Church Organized – July 5th, 1887. First known as the First Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Topeka.
Organizing Pastor – Rev. N.D. Johnson
Why Organized – Rev. Johnson wanted to establish a Presbyterian church in Topeka, to praise God and carry on in His name, by His grace.
Charter Members – 10
How many pastors – 16; Rev. Neill Davis Johnson (1889); Rev. J.R. Lowrance “Father Lowrance” (1893); Rev. Hal F. Smith (1899); Rev. A. H. Kelso (1902); Rev. Loyal Watson Madden (1905); Dr. Harry Lewis Nelson (1908); Rev. A. Walton Roth (1934); Rev. Irwin W. Johnson (1940); Rev. Luther W. Kurtz (1944); Rev. Ralph A. Strong (1948); Rev. Donald P. Evans (1952); Rev. John Gillesse (1963); Rev. Merrill A. Stalcup (1973); Rev. Peg Boten Haub (1983); Rev. Douglas W. Phenix (1993); Pastor Sue Ann Seel (2010)
Potwin Church is in a historic building built in 1924, with the education wing built in 1958. Keeping up an old building is an ongoing labor of love. Our building is used by many groups, and as such, is part of our ministry. If you would like to help us in our building ministry, please donate by clicking the button below. It is a secure link through PayPal.
How many buildings – 3
Great Event – Potwin Church celebrated its centennial celebration on Sunday April 23, 1989. Rev. Robert C. Lamar, former General Assembly Moderator (1974) was the guest speaker. He grew up just three blocks away and was ordained a minister at Potwin Church. At the end of the festivities, a metal box containing memorabilia was embedded in the west wall of Fellowship Hall. By the grace of God, and the dedication and hard work of our congregation and community, we celebrated 130 years as Potwin Church on Sunday May 5th, 2019. Praise God!
Current Pastor – Pastor Sue Ann Seel
A Timeline History of Potwin Presbyterian Church
July 5, 1887 – The Rev. Neill D. Johnson, a missionary of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church come to the young city of Topeka to establish a church here. He gathered together a group of interested persons and they purchased a lot at Huntoon and Polk Streets for a cost of $4,200.
February 3, 1889 – The first worship service was held at Bennett Flats apartments at 1132 Western and the next Sunday a Sunday School was held there as well.
May 5, 1889 – By this date the congregation had grown large enough to justify the organization of an official church and the church came into being as the First Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Topeka. Its first worship service and communion were held on this date. By November of 1889, the first building was built at the Huntoon and Polk location. This building is no longer there.
1900 – As the congregation looked around them, they found many churches in their immediate vicinity. They determined that they wanted to move to an area that was underserved by churches, staying true to the concept of evangelism—sharing the good news. In surveying the city they determined that the area that is now Potwin, Kenwood, and Ward Meade needed a new church. The only church in the area at that time was the Swedish Baptist Church at what is now 1008 SW 4th Street, and at that time all of their services were held in the Swedish language. (This church is still in existence as West Side American Baptist Church, one of Potwin’s mission partners in the neighborhood.) Therefore this area was chosen as the home of the new church.
January 1901 – The congregation moved to a new small white frame church at the junction of what was then 5th and West Streets, now 5th, Washburn, and Willow. It was at this time the name was changed to Potwin Presbyterian Church.
September 1924 – The church had grown so rapidly over the ensuing years that they needed a larger building. Therefore a fundraising effort was launched to build the building the now stands at the same intersection. The small church was demolished and the red brick building was built on the same footprint at a cost of $66,000. While the building was being constructed, the congregation met at Potwin Elementary School.
1958 – Potwin Church has always had the education and well-being of children at the heart of their mission. They had developed a strong Christian Education program and had reached out to all the children of the neighborhoods around them and invited their participation. This resulted in such a large group of children coming to the church each week that the Session determined that more space for Sunday School classes was needed. It was at this time that the 1958 Education Wing was constructed.
May 2022 – Since the church has declined in number of members and resources, it was decided to sell the building to Potwin Lofts Inc. This group will make apartments in the 1958 addition and lease the 1924 building back to us. Potwin Church continues to do mission and service in the neighborhood and community, and plans to be at the confluence of Willow, 4th, 5th and Lane for the foreseeable future. Praise the Lord!