Marlin church closing

The First Presbyterian Church of Marlin will be closing its doors for the final time with a “closing service” October 6, 2013 at 10 a.m. The Rev. G. David Lambertson of the Presbytery of Central Washington will officiate. The church began holding services June 9, 1908.

Marlin resident Donna Thrall has written a brief history of the congregation.

On April 15, 1908 a petition for a church to be organized, signed by 25 people from the town of Krupp, was presented to the Wenatchee Presbytery.

On June 9, 1908 a service was led by the Rev. James Thomson of Bellingham, and the organization was completed. Present were 25 people, of which 15 united with the church, having first signed the following covenant: “I take God the Father to be my God, Jesus Christ to be my Savior and the Holy Spirit to be my Comforter, the people of God to be my people and I do this deliberately, sincerely, freely and forever and I promise the Lord being my Helper to live a consistent Christian life.”

John Urquhart was elected and ordained a Ruling Elder. A Mr. Everett, theological student, was engaged until September, 1908 to conduct the services. He preached in the old Hoover School House at 3 p.m. on the first and third Sundays of each month.

On December 10, 1914, a warranty deed for nine lots, for a consideration of one dollar, between John and Catherine Urquhart and the First Presbyterian Church of Krupp was notarized and sealed. Construction of the present church building began.

Articles of Incorporation were recorded in the Grant County Auditor’s Office on September 11, 1915.

Circuit riders and Home Missionaries, as they were called, served Krupp and Wilson Creek beginning in 1902. Rev. Herbert Course (1905-1908); Rev. W.J. Manifold (1909-1911); and Rev. James Thomson (1911-1916) are the first listed after organization. Course was also there in a yoked position (1940-1945).

Rev. J.R. Hamilton (1916-1919) on January 23, 1918 suggested that a committee of three be formed to see if the minutes from 1908-1918 could be found and placed in the church’s archives.

Members of this committee were John Urquhart, Eva Hull and Mrs. George Urquhart. To this date none have been found.

Minutes were kept from 1918, with the exception of 1928, to 1944.

Due to antagonism or resentment of anything German during and after World War I, the town name of Krupp was changed to Marlin in the early 1920s. The majority of Marlin’s settling families were German immigrants. It is believed that the name of the church First Presbyterian Church of Krupp was changed to First Presbyterian Church of Marlin sometime in the late 1920s or early 1930s.

The church relied on the Home Missions Council and Whitworth College to keep it supplied with pastors or students. Pastors listed in the Church Register included Rev. J.R. Hamilton (1916-1919); Rev. R.T. Cordry (1921); Rev. D.C. Cowan (1921-1922); Rev. H.M. Course (1923-1946); Rev. James F. Cook (1946-1947); Rev. Larid Glasscock (1949-1953); Rev. Albert Hausauer (1953-1967); Rev. David Crawford (1967-1980); Rev. Edwin Allabough (1980-1985); Rev. David Mann (1986-1989); Rev. Dave Van Der Does (1989-1995); Rev. Dexter Edwards (1995-1998); and Rev. Denise Group (2000-2001).

More recently Rev. Dexter Edwards, Rev. Dr. Chester R. Dorsey, Ed Allen, Megan Helton, John Moody, Charles Moody, Dr. Gordon Froese, Rev. Richard Klein, Ardith Klein, and Rev. Michael Flores have been serving the congregation.

Past histories and Ladies Aid records show the following also serving the church: Rev. Sutton; Rev. Jack McCall; Rev. Chas E. Botts; Rev. James T. Cook; Marshall Hodges (Whitworth student); Rev. Richard Yost; John Finkbeiner; Gordon Lam; Edward Allen; Howard Sherwood; and Rev. Earl Browning; as well as the following moderators: Jesse K. Griffits; James Murray; Rev. George T. Pratt; Rev. W.E. Hallman; Rev. Gene Upton; Rev. C. Hardt; Rev. Robert McCann; Rev. Toevs; Rev. Richard Klein; Rev. Paul Kohler; and Rev. Dr. Chester R. Dorsey.

The Church was used by the school for baccalaureate and graduation exercises until 1936 when the gym was dismantled in Wilson Creek and moved to Marlin.

The basement was dug and the church moved from its original location in 1955. The kitchen, restrooms and heaters were installed as soon as money was available.

Unfortunately, the history of the church is not complete, as there is no listing of all the elders, trustees and Sunday School superintendents who kept things going. Therefore a listing of those we know served follows.

Elders included: Edgar Hoover, John Urquhart, Katherine M. Hull, Catherine Cater, Bobbie Engle, Robert Schell, George Starkel, Jennie Schell, Annice Gilbertson, Alvin Goetz, Margaret Schlimmer, Nina Schmierer, Harvey Schell, Stanley Goetz, Loren Schlimmer, Edna Lenz, Virgil Totusek, Alma Wagner, Camas Lenz, Carl Frederickson, Becky Frederickson, Doris Goetz, and Leah Correia. Present elders are Loren Totusek (clerk of session), Margaret Schlimmer (treasurer), Carolyn Goetz and Donna Thrall.

Trustees included John Urquhart, George Urquhart, Edgar Hoover, Alfred Bramer, Mrs. Jo Wood, Mrs. E.A. Hull, Mrs. A.H. Carr, E.J. Blackman, Bert Hull, L.A. West, E.M. James, H.W. Hull, Edward Hoff, Richard Dashiell, Henry Kallenberger, Camas Lenz, Betty Egbert, R.D. Thrall, A.W. Schmierer, Robert Schell, Alvin Goetz, Ray Gilbertson, Stanley Goetz, Harvey Schell, Virgil Totusek, Loren Totusek and Loren Schlimmer.

The present trustees are: Loren Totusek, Margaret Schlimmer, Carolyn Goetz, and Donna Thrall. Sunday School superintendents included: Catherine Cater, Kathryn Hull, Velma Provost and Loren Totusek. Past deacons include Verdie Engle, Shirley Goetz, Margaret Totusek, Margaret Schlimmer, Jennie Schell, Alma Wagner, Garnita Schell, Edna Lenz, Juli Schlimmer, Hulda Kuch, Doris Goetz, Martha Janke, Iva Thrall and Loren Totusek.

Presently there are seven active members: Alvin Goetz, Virgil Totusek, Loren Totusek, Margaret Schlimmer, Donna Thrall, Leslie Goetz and Carolyn Goetz; and two inactive members: Leah Correia and Martha Janke.