Third Presbyterian Church

When the Third Presbyterian Church was organized, Springfield was a town of 4,500. It had a history of nearly twenty-five years, and had been the seat of the state government for more than ten years. The First Presbyterian Church was more than twenty years old and had a fine building on Third Street, between Adams and Monroe. The Second Presbyterian Church - now called Westminster - had been organized in 1837 as a New School Church in a new denomination, which did not reunite with the Old School denomination until 1870; it had a great edifice on the northwest corner of Fourth and Monroe.

On February 7, 1849, the Presbytery of Sangamon met in a called meeting to consider the petition of forty-four men and women, who had been granted certificates of dismissal by the First Presbyterian Church, so they could organize a new congregation. The petition was granted, and the Reverend Thomas Galt was appointed to proceed with the organization of the new church. A meeting was held on the evening of the same day. The name chosen was The Third Presbyterian Church, and three ruling elders were elected: Asahel Stone, James L. Lamb, and Edmund R. Wiley. A call was extended to the Reverend R. V. Dodge of Terre Haute, Indiana to serve as Pastor.

In the course of the next few months a commodious sanctuary was built at the northwest corner of Sixth and Monroe. it cost $12,000 and was quickly paid for. The people had a mind to work; they were interested in growth in grace and the preaching of the gospel of grace. In less than a year, the Sunday School enrollment had reached 250. Dr. Dodge accepted the call to the pastorate on March 29, 1849 and served with great fidelity until October 29, 1857.

Our church was a downtown church. The membership was made up of the leaders of the city and their families. They appreciated excellent preaching and helpful Bible exposition. The men who filled the pulpit were outstanding: C.P. Jennings, who went from here to Shelbyville, Indiana and Cleveland, Ohio; G.W.F. Birch, who served as pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church of Lexington, Kentucky and was a great defender of the faith; Henry M. Paynter, who went to New York City and did a great work as a Bible teacher. During Dr. Birch's pastorate, it was necessary to build a larger church. The old building (17 years old) was sold to the Second Methodist Church (now Kumler), and a new building was built on the northwest corner of Seventh and Capitol at a cost of $70,000. This was in 1867. In the depression which followed the Civil War, it was impossible to pay the debt of $20,000. In 1872, the First Presbyterian Church bought this building from us and welcomed the majority of the members of our church into its membership by transfer.