The History of Our Church

There were several churches in the Williamsburg area that integrated over time to form First Presbyterian Church.

In 1856, the Congregational Church and Society of Genoa Bluffs was organized. At about the same time, a group of Welsh immigrants organized a Congregational Church at the home of William Evans. This church was incorporated in 1870 as the Congregational Church of Chester. (Chester being the early name for the settlement of Williamsburg).

In 1857, another group formed a Congregational Church in which only the English language was spoken. When a two room schoolhouse was built where the present post office is situated, the group held services there.

In 1859, Richard Williams, namesake of Williamsburg, donated the lot where our church is presently located and the Welsh Congregational Church was built. The American Congregational Church (as the English speaking church was called) built a church of their own on Elm Street.

At this same time, two other churches were organized. The Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Church (or Welsh Prairie Church) was located in York township in 1868. The Welsh Calvinistic Church was established in 1870. It was on the northwest corner of the town square, where Pizza Haus is currently located. These two churches often shared the same pastor. When these churches closed around 1920, the members joined either the Presbyterian or the Congregational Churches.

In 1882, the American Congregational Church became the Presbyterian Church. In 1890, the Congregationalists and the Presbyterians both built new church buildings. The earlier Welsh church was moved and became a residence. The Presbyterian building was moved to the north side of the square and became the city hall.

The Welsh Congregational Church started having evening services in Welsh in 1897 and discontinued the Welsh language entirely by 1911.

In 1916-1917, the Congregational Church built the principle part of building we now call the Presbyterian Church. Anna Evans, wife of the first pastor, helped to lay the cornerstone. In 1920, the church was completed and dedicated.

The Genoa Bluffs church closed in 1940 and most of the membership joined the Congregational Church in Williamsburg. In 1956 the Congregational Church observed the centennial of their organization.

In 1957, the Presbyterian Church was destroyed by fire. The Presbyterian and Congregational churches were united a few months later as the First United Presbyterian Church in the Congregational building. Both names are on the building with the Congregational Church on the south wall near the front door and Presbyterian Church above the front door.

In 1962, the Shimer Presbyterian Church, located in Conroy, closed and many of those members transferred to the Williamsburg church.