HISTORY OF ELLENSBURG FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Abridged from our Centennial Anniversary (1879-1979) pamphlet, with additional material from annual reports, 1979-1999
Click here for a historic roster of our pastors

The history of the Presbyterian Church in Ellensburg began on July 20, 1879, in Washington Territory. After people had been meeting in homes for some time with Rev. David Thomas, the Presbytery of Puget Sound appointed Rev. J. R. Thomson to hold meetings in the public school house.

As the community grew, it became apparent that there was a need for a higher educational institution. Rev. James Laurie came in 1884 and established the Presbyterian Academy by arranging the purchase of ten lots from John Shoudy, Ellensburg’s founder, for $1,300. The church had 73 members and paid the minister $1,200 a year.

In 1889, Washington became a state. That same year, fire burned half of the town but missed the Academy. The State Normal School was built and in 1898 the academy building was moved from the middle of the block to the corner of 5th and Sprague and the Sanctuary was added. The dedication was on September 24, 1899. This building was used until 1958.

For many years, the beautiful tones of the church bell rang out to invite worshippers to the eleven o'clock service. This bell was a gift from Rev. James Laurie, whose classmates at Williams College had presented it to him to be used in his first church. It was cast by the Clinton H. Meneely Bell Co. of Troy, New York, shipped around Cape Horn, and hauled by freight wagon from The Dalles by David Ford and Jacob Salladay. Others helping were Arthur Damman, C. H. Hinman, and Peter Tjossem.

Most rural members lived too far to drive horses every Sunday, so Sunday School was held in local school houses, with people coming in to town for special services.

In 1914, there were 318 members. The United States entered the First World War in April 1917. This took many boys, as Troop A was organized in Ellensburg and left for France. The church and its family provided comfort and prayers for the boys' safety, and the Ladies Aid knitted and rolled bandages.

By 1920, the war was over, the boys were home, cars were becoming more commonplace, rural members could get in more often, and the church was crowded, but it was not until April, 1926, that a permanent committee of 11 was appointed to receive donations and make plans for a new building.

On November 24, 1929, the church held its golden anniversary with the Rev. Hansen Bergen, pastor. The Sunday School gave a program on early history and Rev. James Murray read messages from former pastors. The choir gave a sacred concert under the direction of Miss Dorothy Briggs. The Christian Endeavor, claiming to be the oldest in the state, dating back to 1886, presented a costumed entertainment with music by the High School Band. The Ladies Aid gave a Historical Family Dinner with Mrs. Frank Crimp in charge, and Miss Nellie Burke presented a pageant of three epochs in the history of the church. Dr. James Thomson, synodical executive, gave an address. This was Rev. Bergen's last meeting before going on to his new church in Forty Fort, Pennsylvania.

In 1929, the nation underwent a stock market crash, followed by a depression. There was need for the minister's counseling and help. The Building Committee voted to postpone plans until 1946 when a bequest for $1000 renewed talk of a new church. The need was felt for a Board of Deacons for ushering, visiting, and other duties. The first Deacons were elected in 1949.

In 1940, a report showed growth and expansion and the need for more room both in the church and manse. Rev. and Mrs. Thompson were the happy parents of twin girls. Mrs. Lucille Hoke reported 193 pupils in Sunday School with 25 teachers; 117 active members in Ladies Aid; 20 to 30 choir members; l00 couples in Schooner Club; 327 church members, and an active Missionary Society. Alice Brown, Treasurer, reported a bank balance of $155.70. Current receipts for the year were $4255, the pastor's salary was $2100, the janitor's was $420, the secretary's was $100, fuel cost $150, and the music budget was $50.

In 1941, the men voted to sponsor Cub Scout Troop #75, which they supported for many years. There was talk of the dangers of missionary work in the war zone. Rev. Mr. Thompson ordered 6 copies each of the Army and Navy New Testaments to present to boys going into the Armed Forces. The Session voted to release Mr. Thompson if he should be called to a Navy chaplaincy. Parts of letters from boys in the service were read to the church, and Dr. Reginald Shaw kept the boys in touch with a monthly newsletter. This all brought the war closer to our hearts and the women worked harder to raise their war fund quota. In October 1942, the Session voted to discontinue the ringing of the bell on Sunday morning and it was missed greatly. Laurence Moe was hired as choir director.

Rev. Mr. Thompson received a call from Woodland Park Presbyterian Church in Seattle. William Brown resigned as Sunday School Superintendent after many years. The church recognized William Brown and Peter Tjossem for their many years of service. A. B. Offer became the new superintendent.

There was more discussion about the need for a new church. The women were tired of packing supplies to the YMCA for special dinners and the annual Bazaar. The Sunday School complained that they had no room for classes; the choir complained that they wanted to practice just before the 11 o'clock service when the Sunday School was in session in the same room; new members complained we were not friendly and they slipped out the door and went home because there was no room to meet them, and so the dissatisfaction grew.

The Elders worried about these church needs. At that time, among the Elders, Trustees, and Deacons were: Peter Tjossem, Jim Snowden, Jay Whitfield, Kenneth Courson, William Brown, Roy Bowers, Dr. Carl Olander, Eldon Edwards, Sam Mohler, Lynn Leslie, Theo Evanson, Spencer Short, William Cissell, and Stanley Thomson.

Eldon Edwards, Allen Smith, R. M. Shaw, Lynn Leslie, Clara Offer, and Alice Brown investigated the possible cost of the size of church we wanted. Some of these visited a church in Caldwell, Idaho, and brought plans and photos to show. Now we were really getting interested. Named to a Finance committee were: Earl Anderson, William Brown, Frank Billeter, Andrew Sorenson, Charles Hall, Eric Moe, Jr., Alice Brown, Robert Dunnington, Ken Major, Stan Thomson, Dorse Schnebly, Edward Zeiger, Dr. Cary Coppock, Henry Whitney, James Kresge, Walter McDougal, M. W. Cunningham, Glenn Stewart, Harold Quigley, Ruth Woods, Elsie Schnebly, Agnes Catlin, Jay Whitfield, Frances Adams, Ray Fischer, Victor Bouillon, Harry Wegeleben, Rev. Coen, and Lynn Leslie, treasurer and Don Jongeward, chairman.

The Session urged this large committee to secure the services of an architect to present plans. They had no thought of changing the location at first. This was home, so they bought two more lots next to the old church.

On September 16, 1954, we celebrated our church's seventy-fifth anniversary. Mrs. Wayne Hertz became our organist and later, Wayne Hertz became our choir director. Many college students joined the choir and over the years our music truly carried out the admonition, "Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the lands. Serve the Lord with gladness, come into his presence with singing."

The decision of the Finance committee was to hire the Wells organization to conduct the fund raising for the new church. Chosen to work with them were; Dr. Cary Coppock, Joe Kendall, A. B. Offer, George Evenson, Frances Adams, Alice Brown, Clara Offer, Eric Moe, Don Jongeward, chairman with Clayton Lowe, treasurer. Their motto was "When we build, let us think that we build forever."

Eric Moe offered to give 3 acres on the east edge of town. More discussion, "too far to walk; more room to park, etc." In the end the site was gladly accepted. By July 1955, Dr. Coppock announced pledges had reached $125,925, and architects Eddy, Carlson and James had been retained.

By January 1958, the building was progressing fast but the money was also going fast. After much discussion $15,000 more was borrowed from the Synod. The pews were bought from Laird Mfg. Co. for $5,056; about half were given as memorials. George Evenson offered to move the organ with four good volunteers; the men pitched in to move furniture from the old church; even the little children gave their money to buy floor tiles. The women helped with donations, food, and dinners.

The church cost $240,000 to build with donations and pledges of $139,206. The downtown lots were appraised at $31,000.

Dedication of the new church was held on November 23, 1958, with a dedication of the congregation in the morning, open house in the afternoon, and dedication of the new building in the evening.

Dr. Arksey informed the church that he had received a call to the United Presbyterian Church at Cashmere, starting January, 1959. Rev. Wm. Richard Van Ness from Du Pont, Washington, became the new pastor.

Martin Campbell, later Kenneth Hodgson, directed the choir. Jessie Barnhill was named chairman to see about rebuilding the organ, and Edith Courson became editor of the Newsletter.

We were getting settled in and felt at home. A new long-range planning committee of Edwin Anderson, Lillian Coppock, James Stougard, and Don Jongeward, with Elsa Anderson, treasurer, made plans to install the old church bell we loved. The work was accomplished through research by the Spencer Shorts and a gift by the Eric Moes.

In September 1965, Gordon Leavitt became our choir director, Rev. Van Ness resigned, and our own Muriel Brown became our interim pastor until Rev. Don Meekhof was installed as pastor in April 1968.

In 1969 a feeling of accomplishment reigned when we voted to pay off all indebtedness and burn the mortgage for the church. It had cost $240,000, and a thanksgiving service was held with special thanks to everyone who had helped and especially to Clayton Lowe, treasurer, who had kept accurate records and guarded the fund carefully from unnecessary expenses.

In November 1968, the Wenatchee and Walla Walla Presbyteries combined to form Central Washington Presbytery with Ben Swier as vice-moderator. Alice Brown was moderator of Presbytery in 1973, and 1975 found her moderator of the Synod of Alaska-Northwest. In May 1978, Pastor Meekhof became moderator of Central Washington Presbytery.

Our young people have been a joy with their choir and enthusiasm. Directors of Youth before 1979 were Karel Coppock, Karen Carson, Arlin Migliazzo, Linda Gowey, Diana Day, Tim Forsyth, and Ed Hurd. They brought many young people to Christ and had a good time, too, with Christian service trips to Alaska and Idaho, ski trips led by Don Meekhof and Greg Thorson, and pre-game dinners before basketball and football games.

Our church family rejoiced to witness Bob Coppock as a candidate for the ministry and the ordination of Muriel Brown. We helped Karel Coppock and Mike Shreve when they went to Seminary, and in 1978 were happy to witness the ordination and installation of Gregory Thorson and to welcome Greg and his wife Dottie as he became our assistant pastor. With Greg's arrival our church began to host Breakaway, the Christian rally for youth from the entire Presbytery, held in February of each year, on President's Day weekend.

With anticipation, the congregation greeted 1979 and the year of our church Centennial. A large committee planned the celebration: Alice Brown, chairman; Jean Williamson, secretary; Lillian Coppock, Women's Assoc., Rosemary Keller, Choir; Brad Williamson and Dave Shadle, youth; Barbara Kohler, Don Jongeward, Lillian Jongeward, Pins Dawson, Edith Courson, Dorra Cissell, deacons, Elsie Schnebly, historical booklet, Tom McClelland, Men's Group, Libby Werkhoven, Mother-Daughter Banquet, Gordon Leavitt, music, Ron Lindh, printing, and Vera Williams, commemorative plate. Hazel Dunnington organized an engaging centennial pageant, with actors in period costumes. Other activities included a church directory with photos of members; a reunion of all former choir members in April, special speakers: Rev. Earl Palmer and Dr. Louis Evans, Jr.; a visit of the moderator of General Assembly; and a picnic dedication on July 15 with an invitation to all former members to attend.

The congregation remained active in the years after the centennial. In 1981, Nancy Moss and Susan Cooper reported that there were 75 children regularly in Sunday School. The nearby high school building was used for some classes as the demands for children's and adult Sunday School sessions strained church facilities.

In 1982, the total church budget was $102,000. The position of Director of Music was established, with Choir Director Kerry Carson assuming the post on September 1. In 1984, Kerry Carson left to attend seminary and Don Clausen became Choir Director and Organist. Don and Janice were the backbone of all our church music for several years.

Our interest in an active community ministry resulted in the formation of a Mission and Social Concerns Committee in 1983. Audrey Shreve and Helen Waddle were the first chairpersons. The committee organized an apple sale to benefit the Campbell Farm mission center in Wapato, and special collections for Friends In Service to Humanity (FISH) and Ellensburg Crisis Line.

Also in 1983, the church library was reactivated and moved from Tjossem Fellowship Hall to the back of the Memorial Chapel. Alice Brown, Laverne Meekhof, Shirley Kern, Jean Williamson, Sue Marvin, and Gloria Christie refurbished the library. In 1991, the library was moved to its current home in a former classroom, freed for a new use by the availability of the new education wing.

In 1984, a building committee began to plan an addition for Christian education, but it would be five more years before real action began on expansion. Youth ministries became a new committee of session, and our first Harvest Supper was held. The Harvest Supper is a baked potato dinner with potluck toppings contributed by the congregation. We review the financial status of the church at the Harvest Supper.

The interdenominational United Campus Ministry became less active in these years and, in 1986, our church appointed a College Intern, Connie Barnhart, to minister to college students.

By 1988, we moved into the computer age with the first computer purchased for church office. We’ve constantly updated our computer network to take advantage of new techniques for word processing, budgeting, and communication.

In that same year, Assistant Pastor Greg Thorsen was called to the Community Presbyterian Church, in Sandy, Oregon. Some of his duties were undertaken by Joyce Franz (youth ministries), Nancy Moss (children's ministries), and Connie Barnhart (college ministries). Greg had inspired our youth and completed his Doctor of Divinity degree while he was with us, and he and Dottie were missed immediately.

A contemporary style worship service was added to the Sunday morning schedule in July, 1989. The contemporary service began at 8:45 a.m. and the traditional service began at 10:30 a.m. Later in the year, the congregation participated in Spirit Alive!, a series of spiritual renewal meetings and exercises. The congregation's comfortable patterns of worship were examined, with some disruption and discontent in some quarters and a sense of renewal and more free expression in others.

Choir Director Don Clausen moved to Port Angeles and Jackie (Clark) Jensen became the new choir director, while LaFaughn Hancock became the organist. A new associate pastor, Jim Deal, joined our church family on Sunday, August 27. Kerry Boers became the new college intern for a year, and in September, 1990, Brent and Celeste Johnson took over leadership of the Oasis Ministry for college students. A very active core grew to over 60 students at Tuesday night meetings.

On February 13, 1989 the Session approved the formation of a building expansion committee, chaired by Al Moss. First task was to commission reroofing of the existing sanctuary, completed in July. More challenging project, to expand the area for worship, began in June, with the assistance of Ellery Brown, a Seattle architect who was married in our sanctuary. Decision to propose three phases of improvements: remodel Tjossem Fellowship Hall, add an education wing, and remodel the office area. In January, 1990, the congregation voted to move ahead to remodel the fellowship hall and build the education wing. Tri-Ply Construction of Yakima was selected as the contractor. The addition was finished and ready for use in time for the congregational meeting of January 13, 1991. The budget for the entire project was very nearly $400,000. The building use committee developed the educational use of the new wing on Sundays and pursued a ministry to children of working parents in Ellensburg for weekdays. Our latchkey children’s program became the Afterschool Safe Place, founded with support from the Synod of Alaska-Northwest and area churches. Afterschool Safe Place has become financially self-sufficient and serves an urgent need in our community.

Soon after completion of the new addition, and after 23 1/2 years in Ellensburg, Pastor Don Meekhof concluded his ministry with us and accepted a call at the First Presbyterian Church of Spokane. Interim Pastor Albert (Jack) Chan led our congregation while a Pastor Nominating Committee, chaired by Mike Cooper, selected a new pastor. Choir director Jackie Jensen left for western Washington, and was followed by series of music directors serving for brief terms: Brent Johnson (1991, John Mieras (1992), and Bonnie Bricker-Smith(1993-1995).

1992 was the 200^th anniversary of the Presbyterian Church in America, and we responded to the PCUSA Bicentennial Fund by choosing to support the Cristo Rey church of Moses Lake, Small Rural Churches of Washington, Campbell Farm Expansion, Yakima Drug Response, Retired Pastors Care, and Volunteers in Mission Enhancements projects.

We bid farewell in October, 1992 to Associate Pastor Jim Deal, who followed a call to the Church of the Redeemer, in Weiser, Idaho. Our search for a senior pastor was answered by the arrival of Pastor Steve Trotter, of West Yellowstone, Montana on December 6, 1992.

Soon afterward, in 1993, Shawn Rowles became the Youth Director. Brent and Celeste Johnson took their ministry to Seattle and our Oasis ministry was led by a student couple, George and Josie Colby, then by Aaron Beaty, in 1994. Alice Brown, a member of our church for over 58 years, went to be with our Lord in 1993. Alice Brown held many church and presbytery offices and was a living history of our congregation. In 1994, the church library was named the Alice Brown Memorial Library in her honor.

In 1994, the annual report of the congregation was renamed the Acts of the Christians, to remind us that we stand in a long line of witnesses to Christ, stretching back to His death and resurrection.

Susie Crawford replaced Shawn Rowles as Youth Director in 1995, and Bonnie Bricker-Smith passed the Music Director's baton to Paul Wagner. Susie later married David Beil and took up studies at Princeton Theological Seminary in August, 1998.

Chris Hushaw arrived in 1995 and assumed the duties of associate pastor, with special attention to youth programs. In the next year, we began to plan a series of Logos Family Evenings in the church. Once a week in the fall and in the winter we would gather to share supper and family activities, including worshipful singing and prayer. Our first Logos evening was on January 8, 1997. Chris Hushaw was a driving force behind this worshipful and fun evening.

Also in 1997, the congregation shared in a Seder dinner, with the planning help of Rosemary Keller and Suzanne and Rob Frank. The Seder dinner brought us in contact with the traditions of the Jewish roots of our faith. Eric T. Moe, who donated the land for our church in 1955, passed away in 1997.

The core staff that was in place in January, 1998 was almost entirely replaced within the year. Susie Beil's departure for Princeton has already been noted. Music Director Paul Wagner left for a full time professional position in Idaho, Associate Pastor Chris Hushaw was called to ministry in Santa Rosa, California, and, in early 1999, Pastor Steve Trotter undertook an international ministry in Lithuania. Our music ministry was continued under the leadership of Darcy Watson (1998-2000), and Maryanne Beery (2000-2003). Larry Danton became our assistant pastor for youth until 2001, and Interim Pastor Bob Palmer came to us from Alaska for more than a year, to prepare us for a new senior pastor. 

Our Pastor Nominating Committee worked steadily throughout 2000 to discern God's will for our congregation. We were blessed with the arrival of Rev. Al Sandalow, his wife and partner, Arda, and their children Alisha and Ariana. Pastor Al came to us from Battle Creek, Michigan and was installed on October 22, 2000. Our congregation has been blessed and revitalized by his compassionate guidance. Our music ministry has divided into Worship Team (Julie Johnson) and Chancel Choir (Sue Wilson) specialties. In 2004, our long  time church organist, LaFaughn Hancock, retired and Lauren Quock, a CWU music student, became our keyboard artist. 

This essay seems long, but it is only a brief history of our congregation's life. The rich texture of everyday life in the church has been set aside in favor of major milestones. Many long term activities - Harvest Supper, Round the Table Carol Sing, Christmas Bazaar, Breakaway, and the Joyful Noise children's choir. -- have barely been mentioned. Programs of shorter duration, such as Spirit Alive!, Bible Memory in Sunday School, Rocktober, Grace-full Winter's Eve, Logos, and Children's Church with Rev. Rufus, have served as expressions of faith and then been replaced by new ways. The many small changes - a new pastoral message, new insulation in the fellowship hall, new hymnals, choice of color for repainting the sanctuary woodwork and choir robes, a memorable anthem or special music, a gas fireplace in the Fireside Room, purchase of a weed eater -- emerge with every new week and constantly renew our congregation's life