The Presbyterian Church was one of the first organized church bodies in Rockford with Rev. James H. Hunter serving the congregation from 1863 – 1870. His salary for the first year was $200. The church was designed to hold a bell, but when it arrived it was too large and a wooden bell tower was built to house the bell. The bell was rung to signal the end of the Civil war. It was also rung for emergencies round the Rockford area. The pews are made from butternut trees from the area. They are hand-hewn and swing on irons. At one time, the church was used for town meetings and the pews could all be turned to face the back of the church so that the altar need not be used for anything but worship. They would flip every other pew and extend a long table between the pews to sit “family style” for pot luck dinners. Thank you to Sue Bequeaith for the following insights and picture of Rockford’s oldest current church.
1952 Rockford Flood
Thank you Sue for this interesting information about your Church.
Many memories…. i attended this church when I was a child in the 60’s my mother I believe sang in the choir as well.
I believe that must be the church my Mom attended in the 30s till 60s! I have an old Bible of hers with a sunday school teacher’s handwritten note to her inside from 1945, wish I could share a photo with you… signed by a Mrs.Sager, I think.
You can email us at rockfordmnhistory@gmail.com and we can post the photo here if you like. We would like to see any photos from the Presbyterian Church congregation. They did not take many photos.
Oh, EXCUSE ME! I’ve got the wrong Rockford here… I meant Rockford IL 🙄 Sorry about that. Keep up the good work!