Founded in 1839, Central Presbyterian Church of Petersburg has a rich history with origins in New Salem, the village near Petersburg where ABRAHAM LINCOLN lived and worked for 7 years before he moved to Springfield to work as a lawyer and begin his political career. New Salem settlers moved to the newly founded town of Petersburg in the mid-1830's.


Founding Fathers

DR. JOHN ALLEN, the father of our church, served as physician at New Salem. One of our adult fellowship groups still bears Dr. Allen's name today. Dr. Allen, a man of God, graduated from Dartmouth Medical School. He was very young when he came from Vermont to New Salem in 1830 and befriended Abe Lincoln. In February of 1839, the northwest portion of Sangamon County was set away by the Illinois State Legislature and Menard County was founded, with Petersburg as the county seat. Having moved to the town in 1837, Dr. Allen gathered a number of people at the Menard County Courthouse to form the Presbyterian Church in 1839, the very first church in Petersburg.

Amoung the ten founders of Central were PARTHENA NANCE HILL whose husband, SAMUEL HILL, was a merchant, postmaster, and built the carding mill at New Salem. When they moved to Petersburg, they opened a store at Jackson and Seventh Streets. Mrs. Hill was the only remaining founder at the 50th anniversary celebration.

HENRY ONSTOTT had a cooper shop at the New Salem village in 1830. He later moved to Petersburg where he would become a trustee of the first frame church. DAVID RUTLEDGE, son of JAMES RUTLEDGE who founded New Salem and brother to ANN RUTLEDGE, served in the militia under Captain Lincoln. He moved to Petersburg and served as one of the town's first attorneys. He also served as a trustee of the first church building.

Other founders included the CONOVER family: WILLIAM, his wife CATHERINE, daughters PHOEBE and LAURENA. One of our eldest members today, HELEN CARTER, is a direct descendant of the Conovers.

Until May of 1842, the newly organized church members worshiped in several locations, including the Courthouse, upstairs over the Bennett store on the west side of the square, and a schoolhouse. A small wooden white frame building was constructed at the corner of Sixth and Sheridan Streets and dedicated by its original 15 members. This building was used as a house of God for 32 years. The first permanent minister was REV. GEORGE MCKINLEY. His leadership helped to increase the membership to 70 strong. This was quite remarkable inasmuch as among the 1000 residents of the town, only about 200 were regular church-goers.

After the Civil War the membership grew to 170 and plans were made for the present brick church building to be built and completed in November, 1874 at the corner of Douglas & Eighth Streets, complete with 100-foot steeple that could be seen from all parts of town. The cost of the construction included $400 for architectual design and $14,500 for materials and labor.

In 1916 the church facilities were enlarged by the additions of the present education wing and improvements to the sanctuary.

By October 1939 the steeple had badly deteriorated and was removed and dropped to the street below. Later, in October 1969, a large cross was placed on the east side of the bell tower that is lit at night and can be seen from across the Sangamon River. The cross is 10-feet high and each arm is 12-inches wide. Donated by the John Allen Sunday School Class in memory of VETA MATTHEWS DAVIS, their long-time teacher, it cost $500.

In the early 1970's, the sanctuary was remodeled, which included updating with new lighting enhancements, new carpeting, and painted.

In April 1996, the church building was rededicated after completion of a major renovation of the Education Wing and Entrance to the building, complete with an elevator that accesses all floors of the building, large handicap-accessible restrooms, a wheelchair ramp at the entrance, and removal of the second floor chapel to open up the Tiffany window area so that it may be viewed from three floors.

Among its many stained glass windows all on sides of the building, the church features east windows installed in 1874 that are of a soft, hand-painted glass that were the earliest type used in churches in this country. The sanctuary windows are the bright, beautiful opalescent leaded glass installed in 1919 at a cost of $62 per window. Each one honors the memory of a person active in the Church or honors the memory of a loved one lost in the service to the country during World War I.

The large LOUIS COMFORT TIFFANY stained glass window was installed in 1917 by craftsmen of Tiffany Studios of New York. It depicts Christ surrounded by children in a garden setting with colorful shades of green, red, and pastels, a technique that produced a radiance in the opalescent glass. Inspired by the words of Jesus, "Suffer the little children to come unto me," it was donated by MRS. R. J. FRACKLETON in memory of LOUISE FRACKLETON who served as superintendent of the Primary Department for many years.

With music having been an important part of Central's heritage to interpret God's message, it has had a pipe organ since 1917. Beginning with a MOELLER ORGAN which was a gift from SENATOR WILLIAM B. MCKINLEY in memory of his father, Rev. George McKinley.

In the mid-1980s it was replaced with a WICKS 2-MANUAL & PEDAL PIPE ORGAN with a solid state console that features 1234 pipes...the resulting sound is truly beautiful.

Today Central's congregation continues to be an active, vital church which effectively ministers within to its members and reaches out in the community.