HR1366 LRB095 21496 KXB 51141 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives are pleased to congratulate the congregation
4 of the First Presbyterian Church of Mattoon as they celebrate
5 the sesquicentennial of the church; and
 
6     WHEREAS, The First Presbyterian Church of Mattoon began on
7 June 27, 1858 when early residents gathered to charter their
8 faith with the New School Presbyterian Church; together with
9 the Old School Presbyterian Church, the churches were united in
10 December of 1871; and
 
11     WHEREAS, The church lost all but one of its men to the
12 Civil War and this time became a rough patch in the church
13 history; membership soon built back up, and a new building was
14 erected on 21st Street and occupied by the winter of 1863-1864;
15 and
 
16     WHEREAS, By the turn of the twentieth century, the church
17 members were ready to build again, with size and affluence
18 causing the membership to outgrow the building; a new site was
19 chosen on Western Avenue and the church was dedicated on
20 November 2, 1903; a bell tower and stained glass windows were
21 donated by members and one half of the pipe organ was paid for
22 from a donation by Andrew Carnegie; and
 

 

 

HR1366 - 2 - LRB095 21496 KXB 51141 r

1     WHEREAS, In 1963 the church was again ready to build or
2 remodel; the decision was made to build and land was purchased
3 on Charleston Avenue, site of the current church building; the
4 Gorten and Chrissie Taylor Youth Center was added to the
5 property and dedicated in 1987; and
 
6     WHEREAS, 2008 marks the 150th anniversary of the First
7 Presbyterian Church of Mattoon; therefore, be it
 
8     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
9 NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
10 congratulate the congregation of the First Presbyterian Church
11 of Mattoon and wish them the best as they continue to have a
12 vital ministry in the community; and be it further
 
13     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
14 presented to the congregation of First Presbyterian Church of
15 Mattoon as a symbol of our respect.