The
Community Presbyterian Church is the first established
church in Payson, founded in 1935. It has grown
with the town. Originally, it held meetings in Payson's
first schoolhouse whenever a traveling minister visited
town, but soon after it constructed a log building to
serve as its sanctuary.
In
1980 the current facility was completed, and now church
members are completing a master plan for expansion,
coinciding with its 75th anniversary. Besides Sunday
morning worship, and Adult Sunday School, the church is
very involved within the community: It has partnered
with St. Mary's Food Bank in bringing meals to the
hungry, and it serves meals in the sanctuary.
The
Child Learning Center began 28 years ago and it has had
more than 13,000 students enrolled.
"Holy
Rollers" are a church group that paint the new Habitat
for Humanity homes. Deacons work with other nonprofit
agencies and Gila County to establish more equitable
guidelines for service to families in crisis.
The
church hosts the monthly jazz series, which has
attracted 100 or better at more than 100 performances
given since 2001, and it collaborated with local music
fans last year in raising funds for a new piano.
For
more information about the Church's
75th
Anniversary activities, please contact:
Carolyn Snell at (928) 474-2059,
or
email
cpcgen@yahoo.com
