The first Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Sturgis was erected in 1890 on the corner of 9th and Kelsey Streets. It burned, but was rebuilt in the same location in 1899. It is now a Presbyterian church, due to a merger of the two denominations in 1906.

After the merger with the Presbyterians, about twenty members left the new denomination and met in different locations until 1910. They then built a Cumberland Presbyterian Church on the corner of 5th and Main Streets. The first pastor was Rev. A.O. Barbee; the dedication service for the new church was in April of 1910 at a meeting of Princeton Presbytery.

In 1953 we added a Sunday school building when Rev, R.I. Carpenter was pastor. We have renovated it twice---in 1991 and 2007.

We built a manse in 1964 during Rev. J.C. Womack’s Pastorate. We renovated the manse in 2008 for our new pastor, Rev. Victor Hassell and his family.

In the fall of 1967, Velma Brinkley and Louise Shelton opened a pre-school in out fellowship hall. It continued until their retirement in the spring of 1995. Several directors later, the pre-school is still in operation and remains an important outreach of our church.

Our church began a new ministry in 2012 with the addition of Taste of Heaven. This program operates every Thursday evening out of our fellowship hall, where our members feed the hungry of our community.

We purchased adjoining property for a Sunday school annex and church office and for additional parking in 1982. The Wiman Building, named in honor of pastor Wayne Wiman, was renovated in 2007.

We erected our new church in 1991 on the same corner where the old church had stood. On September 15, 1991, pastor host Rev. Joe Butler and guest minister Rev. Robert Truitt presided at the dedication service. We added a new roof to the church in 2008.

In 2014, we purchased a lot on the corner of 6th and Main Streets. The Calloway lot next to it was donated to our church by the family. These lots will be used for future expansion.

Sturgis Cumberland Presbyterian Church has had a total of 24 pastors since 1910, including our current one, Rev. Victor Hassell. Our church has produced two ministers, Rev. Paul Troutt and Rev. Robert Truitt. We are proud of our godly heritage.

Jesus said, “Upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18) May this be so for Sturgis Cumberland Presbyterian Church as we continue our ministry in this community for another 100 years from our corner at 5th and Main.

Bonnie Edmondson

Fall 2014