| What makes it historical? |
This neat little church was built in 1907, designed by the firm of Ware & Treganza, who were responsible for building a lot of nationally registered buildings in Utah! As the first church built in Green River, back when it was known as Blake City, it was also significant as a Presbyterian church in a largely Mormon state! Before the 20th century, churches like these were mostly built to convert Mormons, but after an economic depression, the denunciation of polygamy by church leaders, and the development of a state public school system, Protestant churches in Utah repurposed to specifically serve local communities, including non-Mormon, non-Presbyterian practitioners who just needed a place to pray!
The first Protestant congregation gathered here in 1906, led by Reverend J.K. McGillivray, and represented eight different denominations! This only lasted nine months before McLain W. Davis took over as pastor and proposed a new church building. Ten months and $4500 later (that’s $122,741.81 in today’s dollars), the new Bible Church officially opened its doors! |
