National and State Registers of Historic Places

First Presbyterian Church of Junction City

Listed in National Register Oct 4, 2021

Architect: Shepherd & Wiser

The First Presbyterian Church of Junction City is a good example of a Neoclassical Revival Church in Junction City. The Church is a historically significant part of Junction City and Geary County. As one of the first frontier churches, the First Presbyterian Church of Junction City has influenced the lives and served the community and Fort Riley for over 150 years.

Church History - Our Story

A Welcoming Church at the Heart of Junction City

An old minister once said, “The true church was living, loving, liberal, and laborious. The test of the worth of a church is what it has done for the community where it is located.”

An Historical Peek
Written in 1999 By Josephine Munson --Updated in 2024

For more than 150 years, the First Presbyterian Church of Junction City has been giving out the Light and Power of the Gospel, and serving the community.

The church was organized on March 8, 1868, with eleven members. It was the fourth church in Junction City. The first church was the Episcopal in 1859, then the Catholic in 1861, and the Methodist in 1865.

The first meeting place was east of the City Park in a building called “The Corncrib.” Later, services were held in Brown’s Hall, north of the Park. By April 15, the Reverend John A. Anderson was called to be the first pastor. The building was first used on Christmas Eve, 1870 when the Stars and Stripes were run up to the top of the tower.

After five years, the Reverend Anderson was elected to be the first president of Kansas State Agricultural College. Under Mr. Anderson’s guidance and ministry, the church showed great growth. Within a few years, an education building and a Manse were built. This building served well until World War I came and the need for a larger building was seen. In 1920, the building was torn down, the present sanctuary was constructed. Again, the need for more room, so the Manse was torn down and the present Education Building was constructed in 1965. The present Manse was purchased from the A. L. Wagenseller family in 1955.

During the more than 150 years the congregation has experienced two World Wars, the Korean War, Vietnam and Desert Storm, and most recently, the War on Terror. The church has responded to the needs of the military community. Currently, the Presbyterian Church is supporting many community outreach programs, among them the Geary County Food Pantry, Manhattan Crisis Center, Fresh Start Shelter, Laundry Love, McKinney-Vento Program, and High School Senior Scholarships. The church has served the community well.