First Cumberland Presbyterian Church
This church was first organized by Rev. R. S. Reed about the year 1869. In 1875 Rev. J. W. Riggins held a protracted meeting in Georgetown, which resulted in the resuscitation of the old organization and its removal to the town of Georgetown. The work of reorganization was accomplished by Revs. H. R. Smith and David Hogan; Elders Dr. H. E. Depp, W. M. Richey, Milton Hume; Deacons Clarke Bouldin, J. H. Kuykindall and Samuel Sprecher. The congregation under the new administration seemed to prosper for a few years and then the period of depression came again. In June, 1881, Rev. A. H. Stephens was called to the pastorate of this church, it then being a mission under the care of New Lebanon Presbytery. The church: was reorganized July 17, when Capt. S. W. Ritchey and Dr. J. P. Gray were elected additional elders, and Messrs. L. M. Trumbull and J. E. and W. H. Ritchey were elected deacons. Broadway Presbyterian Church building is in every way modern and up to date. The furnishings are of oak. Church has an excellent pipe organ. The new building, just south of the church on Kentucky avenue, was completed a few years ago. It is a large, two story brick, with finished basement, called the Social Service building and is used for Sunday school, social service and physical development. Church membership, April 1, 1918, was 376 and the average Sunday school attendance is 160. Rev. W. B. Chancellor is the present minister and the following gentlemen constitute the board of officers: William B. Chancellor, moderator; John Montgomery, Jr., clerk; S. P. Johns, R. F. Harris, Robert M. Johns, Dr. F. M. Fulkerson, John Baker, John A. Collins, William S. Sneed, F. F. Combs, P. L. Deweese, C. A. Shaeffer. Central Presbyterian Church, located at Fifth street and Lamine avenue.-The following sketch has been furnished the author by the Rev. John C. Giffen, present pastor of the church: The history of the Central Presbyterian Church dates back to 1865, in August of which year the First Presbyterian Church was organized by Rev. John Montgomery in a little school house, on what is now West Jefferson street. The first church edifice was erected in the year 1865 at the corner of second and Lamine streets, the present site of the Terry Hotel. The organization prospered until 1870, when a part of the congregation withdrew to organize what was called The Old School Presbyterian Church, the new organization retaining the old site and building. The first church removed to the corner of Fifth and Lamine streets and there erected the building now used by the manual training department of the Sedalia High School. In this edifice the congregation worshiped until 1888. The Old School Church continued at Second and Lamine streets until it became formally connected with the Presbyterian Church, South, at which time it received the name of the Broadway Presbyterian Church and removed to Broadway and Kentucky streets and there erected the edifice in which they still worship. The two churches continued their separate work until 1888, when the Broadway Church was transferred to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, U. S. A., and the First Church was merged with it-the latter losing corporate name and existence. This arrangement continued for about two years, until 1890, when another division took place and the Central Presbyterian Church, composed largely of members of the old First Church, was organized. The Presbytery, however, declined to revive the name First Church and gave the name Central Church instead. The new organization returned to the old building at Fifth and Lamine streets, which had never been disposed of, and in that edifice continued to worship until 1911, during which year the present beautiful church building was erected. Since 1891 the succession of ministers has been as follows: Rev. Rollin A. Marquie, 1891-1898 ; Rev. James D. Catlin, 1898-1899; Rev. Andrew A. Boyd, 1899-1909; Rev. Joseph D. Prigmore, 1909-1917, the latter minister resigning to enter the service of the U. S. Army in Y. M. C. A. work. The present minister, Rev. John C. Giffin, was called in January, 1918, and was formally installed on May 1 of that year. The present membership of the church is 175 with a Sunday school enrollment of about 150.
(History of Pettis County Missouri by Mark A McGruder 1919)