Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1891-11-14
The PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
A Worthy Institution and Its Record
Something About Church Work
in the Early Days.


Something About Church Work
in the Early Days.
The First Presbyterian church of Sarta
Fe, situated at the junction of Grant avenue
with the San Rosario road, occupies the
site Dian old adobe building which was used
as the church. This building, with land OF
considerable extent adjoining, was pur-
chased by the Home Mission board of the
Baptists in the year 1865, The latter body
have the honor of being the first Protes.
tant church to enter New Mexico for the
establishments of missions therein, the
Presbyterians following them closely.
The first stated supply for the church
under the Presbyterian board was Rev
d. f. Mcfarland, who continued to labor
with acceptance here tor number oil
years. In 1874 the present minister Of
the church, Rev. George g. Smith, was
sent by the home board to occupy the
field. He reorganized the church and
continued as its pastor until July, 1879,
when he removed to Helena, Mont.
The vacancy thus created was filled for
one year by Rev. G. W. Riggle, at the
end Of which period, in December, 1880,
Rev. j. McGaughey arrived in Santa Fe
and took charge OF the work.
III May, 1881, the trustees of the church
met with view to the erection Of new
building, and resolved to proceed with
the project forthwith, said building to
cost about $500. Part of the funds were
raised by subscription in the city. Mr..
McGaughey went east and Obtained do
nations there and the board of church
erection made loan, afterwards repaid.
The building is of brick with stone fac
ings about forty feet wide by fifty feet III
length; the vsulted roof is of pine; the
windows are OF stained glass of handsome
design and well blended colors. 1t is
comfortably seated with chairs instead OF
the old fashioned pews. The original
plan includes tower or spire which is
only partially complete. The total cost
when finished reached about $4,000. 1t
was opened for worship in the summer Of
1882 and was free of debt not long after.
In May, 1883, Rev. j. W. Stark, Of
Jersevvllle, ILL.,, succeeded Mr.. Nc
Gaughey and had oversight of the church
for year and half. Rev. John Fergu
son from Denver subsequently became
minister for short period.
In Decem Der, 1887, Rev. G. G. Smith
the present pastor of the church, after an
absence of eight and a half years, returned
to Santa Fe and resumed charge of the
church which he had relinquished il
1879.
1t is interesting, in connection with the
history OF this. the oldest Presbyterian
church in New Mexico or Arizona, tt
note the substantial advance this reig-
ious body has made in the territory since
its first representative reached Santa II
twenty-six years ago.
Shortly after that period, 1865, there
was an addition of two ministers, and tn
Presbvtery of Santa Fe was constituted
with only three members. In those day.
the distances to be travelled to meeting
was great and the facilities for transporta
ton very inferior to what they are now
Of course, the brethren "camped OUT OF
the wav, giving a wide berth to the hostile
bands of Indians then infesting manl
portions of the country. At the town
designated for the meeting OF the Presby
terv, an old adobe used as church wal
usually the scene OF their deliberations
the members returning to the shelter o
their canvas at night.
For some years the work progressed
but slowly, necessarily so in face of the
difficulties to be encountered in the way
of travel and settlement. But the home
board was not unmindful of the religious
wants of this community, both native anC
Notwithstanding, and continued to senc
men as opportunity offered and as fields
of usefulness disclosed themselves. Since
the advent of the railroad the work has
been extended from year to year unit
now almost every county in the territory
has representatives of tie Presbyterian
church in the field. The Presbytery
of Santa Fe, which, WAS organized with
but three members, is now divided
into three distinct bodies, the other two
being the Rio Grande Presbytery and the
Arizona Presbytery. These three bodies
united from the synod of New Mexico
which has a membership of twenty
three ministers, six licentiates and ter
helpers. For most CT these. church
edifces have been erected, the funds fol
which in the majority OF cases have been
sent out from the east. Many OF them
are Spanish churches, ministered to in
some cases by natives and with a large
Mexican membership.
As the schools established and support
ed by the Presbyterian board of home
missions in New Mexico are closely iden
tilted with the churches, it may not be
out of place here to mention that these
number no fewer than thirty-three day
and two boarding schools for Mexican
children and seven day and one boarding
schools for Indian children.
1t will he evident from this brief sum
mary that the Presbyterian church is per
forming noble work in the cause Of
civilization, education and religion, the
fruits of which are even now disclosing
themselves.