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History

A Brief History of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Bloomington, Indiana

John and Thomas Moore were the first Covenanters to come this area in March 1820. Others soon followed. Most had left South Carolina because of their anti-slavery views and chose to settle in Indiana because the state did not allow slavery.  The Reformed Presbyterian Church of Bloomington, Indiana was organized on October 10, 1821.  The first meeting place was a log house at 406 West 10th Street which was known as the Blair Farm. The church was reorganized in 1823, and again in 1833.  Approximately half of the then 120 members left at this time and united with the "New School" (or "New Light") Congregation which later became the United Presbyterian Church.  After this division, services were held in private homes, barns, or school buildings.

 In 1836, a brick church building was erected two miles southeast of town on land now adjacent to the church cemetery at the corner of High Street and Moores Pike.  At that time, the church was called "Bethesda Church and Congregation".  

Eleven years later on the Sabbath morning of April 18, 1847, the building burned just before the time services were to begin.  The decision was made to rebuild immediately. During this time the congregation worshipped together on the Lord's Day while mid-week meetings, which were divided into five societies, were held in the homes of different members.  The societies took turns clearing the burned building and soon a better one was built (for a total cost of $1,060.63 including interest).

During the pastorate of D. J. Shaw in 1877, the decision to erect a new church building was made.  The old building was torn away and the ground on which it stood was sold to Robert Anderson, a slave who was befriended by the Covenanters and given his freedom.  This property is now owned by descendants of Mr. Anderson.  The Bethesda Congregation then moved from the country to a brick building in the 300 block of South Walnut Street and was designated as the "Bloomington Reformed Presbyterian Church".

Walnut St. Building