First Presbyterian Church of Hillsboro, Illinois

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This Week's Events
Announcements
GRADUATION CELEBRATION

We will hold a Graduation Celebration on Sunday, May 19th at 10:00 AM in the church parlor for anyone graduation from Jr.High, High School or College.  Any church families with graduates, please forward the names to the office or sign up on the sign-up sheet on the bulletin board in the main hallway.

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VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

This year's host for the community Vacation Bible School will be St. Agnes Church.  Our VBS program will be July 14-19 in the evenings.  Our church is in charge of the crafts.  Connie Harling has volunteered to be our coordinator but we need volunteers to help with crafts each evening.  A sign-up sheet to volunteer for VBS is on the main bulletin board or you may fill out a blue pew card to volunteer.

 

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CIRCLE III MAY MEETING

Cirlce III will meet on Thursday, May 30th at 6:30 PM at the Red Rooster, instead of May 23rd because of Graduation.

KIDS ALIVE

KIDS ALIVE meets every Sunday at 9:20 a.m. (after the opening songs are finished) and until Sunday School is over (about 10:50 a.m.).  If you have any questions or need more information, contact Jessie Huber.

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SMALL GROUPS

At the church we have a MEN'S GROUP that meets on Wednesday's at 6:30 PM.  They are studying a series by Mark Driscoll, "Letters to the Seven Churches" in Revelation 1-3..  All men of the church are invited to attend AND encouraged to bring a friend.  The men meet in the fellowship hall.

At the church we have a WOMEN'S GROUP that started a new study on Wednesday's at 6:30 PM  They will be going through a series by Beth Moore', "Jesus, the One and Only".  All women of the church are invited AND encouraged to bring a friend.  The women meet on the main floor.

There is a MEN'S GROUP called Jessie's Posse,  that are going through the Bible and are currently in the prophets section of the Old Testament.   Their meetings are Thurday's at 6:15 PM at the Red Rooster, in the Blue Room.  All men are invited to join them.

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E-MAIL ADDRESS

If you have not gotten an email from the church lately, we don't have your email address.  Please email it to the church office at:  hillsboropc@hotmail.com and we will send you an email for upcoming events.

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PENNY JAR

PENNY JAR COLLECTION:  We are collecting loose change for our Penny Jar.  The money collected during the year helps to pay for items purchased for the local Angel Tree project.  And if you have any loose change with you when you are at church you can drop it in the 5-gallon bottle by the church library door. 

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NURSERY CARE

Nursery Care is provided for children 5 years of age and younger on the lower level of the church for the Sunday Services.

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THE ZONE TEEN CENTER

The Zone teen center has opened!  The Zone is open each Friday and Saturday, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.  There have been around 40 youth each evening.  What is needed now are additional adult volunteers.  If you want to volunteer please contact one of The Zone board members:  C J Dyas, Stephanie Dyas, Jonathan Simburger, Melanie Sherer, Shawn Huber, Rem Dyas, or Matt Ferguson.  The Zone hopes to expand the number of days it is open but volunteers are needed to make that goal a reality. 

 

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BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES

Let us know your birthday and anniversary if you would like to be listed in the bulletin or calendar.  You can e-mail it to: hillsboropc@hotmail.com or write it down on the blue pew card and place it in the offering box or leave it on the secretary's desk.

About Us >
CHURCH HISTORY

Our History

The Hillsboro Presbyterian Church came into being in 1828, the first established church in the town of Hillsboro.  (Hillsboro itself was founded in 1823, being named after Hillsboro, N.C., former home to many of the town’s early settlers.)  John and Christiana Tillson, who were members of the Shoal Creek Presbyterian Church, were integral in establishing this church.  On March 10, 1828 the church was established in the Tillson’s home by the Rev. John Ellis.  Mr. Tillson was the first member by certificate and also the first elder.  Other elders at the beginning of the church included Aaron Knapp, Robert McCord, George Harkey and Benjamin Spilman.  In 1830, the Rev. Thomas  A. Spilman became the first pastor.  In 1831 the 53 members voted to build the first House of Worship on a one-half acre lot at the corner of Tillson and Main Streets. This land was donated to the church by Mr. Tillson.    He later donated 5 acres of land on the western edge of town for the Presbyterian burial ground.  Members of the church later helped to organize three other Presbyterian churches – Waveland in 1847, Litchfield in 1856 and Bulter Presbyterian in 1858.

 

The First House of Worship

Under the direction of Mr. Tillson and Rev. Spilman, a one story brick building 34 feet by 45 feet in size was erected.  In addition to donating the land, Mr. Tillson furnished the bricks and most of the lumber.  Hard times prevented the interior from being finished for six years.   In 1837, twenty-six of the thirty-two new pews were sold on a reserved seat basis so that each family could sit in the same place at every service.  A total of $1,664 was raised at the pew sale providing enough funds to install the pews and a pulpit, two new stoves and add a belfry and bronze bell to the building.  The bell was cast by the Hollbrook Bell Foundry of Medway, MA. (The founder of the company, G.H. Hollbrook was believed to have apprenticed with Paul Revere at the Revere Bell Foundry.)  In 1859, a church squabble began over the building of a new church.  On August 7th by a small majority, the congregation voted to tear down the first church and replace it with a larger two-story structure.  As a result Rev. R.M. Roberts resigned in October and 21 additional members withdrew and formed the Hillsboro Congregational Church. 

  

The Second House of Worship

In 1860, the first church was torn down and construction of the new church was started.  During the construction the congregation held services in Clotfelter’s Hall and in the old Unitarian Church.  It took more than 15 years to complete the church, the Civil War accounting for part of the delay.  The church building was arranged with the first floor designated for Sunday School classes and as a meeting place.  Stairways on either side of the entrance vestibule led to the second floor Sanctuary which was the last to be finished.  The finished church cost $13,785.31 plus an additional $400 for the dark red cushions for the pews. 

 

The Current House of Worship

 

                        (coming soon)

 

 

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