The United Presbyterians established a church shortly after Mount Ayr was founded in 1855. The Des Moines Presbytery sent David PRESSLY, a medical doctor, as the first ministerial missionary to Mount Ayr. He served as both a pastor and a medical doctor for two years. Members of the congregation drove as far as sixteen miles to attending church services, which were conducted in private homes, school houses, and, later, in the court house.

Reverend William BROWN assumed the pulpit in June of 1869. Rev. BROWN observed, "I preached my first sermon in the home of Mr. [John] DUNLAP [8th miles north of Mount Ayr]. We then arranged to preach in the court room of the old court house each alternate Sabbath, the M.E. brethren occupying it half of the time. I looked over the field and preached three Sabbaths, finding a state of things existing that was to me a surprise, a county-seat with 5 or 6 hundred inhabitants and a county of 5 or 6 thousand inhabatants and but one minister of any denomination settled in the county, the M.E. minister of Mount Ayr. His field was the entire county and not a church building worthy of the name in the county."

Reverend BROWN rolled up his sleeves and went to work building up the United Presbyterian congregation to 140 members by 1870, the year that the M.E. congregation built the first church in Ringgold County. With lumber brought in from Afton, Joshua MILLIKIN as the contractor, the United Presbyterian congregation built their church on the southwest corner of North Polk and East Jefferson Streets at a cost of $4,000.

The United Presbyterian congregation decided to built a new church in the Spring of 1902. Finding it impractical to move the old church building, they decided to have it dismantled, which was begun on June 9th by F. B. SOLES and Howard BARCLAY. Using as much of the materials from the the old church as possible, construction began by July 17th. James BAILEY was in charge of the carpentry work, and James McCOMB was in charge of the stone and brick work. Excluding the costs of the stained glass windows, the new church was completed at a cost of approximately $10,000. The new church was dedicated on April 19, 1903.

Reverend William BROWN served the church for five years; Reverend B. F. MUSTARD for three years; and, Reverend J. H. TEDFORD for seven years.

Mount Ayr United Presbyterian Church was built in 1902 at the corner of Polk and Jefferson Streets. It was torn down in 2006.

The Presbyterian Church, separate from the United Presbyterian Church, was established in Mount Ayr in 1867 by Reverend S. A. McELHINEY of Bedford, Iowa. Reverend McELHINEY came to preach once a month. There were twelve charter members.

In 1873 the congregation of 40 members erected a church building on the corner of East Adams and North Polk Streets at a cost of $3,600. When the congregation dwindled in membership, the church building was sold to the Evangelican Church until that congregation disbanded. After the church building was used for various purposes such as a creamery and in 1926 as a poultry house. It was later used as a garage then a pop shop. When the building was razed in 1931, it was in a sad state of delapidation.

Twice-A-Week News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, November 26, 1915

The Maxwell 30's of the United Presbyterian Church took a little spin out to R. A. LAWHEAD'S home Wednesday evening to hold their annual election. C. J. LEWIS was chosen class president; Samuel ROBERTSON, vice-president; R. A. LAWHEAD, secretary; and Alex MAXWELL was again chosen as teacher.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, December of 2015

Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, March 28, 1917

The Mount Ayr Gospel Team was organized Sunday in the United Presbyterian church and is now ready for active work. J. E. Wood, who has been serving as captain, was elected president; C. E. Moore, vice-president; W. B. Buck, secretary; and J. A. Stephenson, treasurer.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, April of 2017

Twice-A-Weekly News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, June 22, 1915

During the Ringgold County Sunday School Convention at the United Presbyterian Church held Thursday and Friday, the following officers were elected: President, Hon. J. A. BLISS, Diagonal; vice-president, W. B. BUCK; secrectary-treasurer, Mrs. G. A. TENNANT; press reporter, Rev. W. E. DARROW; executive committee officers, Clinton J. LEWIS, Albert ALLEN, Tingley, Mrs. Mary E. TEALE, Kellerton, Rev. R. M. SHIPMAN and Rev. A. M. EASTMAN, Redding.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, September of 2015

Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, November 23, 1939

Dr. Jesse JOHNSON, who has served as pastor of the local United Presbyterian Church for the past ten years, has announced his resignation from the ministry. Dr. and Mrs. JOHNSON and Ray plan to move soon to Reynoldsbur (sic, should be Reynoldsburg), OH, Dr. JOHNSON'S birthplace.

Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, September 12, 1940

The Rev. and Mrs. Gayle BARNETT and three children came the first of the week from Park Ridge, IL., and the Rev. Mr. BARNETT has assumed his duties as pastor of the local United Presbyterian Church.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, September of 2015

Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, March 24, 1955

Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd SHAW will arrive tomorrow (Friday) in Mount Ayr where Mr. SHAW will assume the pastorate of the United Presybterian church. He will bring his first message to the local congregation on Sunday morning, May 29.

Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, December 15, 1955

Under provisions of the last will and testament of Jesse E. LUNNEY, deceased, her residence property in Mount Ayr was bequeathed to the United Presbyterian Church of Mount Ayr. It was stipulated that the property is to be sold for cash; that the money is to be invested and that the interest derived therefrom is to be used to the maintenance of the church.

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Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, April 05, 1962

The Rev. Gordon O. STOKKE of Clearfield, who has served as supply pastor of the local United Presbyterian Church since January of this year, has been called to a regular pastorate, the duties of which he will assume on June 1. He and his wife will reside in the manse at 504 E. Madison, presently occupied by the Merrill PERRYS.

Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, August 29, 1991

The new minister at the Presbyterian church in Mount Ayr and Tingley is Peter Brantner after graduation in May with a master's of divinity from St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, MO.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, October of 2016

Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, December 02, 2004

Several of the stained glass windows of the Mount Ayr Presbyterian Church were removed Tuesday. The windows will be reconditioned by a stained glass shop and then will be placed in the new United Baptist-Presbyterian Church being built west of Mount Ayr. The windows will be used in the interior of the new church building. The fate of the old Presbyterian church building has not been completely determined.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2015

Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, May 12, 2005

Bell removed from United Presbyterian Church building

As dismantling of the former Presbyterian Church by Mount Ayr continues, the bell was removed from the bell tower last week. The bronze bell will be restored and be included as part of the sign for the new United Baptist-Presbyterian church building which has opened at the west intersection of Highways 169 and 2 in Mount Ayr. Some of the stained glass windows from the church are also part of the new building.

A crane from Southwest Iowa Rural Electric Cooperative helped retrieve the bell from its lofty perch.

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Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, December 29, 2005

Presbyterian church coming down

The final stages of tearing down the former First Presbyterian Church building in Mount Ayr is underway. Windows and fixtures have been removed and the structure itself is now being torn down. The Presbyterian church has joined with the Baptist Church in a new facility on the west edge of Mount Ayr and both of the former church buildings are being removed.

United Presbyterian Church comes down

A Mount Ayr landmark was pulled down last week when the former United Presbyterian demolition reached the point of collapsing the building. The church was erected in 1902. Many of the features of the building including several of the stained glass windows and the bell which hung in the bell tower have been reclaimed as part of the new United Baptist-Presbyterian Church, which has been constructed at the west intersection of Highways 2 and 169 in Mount Ayr. As well as housing the church congregation, the building was a home for many years to the Big Bird Nursery School program before the Family Resource Center building was built and pre-school programs consolidated in that facility.

Transcriptions by Sharon R. Becker, November of 2012

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SOURCE: TERRY, Jack R. A Centennial History of Mount Ayr, Iowa: 1875 - 1975 Pp. 107-108. Mount Ayr Record-News Mount Ayr. 1975.

Compilation by Sharon R. Becker, June of 2009; updated August of 2009; updated April of 2012; updated November of 2012; updated January of 2015; updated September of 2015; updated December of 2015