Our History:

Welcome!!

The first church to be organized in Kingsville Township was the Congregational Church. Families met in their homes under the direction of Rev. Badger. The organization was effective in 1810 with six members with Rev. Samuel Crocker as the first pastor. By 1822 the group was able to build a meeting house on the southeast corner of Lake Street (Rt. 193) and Creek Road near the later site of the first town hall. This building contained a pipe organ and stood for twelve years.

 

The Congregational church was reorganized as Presbyterian in 1844 with Rev. Erastus Williams as the minister. The eight people who had been members of the Presbyterian Church on July 11 and through the balance of the year, 22 more members were added.

 

The first church building was destroyed by fire in 1848. The church was rebuilt on land donated by George Gillett, the storekeeper.  This is the present location on the south side of Main Street (84), a short distance east of the center of town. The new church featured a prize bell which was bought at a Cincinnati Fair by Mr. Gillett and given to the church. “The Presbyterian Society” was a separate organization formed in October 1848 to care for the new church building.

 

**Rev. Badger left a detailed diary of his time in the Reserve. A copy of this book is located in most of the county libraries. The information above was compiled and edited by Mary Spencer Novak (May 1993).