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Queenie Hing and Jacob Cordero ring the bell at the Superior Presbyterian Church Centennial celebration.
In one hundred years, there is no doubt that the community has changed, the world has changed. From societal values, clothing trends, communication and media there is little that is the same in this world. However, the faith of many still hold strong at the Presbyterian Church of Superior, where the congregation celebrated the church’s centennial.
Over the past 100 years the church itself saw many changes, including being led by Verna C.Poe, the first woman in Arizona to become an ordained minister. She led the church from 1924-1925.
Church members present and past along with community members gathered to celebrate the Centennial of the Superior Presbyterian Church on Saturday. The ceremony began with the children of the congregation ringing the church bells which has been a long standing tradition of the church. Pastor Mary Jo Norton lead the celebration ceremony which included a video of photo memories of longtime church members and their families along with church activities. Following the ceremony a celebration luncheon was held in the church activity room in the basement.
The ceremony program shared this history of the church:
The church history dates back to 1904 when the townspeople of Superior erected a community hall at the corner of Magma and Lime. The community center served as church, school, dance hall and show house. Missionary W.D. Himebaugh came to Superior that same year and established a Sunday school class in the community hall. His strategy to church development was “Plant a Sunday School – Grow a Church.”
The incorporation papers for the “Presbyterian Church, Superior” were filed with the County Recorder in Florence on May 5, 1916 and the papers were officially recorded on May 16. Unfortunately there are no official records as to when the church was actually finished or dedicated. Initial membership of the church was 10 adults and 110 children. The Superior Sun first makes reference to the church on February 16, 1917. For the first four years of the church existence it was the only church and until he thirties it remained the only Protestant church in Superior.
The budget for the new church was $2,400, which would include “furniture and equipment” and the lot was purchased from the Lobb and Taft families for $350. Donations totaled $1028 and a loan was purchased for the balance of $1646.47. Later donations in 1916 allowed for the purchase of the bell. The church was constructed with adobe and has a galvanized steel room. It was heated by wood and coal stoves. The building was lighted by acetylene lights.
In 1929, four rooms were added on to the church. These rooms are used as Sunday school rooms, an office and a meeting room for session. In 1960 the restroom, service kitchen area, and new stairs tot he basement were added. The stairs were roofed over later that year. Work was also done to the basement. Originally the basement was two rooms, one for a kitchen and for dining. the partitions was removed and an island was added in the kitchen, make the room more suitable for a multipurpose area.
During the later part of the 1970s the Presbyterian Church and El Buen Pastor (the Hispanic Presbyterian Church) came together as one church. The El Buen Pastor building is still standing and is privately owned. The archives of the El Buen Pastor church have been archived to preserve their history forever.
Mila Besich is a resident of Superior with two children. She volunteers for many local organizations. She is an experienced fundraiser and event planner for Copper Corridor Economic Development Coalition. She covers some of the area town councils and schools.
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