Filed Under Miles City

First Presbyterian Church, Miles City

Miles City Main Street Historic District

Charter members George and Helen Miles bestowed this land on the church in 1882. Since that time the First Presbyterian Church has occupied this space. Church trustees met in 1911 to discuss the construction of a larger $30,000-$40,000 church. Pastor Reverend J. Forsythe Smith reasoned that a new house of worship would “provide better social advantages, better intellectual advantages, and better moral and spiritual advantages.” In addition to a larger worship space, the modern facility would include a Sunday school and choir room. Architect Brynjulf Rivenes designed the concrete and brick edifice on the same site as the old church, which was sold and relocated to face North Prairie. Western Granite and Marble Works of Miles City donated the cornerstone, laid on November 26, 1914. C. N. Strevell gifted the main stained glass window fronting Montana Avenue. The oak finished, 871-pipe Estry organ was specially designed to fit the organ chamber. Dedicated in 1917, this impressive Gothic Revival Style church conveys a sense of stability and permanence.

Images

First Presbyterian Church, 1401 Main Street, Miles City, MT
First Presbyterian Church, 1401 Main Street, Miles City, MT Still image capture of the First Presbyterian Church on the corner of North Montana Avenue and Main Street, Miles City, Montana. Image information drawn from related files at the State Historic Preservation Office. b&w print. Source: Official records of the Montana State Historic Preservation Office, Helena, Montana Creator: Unidentified photographer Date: 1987
1000 Block of Main Street
1000 Block of Main Street Still image capture of the 1000 Block of Main Street, looking southeast to Custer County Courthouse. The First Presbyterian Church appears on the left side of the image. Image information drawn from related files at the State Historic Preservation Office. b&w print. Source: Official records of the Montana State Historic Preservation Office, Helena, Montana Creator: Susan McDaniel Date: January, 1989

Location

1401 Main Street, Miles City, Montana | Private

Metadata

The Montana National Register Sign Program, “First Presbyterian Church, Miles City,” Historic Montana, accessed October 9, 2024, https://historicmt.org/items/show/279.