The History of Auburn Presbyterian Church

The First Presbyterian Church of Auburn Kansas is older than the state of Kansas itself!  In February of 1857, Rev. Francis Monfort came to visit what was then called Brownville.  He was encouraged by the interest shown, and he moved to Brownville.  On September 15, 1857, an organizational meeting was held in the home of one of the nine charter members of the church.  The church was formally organized on January 30, 1858.

When another post office with the name Brownville was discovered in the Kansas Territory, the name of the town was changed to Auburn, and the name of the church to First Presbyterian Church of Auburn.

Construction of a church building was frustrating.  The first attempt was interrupted by the Civil War.  Then, in the mid 1860's, a frame church was completed, but it was lost in a severe windstorm.  The Presbyterians and the Baptists then decided to work together, and they built the stone church that still stands on the corner of 8th & Washington.  The inscription over the door reads, "Union Church 1877".

In 1889, the Presbyterians decided to sell their interest to the Baptists.  They then moved to the land upon where the church is now located at 11th & Washington.  At the annual business meeting, held March 3, 1889, it was agreed to build a new house of worship.  The sanctuary was was completed within a year.  The first worship service was held in the sanctuary on March 1, 1890.  The cost of the building was $3,300. 

The church grew, and in April, 1929, an addition was added to the north side of the sanctuary, giving the church much needed classroom space.  Electrical wiring was installed in 1938.  In 1948, the upstairs was finished, providing two more classrooms and a place for the youth to meet.

On September 22, 1957, the church celebrated its 100th birthday.  Rev Rowan Potter was the pastor.  In 1961, the Manse Hall was built.  Until the Manse Hall was built, the restroom facility was an outhouse that stood east of the sanctuary.

On September 26, 1982, the church celebrated it's 125th birthday.  Rev. Robert Duncan was the pastor.  Bessie Moore wrote, Bernice Moore directed, and members of the congregation acted out a play depicting the historical highlights of the church.

Also, in 1982, a sound system was installed, and in 1985, a bathroom was installed in the church building.  In 1988, the cement patio was poured on the west side of the church.  In 1990, the church celebrated the 100th birthday of the sanctuary , and in 1992, the gazebo was built.

In January of 2008, we celebrated the 150th year of our mission and ministry in Auburn.  In June, 2008 Jim Aubey became our installed Pastor.  We thank the Lord for the saints who have gone before us, and who presented the gospel to us.  We pray that the Lord will find us faithful in fulfilling our mission of presenting the gospel to future generations.  We pray that He will use us to further His purposes and His kingdom until the day when we too, will join the saints in heaven, and become a part of the church's history.