Federated Church

Introduction

Text-to-speech Audio

Located across the street from the Rosebud County Courthouse, Federated Church is a unique example of Prairie School architecture. Originally called First Presbyterian Church, it was erected in 1920, a year after a fire destroyed the previous church. Next to the church is a historic house built in 1910 and served as the minister's residence. Designed by Chicago architect Howard Van Doren Shaw, the church features a yellow brick exterior; stained glass windows; and a main entrance with a Gothic arch, buttresses, decorative stone detailing, and a large stained glass window above the doors. As for the residence, which is called manse, it is two-stories tall and also designed in the Prairie School style.

Images

Federated Church was built in 1920 and is a fine example of Prairie School architecture. It was the second church built in Forsyth.

The minister's residence was built in 1910.

Backstory and Context

Text-to-speech Audio

Presbyterians in Forsyth formed a congregation in the early 1890s. They gathered in member's houses and locations around town until they built their first church building in 1906. This was the second church erected in Forsyth (the first was a Methodist church). As noted above, a fire destroyed the church in December 1919. Fortunately, the manse was spared. The new, current church, was completed in December 1920. As a result of financial issues, the Presbyterian and Methodist congregations merged in 1950 to form what is now called the Federated Church. The Methodist's church buildings were sold to help pay the debt the Presbyterian congregation owed. The church and house are listed together on the National Register of Historic Places.

Sources

Hufstetler, Mark A. "First Presbyterian Church and Manse." National Park Service - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. February 12, 1990. https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/NRHP/90000089_text.

The Montana National Register Sign Program. “First Presbyterian Church and Manse.” Montana Historical Society - Digital Vault. Accessed July 16, 2020, http://digitalvault.mhs.mt.gov/items/show/20319.

Image Sources(Click to expand)

Both images by Carroll Van West, via Montana's Historic Landscapes: https://montanahistoriclandscape.com/2015/01/17/forsyths-historic-districts/

Additional Information

National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form: First Presbyterian Church