United / First Presbyterian Church

390 NE 2nd Street  |  Built 1897 

Reverend Josephus Adamson Cornwall, a survivor of the famed Donner-Reed party of 1846,
served as the organizing pastor. He established the Yamhill Congregation of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church in July 1851. Early members worshiped in a barn on Jesse C. Henderson’s
farm northwest of McMinnville before the congregation settled at the present-day corner of
Second and Davis streets. After fires destroyed the first two structures, the resilient members
built a fire-resistant brick building and completed it in 1897.

Portland architect John V. Bennes designed a major update that began in 1908. Workers rotated
the structure 90 degrees, excavated a basement, added a new sanctuary, installed beautiful
stained-glass windows, and constructed a small bell tower. They laid the cornerstone in
September 1909. Traditional First Presbyterian architecture of this era favored modest,
practical designs that reflected Protestant values—simple brick forms, restrained detailing, and
functional spaces that welcomed the community without ostentation.

In 1951, Pastor Dr. Charles Barnes marked the congregation’s 100-year milestone with a special
sermon titled “Heritage and Destiny.” In 1968 the church added an education and fellowship
hall with a stucco and brick exterior and an attractively landscaped courtyard that includes a
sculptured metal waterfall. Today cement covers the original brick foundation, and a modern
metal roof tops the modest exterior favored by early Protestant churches.

Today the Presbyterian Church remains a vibrant historic landmark that continues to support
its congregation’s long tradition of service to local programs for children and families.

For images of the the property, and further details, check out the link below:

Historic Resources Inventory Documentation