200 Years of First Presbyterian Church Columbus Indiana

<p class=ql-align-justify>First Presbyterian Church of Columbus Indiana has fashioned a long and rich history since it was chartered on July 3 1824 by circuit rider John M. Dickey with 17 members in attendance. Its first elder was a wounded Revolutionary War veteran. <span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>The Rev. Ninian S. Dickey son of John M. Dickey and the church's minister from 1853-1870 was a close friend of author Harriet Beecher Stowe who wrote the book </span><em style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Uncle Tom's Cabin</em><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>. The Rev. William R. Laws Jr. was elected moderator at the 1970 General Assembly attaining the highest elected position within the Presbyterian Church.</span></p><p class=ql-align-justify><br></p><p class=ql-align-justify><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>But what really makes this congregation special is the good its done and continues to do in the community.</span></p><p class=ql-align-justify><br></p><p class=ql-align-justify><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>First Presbyterian Church or its members of their own volition have started many programs for the community's common good.</span></p><p class=ql-align-justify><br></p><ol><li data-list=bullet><span class=ql-ui contenteditable=false></span><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>In 1913 the Rev. Alexander Sharp Sr. helped organize the first Boy Scout troop in Columbus.</span></li><li data-list=bullet><span class=ql-ui contenteditable=false></span><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Harold W. Turpin pastor here in the 1940s organized the first chapter of Alcoholics Anonymous in Columbus </span></li><li data-list=bullet><span class=ql-ui contenteditable=false></span><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>The church opened the first preschool in town in 1954.</span></li><li data-list=bullet><span class=ql-ui contenteditable=false></span><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>In the 1960s a childcare center was opened in the church that eventually became Children Inc.</span></li><li data-list=bullet><span class=ql-ui contenteditable=false></span><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>In 1972 the church helped start Y-Med a program that allowed young mothers and mothers-to-be finish their education giving both meeting space and financial assistance. </span></li><li data-list=bullet><span class=ql-ui contenteditable=false></span><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>The Rev. Warner Bailey was the guiding force in the establishment of a shelter for battered and abused women. Organized in June 1979 it is now known as Turning Point.</span></li><li data-list=bullet><span class=ql-ui contenteditable=false></span><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Presbyterians were instrumental in starting the first homeless shelter in Columbus. </span></li><li data-list=bullet><span class=ql-ui contenteditable=false></span><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>A group from First Presbyterian that had renovated a home for an elderly widow sparked the formation of Housing Partnerships Inc. in 1990 with other churches. HPI is now doing business as Thrive Alliance.</span></li><li data-list=bullet><span class=ql-ui contenteditable=false></span><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Hot Meals offering food and fellowship for anyone in the community has been conducted here each Friday evening since 1993.</span></li><li data-list=bullet><span class=ql-ui contenteditable=false></span><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>First Presbyterian member Juana Watson was the first director of Su Casa a Hispanic resource center that opened in 1999. First Presbyterian covered much of startup costs.</span></li></ol><p class=ql-align-justify>There are more.</p><p class=ql-align-justify><br></p><p class=ql-align-justify>The how and why these events came about as well as what impact they've had on the community are detailed in this book.</p>