First Presbyterian Church of Greene County to celebrate bicentennial

The First Presbyterian Church of Greene County, located in Bloomfield, will mark its 200th birthday on Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023.

The church was founded in 1823, one year before the town of Bloomfield was created.

In 1818, before Greene County was organized, Peter VanSlyke and his two sons-in-law, Carpus Shaw and John VanVorst, arrived in the area and began farming. Soon thereafter, other pioneer families moved into the area. When the county was organized by the legislature in 1821, the county seat was Burlington. There was no town of Bloomfield at that time.

These early pioneers had a thirst for the word of God, and soon, circuit-riding preachers began traveling through Greene County. At that time, preachers most often traveled alone and on horseback, depending upon others for food and housing, often appearing unexpectedly but then staying for days, neighbors traveling from miles around to hear the preacher.

One of these early circuit-riding preachers was the Cumberland Presbyterian preacher Alexander Downey, who was a native of Kentucky and was licensed to preach in 1820. He then began riding a circuit of churches, first in Kentucky and then through southern Indiana and attended camp meetings in both states. Most often, it took Downey three weeks to ride his circuit, preaching in homes, clearings and villages. As he preached in Greene County, he became acquainted with the farmers and pioneers in the area and learned of their desire to create a church.

On August 9, 1823, Downey met with a group of Christian pioneers near a spring on the farm of John VanVorst, near what is now known as the intersection of Spring Street and Seminary Street in Bloomfield. The church was organized as Cumberland Presbyterian Church and the congregation elected, and Downey ordained, as its ruling elders John VanVorst, Carpus Shaw, John Benham, William Roach and John Wasson. Those five men became the church’s first Session, which is the Presbyterian term for its governing board. The new church began meeting in the homes of church members as well as outdoors. Later, after Bloomfield was created, surveyed, and had begun to build, the church met in the new log courthouse. Downey continued to ride his circuit, but began riding further north into new settlements and organizing churches when possible.

Of the five ruling elders ordained Aug. 9, 1823, we know that VanVorst was from New York and married a daughter of VanSlyke, probably Catherine VanSlyke, the oldest child of Peter. VanVorst was very active in the new church, and became its first elder commissioner to the Cumberland Presbytery of Indiana, held in Daviess County in April 1828. He died in 1855 and is buried in the VanSlyke Cemetery at the west edge of Bloomfield.

Shaw was also born in New York in 1797. He married Sarah “Sally” VanSlyke in Daviess County on Nov. 29, 1819.

She was another daughter of Peter VanSlyke. Shaw was an educated man, and at one time was a schoolteacher. Shaw died on February 1, 1849, and he also is buried in the VanSlyke Cemetery at the west edge of Bloomfield.

Not so much is known about the other three elders elected to the first Session.

William Roach was reported to be six feet, seven inches tall and that a number 14 boot pinched his toes. He could easily cradle five acres of wheat in a day, and was an eloquent speaker, reputedly audible from two miles away.

Another first Session elder was John Benham, who lived in the southern part of Greene County and was described as a “very warm Christian man.” The remaining elder of the Session was Daniel Wasson, and nothing is yet known about him.

Although August 9 is the official birthday, the First Presbyterian Church will host its official celebration on September 10. Because the church has been active in both foreign and local missions throughout its history, the bicentennial theme is “200 Years of Making Memories Through Missions.”

The church continues to serve in the local food kitchen, support the food pantry, provide families in need with food and clothing throughout the year and support not-for-profit organizations in the county. The church has also supported foreign missions. Currently it is helping a Thai family in northern Thailand and helps to support Full Life Development, an organization that works with people in northern Thailand. During 200 years of service, several members have entered the ministry and two have served as missionaries, the first in Japan for 46 years and the second more recently in Thailand.

At one time, there were Presbyterian Churches in Linton, Worthington, Scotland and Washington Township as well as Bloomfield. Mergers and church fires have reduced the number now just to the church in Bloomfield. Now in its third building, the church is located at 401 Shyla Lane.

EDITOR’S NOTE:

“Footprints” is a series of stories about the people, places and circumstances that make up the history of the Town of Bloomfield on the occasion of Bloomfield’s coming bicentennial. David Holt has researched extensively to write these stories we share with you, and we thank him for that.