In 1858 the congregation of the
First Presbyterian Church presented to the membership its first pulpit Bible.
This Bible is now displayed in a niche in the sanctuary of the Presbyterian
Church. In 1859 Reverend Lyons of the Old School Presbyterians was succeeded as
minister by Reverend Thomas J. Taylor. In 1862 Rev. Taylor resigned from the
pulpit to become Chaplain of Company A of the 39~ Iowa Volunteer Infantry. A
large number of men from Madison County were assigned to this unit.
In 1864, because of health
reasons, Reverend Ewing resigned from the First Presbyterian Church. The family
continued to reside in Winterset living in a home across the street north of the
old railroad depot. He was followed as minister by Reverend A. M. Heizer on
November 1, 1864. Reverend Heizer served with great energy and through his
efforts the First Presbyterian Church and the Old School Presbyterian
congregation were united on December 15, 1867. The Elders of both churches
served as the ruling body of the unified church. Later that same year, Reverend
Heizer left the pulpit and was succeeded by Reverend F.rlwnrr1 Dickerson who
remained as minister until 1870.
In September 1870, Reverend J. H.
Potter became the first installed pastor of the church. An interesting story is
told about how he became the minister in Winterset. He had retired from the
ministry in Pennsylvania because of ill health and relocated near Macksburg
where he began farming. There he also ministered to a small group of
Presbyterians living in Madison and Adair counties. An elder from the Winterset
First Presbyterian Church who delivered the Fourth of July address in Macksburg
discovered Reverend Potter living there and apparently recruited him to resume
his ministry in Winterset. Reverend Potter made a deep impression on the
community and, under his leadership, the church made steady progress. In 1871, a
new Communion Service was purchased to replace the pewter service then in use.
The new set was triple plated silver and consisted of six pieces-a pitcher, two
goblets, two plates and a baptismal font. Today, individual pieces of these
Communion Services are preserved in the sanctuary.
In February 1875, the
congregation voted to build a new and more adequate church.
Two lots on the southwest corner of Taylor (now 2nd Avenue) and West
Green Street were purchased for this purpose. These two lots also contained a
house that was temporarily used as a manse. The old manse that was acquired in
1866 was sold for $1200. This house apparently still stands at 116 South 3rd
Avenue. It was at this time that the Old School Church building previously
mentioned was sold to the Winterset Public School.