Church History

History of Church

The first Presbyterian Church in the Neoga area was organized in 1851. The members were early settlers of Cumberland County in the Long Point neighborhood, the center of business and population at that time. After Neoga came into existence, the members built a church in the new town in 1859. The church was dedicated in April of 1860. At that time, the name was changed from “The Presbyterian Church of Long Point” to “The First Presbyterian Church of Neoga.” Another branch of the Presbyterian Church was organized, also in the Long Point area, in 1857, and called “The Neoga Presbyterian Church.” In 1866, the two branches combined as “The First Presbyterian Church of Neoga.”

The present church building was built in 1900 and dedicated in 1901.

The Presbyterian Church of Long Point

On April 5, 1851 at the home of John G. Morrison in Cumberland County, Illinois, “a church was organized by J. H. Russ of the Presbytery of Alton. The organization embraced ten certified members from the church of Pleasant Prairie {Coles County, Illinois}, John G. Morrison & Eliza N. Morrison his wife; James H. Morrison & Sarah C. Morrison his wife; Nathan Gould & Martha R. Gould his wife; Sarah Morrison, Margaret Morrison, Tirzah Morrison, & Mary Ann Parkerson. The church voted to make application to Wabash Presbytery for reception under their care, & to be called the “Presbyterian Church of Long Point.” The Wabash Presbytery belonged to the New School Synod. The church’s first minister was Rev. John H. Russ.

With the coming of the Illinois Central Railroad in 1854, and the establishing of a railroad depot, the Village of Neoga was founded. Realizing that Neoga would soon become the population center, the congregation decided to build their church in Neoga. In 1859, a building in size 55 feet by 36 feet was erected on the present church lot, at a cost of nearly $3,000. It was dedicated April 28, 1860.The name was changed from “The Presbyterian Church of Long Point” to “The First Presbyterian Church of Neoga”.

On October 1, 1865, Rev. James B. Brandt became the minister of the church.

The Neoga Presbyterian Church, Long Point Grove

On September 30, 1857 in Cumberland County, Illinois, a committee of the Palastine Presbytery, Old School Synod, met to organize a church at “Long Point Grove” of sundry members of Pleasant Prairie church and others. Members from Pleasant Prairie were: James and Ann Wilson, Jonathon B. and Nancy F. Dryden, Hannah M. Dryden (daughter of Jonathan), Andrew H. and Mary Gray, and Samuel Dryden. Others were: Joseph and Maria J. Gibson, Robert M. and Sarah Hunter of Buffalo Church, Guernsey County, Ohio; and John H. McQuown of the Long Point Church.

The first minister of “The Neoga Presbyterian Church”, Old School was Rev. R. K. Lilly.

Combined Church – The First Presbyterian Church of Neoga.

Up to June 9, 1866, the First Presbyterian Church of Neoga (New School) had received 110 members. The Neoga Presbyterian Church (Old School) had received 48 members. On That date, the two churches became one, anticipating the reunion of the two branches of The Presbyterian church by four years. According to previous arrangements, the elders of both churches resigned and the united church voted to connect with the Wabash Presbytery.

Rev. John B. Brandt was chosen minister.

In 1901, while Rev. L. K. Grimes was minister, the original church building was replaced with the present building, at a cost of $20,000. The old church building was sold to the city, and moved to the city lot where the water tower now stands. It was converted into a jail and also used as a town hall for many years.

On January 4, 1959, the congregation voted to change the name of the church from the First Presbyterian Church of Neoga to the United Presbyterian Church of Neoga, the result of another planned merger of two branches of the church.