First Cumberland Presby Church in Evansville

First Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Evansville, IN

The First Cumberland Presbyterian Church was built in 1876 at the corner of Chestnut and SE Second Streets (facing Chestnut), replacing an older church building.  The congregation joined with Grace Presbyterian Church at Mulbury and Second to become First Presbyterian in 1908.  The First Cumberland church building was sold to the Masons in 1911, and a portion of the building continues to exist as part of the Scottish Rite Temple.



Jefferson Avenue Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Evansville
Cumberland Presbyterian Church
on Jefferson Avenue at Governor
  Evansville, Indiana
  Photo below circa 1947
Cumberland Presby Organ wide

The Jefferson Avenue Cumberland Presbyterian Church was built in 1911. In 1924 a new organ was installed in the Walnut Street Presbyterian Church, and their old organ was sold to the Jefferson Avenue Church where the case was still being used as of 1946 (probably the case pictured above). 

The Jefferson Avenue Church later had a small Wicks organ of around ten ranks, totally enclosed in chambers, with the facade pictured having been removed. This probably took place after the remodelling of the building in 1951.  The church was closed in 2003 at which time the Wicks organ was offered for sale.  The building has been used since by an inner-city ministry.

Sources:

Photo of the First Cumberland Church from Historic Evansville website:
http://www.historicevansville.com/tag.php?id=cumberlandpresby
Accessed March 4, 2011)

Photos of the Jefferson Avenue Church from the Williard Library web site:
http://www.willard.lib.in.us/online_resources/postcard_gallery_detail.php?ID=37
http://www.willard.lib.in.us/online_resources/photography_gallery_detail.php?ID=14

Information about the First Cumberland Church building and the selling of the Walnut Street Church organ to Jefferson Avenue Church is from the 125th anniversary history booklet of First Presbyterian Church:
"Behold...125 Years: 1821-1946, The First Presbyterian Church, Evansville, Indiana, USA"

-N.B.


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