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"Cities, Towns & Countryside"
5th Annual Preservation Week 2003 Photo-Essay Competition
First Place: Stefanie Jones
8th Grade, Franklin -Simpson Co. Middle
Franklin, Kentucky
TITLE: Preserve Proper Buildings
As I sit in my regular church pew on Sundays, I can't help but imagine what my ancestors over a hundred years ago thought about this church, First Presbyterian Church of Somerset, Kentucky. Many generations of my family have served as such things as charter members, deacons, elders, session members, and even as a pastor. All of these family members, along with the rest of the congregation, probably had a dream that nobody would ever tear this church down. One hundred and forty-two years later, it is our job to continue to help that dream.
Somerset's First Presbyterian Church was established on September 14, 1861. It was a one-room wooden frame building. Almost immediately after it began, the church had a four-year absence in which they had no services due to the Civil War. Instead, it was used as a Union hospital. Until 1943, you could still see blood stains on the walls of the church sanctuary.
The church members in 1888 realized that they needed a pastor who would have a full-time job, unlike before when each of their pastors only served an average of four years. They wrote a petition to Transylvania Presbytery to be able to have a full-time pastor. The presbytery granted that petition, and the Rev. Harvey Glass became the first full-time pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Somerset.
In 1927, church members realized that their church needed to be touched up. In the end, the church completed a $9,000 remodeling project that included covering the wooden exterior with brick. Unfortunately, fate struck on the morning of January 29, 1943. A fire had broken out in the church and badly damaged the interior. Another remodeling project was necessary. The church made a $28,000 purchase for the project and completed the renovation in 1947.
Since then, First Presbyterian Church of Somerset had gone through many pastors including Jack Wilhelm, who was pastor for 32 years, and the current pastor, John Cole. As First Presbyterian entered into its third century, the growing congregation realized some changes needed to be made to update the church, make it handicap accessible, and make it even bigger. Many old churches in our region are forced to abandon their ole buildings and build newer and bigger structures. Generally, those have been outside of the downtown areas of the community. Our church realized it was important to preserve our historical building and also add the needed space and modernization. At present, we are in the middle of a renovation of the church property. Right now, as they are tearing away some of the brick in the back of the church, one can see the original wood siding from long ago.
Now you can understand what a rich history this church has gone through in 142 years. I am happy that our members have decided to preserve it instead of tearing it down and moving. If the church had been torn down it would not only affect me, but many people around the community and the state. As a sixth generation of my family attending First Presbyterian Church in Somerset, I'm hoping that the church building will still be around for many more generations to come.
This essay and photograph(s) are the property of Preservation Kentucky, Inc. and Kentucky Heritage Council and that any use of the photo or essay must be approved by PK and KHC. |
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