The Presbyterian Church had a modest beginning in this area when Marshall County was still a part of Dakota Territory and then part of Day County. Before the railroad and Britton were here, this neighborhood gathered for worship and study under the leadership of Rev. G. L Beach southwest of the present site of Britton. His wife, Jennie, organized a Presbyterian Ladies Aid here in Britton during the mid 1880’s.
On November 28, 1886, the Britton church was organized with twelve members by Rev. P. S. Davies, the Aberdeen Presbytery missionary. The Immanuel Church in Lowell township, just southwest of Britton, had been organized three years earlier, even before there was an Aberdeen Presbytery.
Rev. D. McClellan Butt came from York, Pennsylvania, to be the first regular pastor. He served the Britton church for twenty-eight years. When Rev. Butt retuned to the East in 1915, the church purchased the manse that had been built by him.
The first meeting place was the upper room of the old wooden school building with unplastered walls covered with building paper. The Britton church owned nothing but a few hymn books, an organ and a few chairs. Hardly a month had passed before it was felt that if the church was to do effective work and be aggressive, a building of their own was a necessity. These were not prosperous times, however, and little could be given towards a new building. The Ladies Aid raised $200 and were prepared to plaster the school room. However, a meeting was held to present a building project. The pastor enlisted two or three men to assist him in securing subscriptions. The largest subscription from the people of Britton was $50 and the Ladies Aid gave their $200. The present site was purchased for $90. With the help of $500 from the Board of Church Erection, the subscriptions from the people of Britton and vicinity in the amount of $800, and the remainder from the pastor’s friends in York, Pennsylvania. The first building was erected at a cost of $1800. The building was dedicated free of debt on Christmas Day, 1887.
Services at the Methodist Episcopal Church were cancelled for Christmas morning and the two congregations joined in dedicating the new Presbyterian Church.
The following week, the Methodist Episcopal and Presbyterian ministers and their congregations held special services in the M.E. Church. Later on, Lutheran services were held in the Presbyterian Church in the afternoons.
Mrs. Samuel Small of York, PA, gave the bell; the Ladies Aid purchased pews and chancel furniture; the pulpit was presented by Mr. and Mrs. N.J. Berston, relatives of Mrs. Butt; and a handsome chandelier was received as a gift from Rev. Butt’s friends in the East. In the fall of 1892 the church building was enlarged at a cost of $1300. As the church grew, another addition was added in 1907 at a cost of $4500. It was dedicated in the fall of that year without debt.
The church building continued to be used until its removal in 1919 for the erection of the present building. In 1919, construction of the present church building was undertaken.
Again, the financial climate was very difficult, but this congregation set itself to the task and in 1922 dedicated a new $60,000 building. Some of the church services and Sunday school classes were held in the Britton Public School during those building years. Andrew Carlson was hired to do the work of construction. During the process of construction, deflation and financial stringency came. The erection of the church building tested loyalty and devotion of the people. It taxed their resources, yet they responded, and the new church building was completed. Mr. N.J. Berston gave the pipe organ to the church. Mr. Berston was a brother-in-law of Dr. Butt. Nelson Wallace had the entire church sanctuary painted in 1924 at a cost of $200.
On June 24, 1922, the new building was dedicated. The depression prevented many from paying their subscriptions and debt was not retired until December 17, 1944 when a mortgage burning service was held in the sanctuary. The Ladies Aid played a big part in helping pay the debt on the church building.
A new manse was built in 1953 at a cost of $23,000 on the same location as the old one. The plans and some of the construction labor were provided by members of the congregation. The women of the church reorganized into the United Presbyterian Women.
The 75th Anniversary of the Britton church was observed on November 26th, 1961. A new, oil-fired hot water furnace was installed in 1958.
In 1971, a north entrance was added with a ramp for the convenience of older folks and for wheel chair use. New glass doors were installed in the south entrance in 1974.
The kitchen of the church was completely remodeled in December of 1978. This project was only one of many improvements and alterations to the church building and grounds which have been done over the years with labor and funds furnished by members of the congregation.
Maintenance and improvements in the church building and the manse are ongoing and considered a necessary and important responsibility. In 1997, plans began to remodel the overflow room for a Pastor’s Study, Secretary’s office and upstairs handicapped bathroom. In 1999, the downstairs bathroom was improved and manse basement repairs were made. In 2000 an electric (Clavinova) piano was added and made possible from donations/memorials specified for music. New carpet was laid in the kitchen. Work on the pipe organ and carillon bell maintenance was started in 2001. The completion and dedication of new carillon bells was in 2005. The original set of carillon bells was a gift of Fred and Mabel Kenner.
In 2002, plans for an elevator in the building were laid. The project was started in 2003 and the elevator began operating in 2004. At this time, new carpet for the sanctuary, overflow room, elevator ramp and steps to the balcony was installed.
Many additions and improvements in recent years include: an air conditioner for the overflow room, landscaping and illuminated sign were added to the front/south lawn; in the kitchen, dishwashers were added along with the repair of cabinet drawers; new flooring and counter tops were installed, and dishes, silverware and table cloths purchased; a new sound system and screen was installed in the sanctuary along with a cabinet to house the sound system and computer, etc; new tables and chairs for the fellowship hall; insulation of the sanctuary ceiling, tuck pointing and repair of the roof of the church building.
ROLL OF MINISTERS
Reverend John Thomas 1886-1887
Reverend D. McClellan Butt 1887-1915
Reverend Stanley H. Roberts 1916-1917
Reverend David E. Jackson 1918-1925
Reverend J. Henry Irwin 1925-1950
Reverend Russell S. Tate 1951-1956
Reverend John A. Williams 1956-1963
Reverend Clifford A. Rogers 1963-1974
Reverend David Wallace 1974-1980
Reverend Raymond D. Saunders 1981-1988
Reverend Stan Greunich 1989-1995
Reverend Aaron Hyde 1996-1998; 2000
Reverend Scott Bunting 1998-2000
Reverend Annie Tieszen 2001-2005
Reverend Terry B. Sletto 2006-2012
Revs. Bala & Cheryl Khyllep 2013-2018
Reverend Donald Buck 2018-2020
CRE – Lance Griese (Interim) 2020-2025