PETERSBURG, Ill. -- This new church was dedicated November 29, 1896. It is the most completely equipped church building in the county, and is the result of four months of arduous labor by the members of that congregation. It covers a space of sixty-eight feet long and fifty-five feet wide, and has three entrances. The main entrance is through the tower and into the auditorium, which is beautifully frescoed. to the west end of the auditorium one is at once attracted by the beautiful memorial window, 12 x 16 feet, bearing the well known names of Dr. F. P. Antle and his wife, Dorcas A. Antle, while in the east end the pipe organ in its alcove is flanked by windows bearing the Senior and Junior Endeavor Society emblems, and contributed by these societies. The first window on the north bears the name of Elizabeth Barclay, whose family more than any other, by their generosity during the early struggles of the church made possible the beautiful edifice of to-day. The congregation bears the name of Barclay in memory of Rev. John Barclay, a brother of Elizabeth Barclay, and the bell in the tower was the gift of her mother, who died a few days before it was placed in position. Her last wish was to live long enough to hear it ring, a privilege denied her by death. So from the bell in the tower to the name the congregation bears, the Barclay name is enrichly enthroned amid all its successes. The other windows on the north are simply inscribed in turn: "Golden Memorial," "Shipley Memorial," and "Rutledge Memorial," all of them names that are a part of the life history of the church wherein they stand. One more memorial window stands modestly within the recesses of the infant department of the Sunday school room. It bears the inscription, "In memory of Esto D. Watkins," and will call to mind the bright-faced little daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel L. Watkins, who a few years ago was one of the stars in the Sunday school work of the church. The remainder of the windows are in the latest designs of art glass. In addition to the auditorium is a lecture room, reading room, or parlor, pastor's study, lavatory and china closet. These rooms as well as the auditorium have been beautifully carpeted, and the openings between the various rooms covered with portiers by the Ladies' Aid Society. The auditorium is lighted by an electric chandelier of twenty lights, and the fixtures in the reading room and the pastor's study are adjustable, the invention of Mr. R. R. Rule, chairman of the building committee. The dedication services were conducted by the former pastor, W. T. Ferguson, D.D., of Bowling Green, Ky., who fully sustained his reputation as a minister of magnificent ability, and at the close of the service made an appeal of $1,000, to liquidate the final payments on the building, and in less than forty-five minutes $1,493.65 was pledged. Amounts have since been added to this, which brings the sum total to more than $1,500, this amount not only clearing the congregation of debt but making it possible to put in a steam heating plant besides. The growth of this church from the first has been phenomenal. It was organized in 1871 by Rev. James White, with Rev. R. D. Miller as its first pastor, under whose direction the congregation at once built its house of worship. Since that time the work has continually prospered successively under the direction of the following ministers: R. D. Miller, R. J. Beard, J. W. Elder and J. M. Johnston, the last of whom completed the spire on the original building in which was placed a town clock, secured through the instrumentality of Mr. Thomas Park. Then came Rev. W. T. Ferguson, under whose direction the congregation more than doubled in strength. He was followed by Rev. W. G. Archer, the present pastor, who at once commenced to plan for larger facilities for work, and who now has the satisfaction of seeing these plans successfully completed and a church of rare beauty and convenience at the command of his rapidly growing congregation. Much credit for the work must be given to the building committee, consisting at first of D. T. Morris, J. N. Rutledge and Charles Anderson. At almost the beginning of the work Mr. Morris was compelled to go to California for the benefit of his daughter's health, and his place was taken by R. R. Rule, whose enthusiasm and industry have never flagged. The Cumberland Presbyterian Church as a denomination has been a church of rapid growth, elsewhere as well as here, and last year stood second in percentage of increase among the denominations of the United States, and the work in this State has more than kept pace with the work in other States. In Chicago where four years ago the first Cumberland Presbyterian service was held in a hotel, the papers of last Saturday announced ten services held by Cumberland Presbyterian pastors, and one of these papers spoke of the church's growth as being one of the marvels of the city. Much of this rapid growth is due to the liberal doctrines taught, the system being a revised form of Presbyterianism, eliminating therefrom all the harshness usually ascribed to Calvinism. This, and progressive methods of work, mark every step of the church's advance. To this desire for progressive methods may be ascribed the reading room, which is to be opened at once, and will afford a refuge for every young man in the city where time usually wasted may be spent to profit, and where every mother's boy will find a hearty welcome day or night.--From the Petersburg Observer.
[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian, December 24, 1896, pages 814-815]

Petersburg Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1842--, NE. corner of 9th St. and Sheridan Road, Petersburg, Menard County.

Organized June 2, 1842 by Abraham Goodpastor. First meetings held in old German Lutheran Church on Main street; later congregation moved to a hall and then to a room in the old courthouse until 1879 when a brick building was erected. This building was sold in 1910 to the Baptist Church and the Christian Church building was purchased for a church home. Partially destroyed by fire; rebuilt and dedicated in 1940. Present church edifice, a large brick, Gothic style, with bell and belfry. First settled pastor, Rev. Abraham Goodpastor, tenure unknown.

Present pastor, Rev. William Harold Jones, 1940--.

See: Rev. R. D. Miller, Menard County, Past and Present, 1905.

Session Minutes: 1916-- (1922-28, missing), 2 v. hdw., in custody of Treasurer, Henry Beckerman, West Abtle St.
Register: (baptisms, confirmations, marriages, members, deaths), 1916-- (1922-28, missing), 2 v. hdw., in custody of Mr. Beckerman, as are all following records.
Financial Records: incorporated in Session Minutes.
Sunday School Records: 1880--, 1 v. hdw.
Men's Brotherhood Society Records: 1933--, 1 v. hdw.
[Source: Inventory of the Church Archives of Illinois. Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Prepared by Illinois Historical Records Survey. Division of community services programs. Work Projects Administration. Chicago, Illinois: Illinois Historical Records Survey. Illinois Public Records Project, February 1942, page 83]

The first time congregational listings appeared in the General Assembly Minutes was 1890.

1890
Name of The Congregation: Petersburg
Clerk of the Session and Post-Office: H. R. Carver, Petersburg, Ill.
Pastor: W. T. Ferguson
Sangamon Presbytery - Illinois Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1890, page 172]

1891
Name of The Congregation: Petersburg
Clerk of the Session and Post-Office: J. R. Carver, Petersburg, Ill.
Pastor: W. T. Ferguson
Sangamon Presbytery - Illinois Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1891, page 188]

1892
Name of The Congregation: Petersburg
Clerk of the Session and Post-Office: J. R. Carver, Petersburg, Ill.
Pastor: W. T. Ferguson
Sangamon Presbytery - Illinois Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1892, page 196]

1893
Name of The Congregation: Petersburg
Clerk of the Session and Post-Office: J. R. Carver, Petersburg, Ill.
Pastor: W. T. Ferguson
Sangamon Presbytery - Illinois Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1893, page 198]

1894
Name of The Congregation: Petersburg
Clerk of the Session and Post-Office: J. C. Carnes, Petersburg, Ill.
Pastor: W. T. Ferguson
Sangamon Presbytery - Illinois Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1894, page 212]

1895
Name of The Congregation: Petersburg
Clerk of the Session and Post-Office: J. R. Carver, Petersburg, Ill.
Pastor: none listed
Sangamon Presbytery - Illinois Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1895, page 220]

1896
Name of Congregation: Petersburg
Clerk of the Session and Post-Office: J. R. Carver, Petersburg, Ill.
Pastor: W. G. Archer
Sangamon Presbytery - Illinois Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1896, page 203]

1897
Name of Church: Petersburg
Clerk of the Session and Post-Office: Carver, J. R., Petersburg, Ill.
Minister: Archer, W. G.
Sangamon Presbytery - Illinois Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1897, page 168]

1898
Name of Church: Petersburg
Clerk of the Session and Post-Office: J. R. Carver, Petersburg, Ill.
Minister: W. G. Archer
Sangamon Presbytery - Illinois Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1898, page 190]

1899
Name of Church: Petersburg
Clerk of the Session and Post-Office: J. R. Carver, Petersburg, Ill.
Minister: W. G. Archer
Sangamon Presbytery - Illinois Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1899, page 83a]

1900
Name of Church: Petersburg
Clerk of the Session and Post-Office: J. R. Carver, Petersburg, Ill.
Minister: W. E. Olmstead
Sangamon Presbytery - Illinois Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1900, page 102a]

1901
Name of Church: Petersburg
Clerk of the Session and Post Office: J. R. Carver, Petersburg, Ill.
Minister In Charge: W. E. Olmstead
Sangamon Presbytery - Illinois Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1901, page 128a]

1902
Name of Church: Petersburg
Clerk of the Session and Post Office: J. R. Carver, Petersburg, Ill.
Minister In Charge: W. E. Olmsted
Sangamon Presbytery - Illinois Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1902, page 118a]

1903
Name of Church: Petersburg
Clerk of the Session and Post Office: H. E. Wilkins M. D., Petersburg, Ill.
Minister Now In Charge: none listed
Sangamon Presbytery - Illinois Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1903, page 102a]

1904
Name of Church: Petersburg
Clerk of the Session and Post Office: H. E. Wilkins, Petersburg, Ill.
Minister Now In Charge: M. C. Cockrum
Sangamon Presbytery - Illinois Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1904, page 87a]

1905
Name of Church: Petersburg
Clerk of the Session and Post Office: H. E. Wilkins, Petersburg, Ill.
Minister Now In Charge: M. C. Cockrum
Sangamon Presbytery - Illinois Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1905, page 68a]

1906
Name of Church: Petersburg
Clerk of the Session and Post Office: H. E. Wilkins, Petersburg, Ill.
Minister Now In Charge: M. C. Cockrum
Sangamon Presbytery - Illinois Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1906, page 59a]

This congregation split in the 1906 partial union with the Presbyterian Church. The Cumberland Presbyterian congregation lost the property at that time and this congregation became Main Street Presbyterian Church. In 1911, Main Street and First Presbyterian merged and became Central Presbyterian Church. The Cumberland Presbyterian part of the pre-1906 congregation continued until 2008 when the church closed.

2008
That the church be closed and that Presbytery through the Board of Finance and Trustees take control of the properties.
[Source: Minutes of North Central Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, October 10-11, 2008, page 23]