Pastors

On April 29, 1869, a group of ministers in Iowa climbed a high bluff, looking out over the prairies stretching westward. Saddened by the fact that there were no churches of their denomination for almost 2,000 miles westward, they were determined to go out and do mission work. They designated Sheldon Jackson to lead a group of Presbyterians out west. They reached Corrine, Utah on June 11, 1869. They did mission work from the nothern to southern Utah boundaries. They found that almost all of the railroad workers were Gentiles. On July 1, 1871, Sheldon Jackson went to Salt Lake City. Upon seeing that Salt Lake City was almost completely dominated by the Mormons, he saw it fit for much missionary work. Jackson appealed to the Board of Missions in New York, who replied by sending the Rev. Josiah Welch, originally appointed to Montana. He was persuaded to stop in Salt Lake City to give it a fair trial.

Reverend Josiah Welch arrived in Salt Lake City on October 1, 1871 and he organized the First Presbyterian Church of Salt Lake City on November 12, 1871, with eleven members. Within two weeks, the congregation had grown to twenty-five. They had no church building, so they met in private homes, public halls, a skating rink, and a room above a livery stable. In 1873, the congregation set out to raise $18,500 to fund a church building after having paid $11,000 for the plot of land. The church was dedicated October 11, 1874 on the corner of Second South and Second East. Traditionally, Presbyterians started schools wherever they started churches, so Rev. Welch persuaded Dr. John Coyner to open the Salt Lake Collegiate Institute in the basement of the new church. The school started April 12, 1875, which later moved and turned into Westminster College. Rev. Welch died at the early age of 26 in March of 1877.

Reverend R. G. McNiece served as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church for 20 years. He was very involved in mission school work and he worked closely with several acadamies as they developed. He worked very hard to found a Christian college in Utah until 20 years later when Sheldon Jackson College came together with the Salt Lake Collegiate Institute. He was closely associated with the college as was his wife who was a valued teacher there.

Reverend Paden came from Philadelphia in 1897. The "new" church building was built under his pastorate. The land on C Street and South Temple was called the Newhouse Lot and was purchased in 1901. Although the cornerstone says 1902, it was not laid until June 4, 1903. The sanctuary was first used May 13, 1906. On October 20, 1906, a terrific east wind blew out the east windows, making the sanctuary unusable again until March 20, 1907. Dr. Paden also cleared the church's $10,000 debt and liquidated a loan from the Board of Church Erection. Membership increased, an assistant pastor was hired, and enrollment reached 700 with an active membership of 500. An organ was installed in 1911. A mission was also opened in the southwest section of the city. After 15 years, he resigned his pasorate at First Prez to be the superintendent of mission in the Synod of Utah. He ended up working half salary much of the time and no travelling expenses while working twice as hard as Synodical Executive and ad interim preacher at First Prez while First Prez had no pastor. Although resigned, he preached, did the pastoral work, visited members, ministered to the sick and performed marriage ceremonies. He also donated his large, valuable library to Westminster College.

Between 1912 and 1914, the First Presbyterian Church of Salt Lake City did not have a pastor, but Rev. Stevenson came as moderator of the session. He performed some of the pastoral duties in the absence of a pastor.

Reverend Davies came to First Prez in 1914 to serve a pastorate of 13 years. All of the debts previously addressed to be paid off were paid off during his pastorate.

In 1928, before Jesse Baird became the new pastor, the session voted Henry Shawhan to be an interim pastor of sorts. He was permanent pulpit supply (preacher) until Jesse Baird could start his pastorate, and Rev. Shawhan attended all the session meetings as a pastor would, except he was not the moderator. Elders on session took turns acting as temporary moderator during the meetings.

Jesse Baird became pastor of First Prez in 1928 for only three years.

Theodore Lilley, Floyd Barr, W. M. Gwaltney, Alvin Morris, Walter Kalvesmaki, E. W. Remley, Thomas Jackson, James Moore, Thomas Sweitzer, and Donald Baird all served as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Salt Lake City at C Street and South Temple. Membership has stayed fairly steady throughout these pastors until Donald Baird left and membership decreased due to many interim pastors in a short period of time. Bill Alexander became a "permanent" pastor as opposed to the other interim pastors, but turned out to be another interim pastor because the relationship between pastor and congregation was not as good as planned.

First Presbyterian Church now has a new pastor, Reverend Imperiale, who will hopefully serve a much longer pastorate.