A History

In 1880 the settlement of Paradise Valley had a population of twenty-five, one saloon, two stores and three churches.  After the Baptists and Methodists (organized 1876) and the Dunkards (organized 1878), the First Presbyterian Church of Moscow became the fourth church on December 19, 1880 with eleven charter members.  Presbyterian churches in Boise and Lewiston were the only ones to precede the Moscow church in the territory that later became Idaho. 

The land on which the church stands was donated by John Russell, a Moscow businessman.  He also donated the land for the Russell School, named for him.

 Daniel Gamble, graduate of San Francisco Theological Seminary (and father of long time member Lola Clyde, 1900-93), became the first pastor in the fall of 1880.  He left after two years and was followed by Pastor H.H. McMillan who succeeded in raising funds to erect the central part of the first church building.

Pastors came and left after two to four year intervals with up to one and one-half year vacancies between pastors.

 David Ghormley came as pastor in the fall of 1894.  He began the keeping of records which showed the church had 125 members on April 1, 1895.  During his ministry the wings were added to the original church structure and funds were secured for building a manse. 

S. Nathan Fiscus and family were the first to occupy the manse, built on the church property facing Van Buren Street in 1902.

 During the ministry of John Abels, 1906-08, the church was remodeled, enlarged and had a pipe organ installed. 

The first pastor to stay ten years 1908-18, was David Hare.  The church annex was built during this period.

During the pastorate of Wayne S. Snoddy, 1918-27, membership grew to 396.

 The twelfth pastor was Rev. Clifford Drury, who launched a fund drive for the new building.  The Depression intervened so the first unit of the present church structure wasn't built until 1932.  This unit consisted of the social hall (Fellowship Hall) with kitchen and heating plant large enough to accommodate the anticipated building.

When the present Moscow High School was built, Fourth Street was closed, so new church plans had the building facing Van Buren rather than Fourth Street.  In 1939 a building committee, including current member Clarice Sampson, was formed.  The manse was moved from Van Buren to Fifth Street and the present building was erected. The last service in the old church was observed August 10, 1941.  That fall the Presbyterian Foundation of Idaho was incorporated to promote the spiritual welfare of Presbyterian students at the University of Idaho.  This later became known as the Westminster Foundation. The new church was completed and  dedicated, clear of indebtedness,  in the spring of 1942, during the pastorate of O.L. Walter.

John D. Furnas became pastor after the Rev. Walter from 1944-1948.  His wife, Esther, was the daughter of the tenth pastor, David Hare.  During this period, all ladies' groups were merged into the Women's Association.

During the ministry of David Clayton, 1948-51, a weekday nursery school was begun.  It later became known as the Presbyterian Day School which continued through the spring of 1977.  At its peak, four morning and four afternoon sections of kindergarten were offered as there was no public kindergarten.  There was also a nursery section.  Today the Moscow Day School functions year-round in the education wing.

Records of the church and reorganizing of office files were established during the pastorate of Warren Prall, 1951-54. 

He was succeeded by Harry Johns who occupied the "new" manse purchased by the church on Sixth Street.

During the ministry of Richard Lundy, 1961-69, membership reached an all time high of 554 and church school enrollment was 498.  During this period the Christian Education wing was added.

The Rev. Lundy was succeeded by Pastor Henry Bremer, 1969-72. 

He was followed by Ervin Rymes, 1973-82.  After retirement in 1991, Erv and June Rymes returned to Moscow, serving area churches, Presbytery of the Inland Northwest and the community in various capacities.  They now live in Texas..

Robert Slater became the twenty-first pastor, 1983-87.  During his pastorate, a full-time youth minister, Gary Mathiesen, 1985-91, was hired.  Gary was very helpful in holding the congregation together during the search for the new pastor,  Lindsay Moffett, 1989-93.  Gary left to pastor a church in Puyallup, Washington, and was succeeded by Associate Pastor Robert Ruckert, 1992-1995.  In 1990, the Chapel Room/Narthex area of the church was remodeled, with handicap access and parking lot improvements made.

The First Presbyterian Church was pastored by an interim, Rev. Walt Miller 1993-1995.  In 1996, Dr. James W. Fisher arrived from Louisiana. During "Pastor Jim's" ministry at FPC a three-year Capital Campaign was completed which funded building and organ repairs and other improvements.  Dr. Fisher retired for medical reason in 2003.  

Leading the church during the search for Pastor Fisher's successor was interim pastor Jean Jenkins. Under her leadership, the church undertook a self-study through a series of cottage meetings, carried out a Forty Days of Purpose campaign, planned for transition to a Purpose-Driven Church, and restructured Session committees to implement a co-chair structure for each committee. 

On July 8, 2005, Rev. Norman E. Fowler was unanimously elected to his current position, moving from Community Presbyterian Church in Lake City, Colorado.

There are currently 299 active members, led by 15 Elders and cared for by 15 Deacons.  First Presbyterian Church is grateful to God for its proud history, for committed Christians who have served this church for more than a century, and for the challenging future He holds before us.

June 1996
update: January 1998
update: September 2003

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