja and Youth Serving Christ, extending its care beyond Madison County.
Planning a Visit
Visitors are greeted warmly at the door. Coffee and conversation begin at 9:30, the service follows at 10:00, and the building is accessible through the elevator and ramps added in 2006. Dress is whatever feels comfortable, nursery care is available during worship, and the music - choirs, bells, organ, and piano - is part of the experience. The church office is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, and the staff can be reached at 765-642-0219 or at 1stpres@1stpresanderson.org. Giving is available online, and those who wish to follow along from home can find services on YouTube.
Remembering Pastor Joy
The congregation continues to grieve the loss of Pastor Joy Edeker, who served as the church's Senior Pastor. Pastor Joy was ordained in December 2017 after completing her Master of Divinity at Eden Theological Seminary, a United Church of Christ seminary. She loved the church dearly, and the community holds her husband Todd, her children, and her sisters in prayer, rejoicing in the promise of meeting again one day.