Midland has of course had a long and storied history with its churches. Several protestant representatives came here on the heels of some of our earliest settlers. The Methodists were the first to organize a church in The Windmill City, and the Baptists, not to be outdone, followed less thana year later, in 1886.
For the Presbyterians, establishing in Midland was a bit more of a challenge, although they are obviously doing quite well for themselves in 2010.
Nine years after the Presbyterians opened their first church in 1885, membership dwindled to two and in 1897, the state governing body for the Presbyterian church dissolved the Midland congregation.
Two years later they gave it another try when 16 people met to re-establish the church. They would charter what would come to be known as First Presbyterian Church.
In 1923, almost a quarter century after the church set up shop in Midland, it experienced yet another controversy when Ted Hollifield felt forced to resign after it was learned that he had married a divorced woman.
Old-timers at the church, according to published reports, said such a marital arrangement was "the straw that broke the camel's back."
After Hollifield's ouster, First Presbyterian's membership would again dwindle, and discussion of another dissolving of the congregation re-emerged. Ultimately, the grace of God restored the church, which would go on to become a beacon of Christianity and protestantism in Midland, as well as an unquestioned leader in the community.
For the Presbyterians, establishing in Midland was a bit more of a challenge, although they are obviously doing quite well for themselves in 2010.
Nine years after the Presbyterians opened their first church in 1885, membership dwindled to two and in 1897, the state governing body for the Presbyterian church dissolved the Midland congregation.
Two years later they gave it another try when 16 people met to re-establish the church. They would charter what would come to be known as First Presbyterian Church.
In 1923, almost a quarter century after the church set up shop in Midland, it experienced yet another controversy when Ted Hollifield felt forced to resign after it was learned that he had married a divorced woman.
Old-timers at the church, according to published reports, said such a marital arrangement was "the straw that broke the camel's back."
After Hollifield's ouster, First Presbyterian's membership would again dwindle, and discussion of another dissolving of the congregation re-emerged. Ultimately, the grace of God restored the church, which would go on to become a beacon of Christianity and protestantism in Midland, as well as an unquestioned leader in the community.
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