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History of Hope United Presbyterian Church
On February 4, 1959, a meeting was held to consider the organization of a Presbyterian Church in Plainfield
with the Rev. Roy Mueller, National Missions Executive, Synod of Indiana. With the persistent effort of a very
small group of interested persons, the work of establishing a Presbyterian Mission was initiated and plans were
made to hold Sunday services.
The first services were held in February of 1959, in the Plainfield Public Library. Services were held weekly,
with church school meeting at the same time. For the most part, laymen from Indianapolis came to conduct
services until September 1959 when the Rev. Robert Alexander, chaplain of Central State Hospital, came to
serve the mission on a part time basis. In September, also, the American Legion Hall was secured as a meeting
place, where services and other activities were held.
Old Plainfield Library Old American Legion Hall
S Center St in Plainfield, IN Vine and Buchanan St in Plainfield, IN
On September 15, 1960 the Rev. C. Luther Bostrom of Lewiston, New York was called to serve the church as
organizing pastor under the sponsorship of the National Missions Committee of the Synod of Indiana, as the
first full-time resident minister. A community survey was soon undertaken and revealed that there were a
substantial number of Presbyterian families living in the area not affiliated with any church.
Organization of the church soon followed on March 12, 1961 with sixty-six charter members. Meanwhile,
negotiations were completed by Mr. John M. Smith, National Missions Executive for five acres on Section
Street at Lawndale where a large sign was erected stating that Hope United Presbyterian Church would be
erected on the site in the not too distant future.
On October 1, 1961, the first Building Fund campaign of Hope Church was held and resulted in pledges and
gifts of over $30,000 which made it possible for the Ivan Gwaltney Company to begin work on our building on
June 13, 1962. On October 7, 1962, the Rev. C. Luther Bostrom was installed as pastor. On January 21, 1963,
our building was accepted as essentially complete and the members of the congregation took part in the
finishing and decoration of the church.
On February 3, 1963, the first service was held in our new building and on March 10, 1963, with solemn
services by the Presbytery of Indianapolis, the service of dedication was held.
On February 4, 1959, a meeting was held to consider the organization of a Presbyterian Church in Plainfield
with the Rev. Roy Mueller, National Missions Executive, Synod of Indiana. With the persistent effort of a very
small group of interested persons, the work of establishing a Presbyterian Mission was initiated and plans were
made to hold Sunday services.
The first services were held in February of 1959, in the Plainfield Public Library. Services were held weekly,
with church school meeting at the same time. For the most part, laymen from Indianapolis came to conduct
services until September 1959 when the Rev. Robert Alexander, chaplain of Central State Hospital, came to
serve the mission on a part time basis. In September, also, the American Legion Hall was secured as a meeting
place, where services and other activities were held.
Old Plainfield Library Old American Legion Hall
S Center St in Plainfield, IN Vine and Buchanan St in Plainfield, IN
On September 15, 1960 the Rev. C. Luther Bostrom of Lewiston, New York was called to serve the church as
organizing pastor under the sponsorship of the National Missions Committee of the Synod of Indiana, as the
first full-time resident minister. A community survey was soon undertaken and revealed that there were a
substantial number of Presbyterian families living in the area not affiliated with any church.
Organization of the church soon followed on March 12, 1961 with sixty-six charter members. Meanwhile,
negotiations were completed by Mr. John M. Smith, National Missions Executive for five acres on Section
Street at Lawndale where a large sign was erected stating that Hope United Presbyterian Church would be
erected on the site in the not too distant future.
On October 1, 1961, the first Building Fund campaign of Hope Church was held and resulted in pledges and
gifts of over $30,000 which made it possible for the Ivan Gwaltney Company to begin work on our building on
June 13, 1962. On October 7, 1962, the Rev. C. Luther Bostrom was installed as pastor. On January 21, 1963,
our building was accepted as essentially complete and the members of the congregation took part in the
finishing and decoration of the church.
On February 3, 1963, the first service was held in our new building and on March 10, 1963, with solemn
services by the Presbytery of Indianapolis, the service of dedication was held.
| History of Hope United Presbyterian Church 1959 - 2010 Hope Presbyterian Church was humbly born in the town of Plainfield in 1959 guided to life by a small but dedicated gathering of local Presbyterians. Finding support from the Presbytery and other Presbyterian churches, regular worship services began in February of 1959 held in the Plainfield Public Library and then shortly thereafter in the basement of the local American Legion Hall. The following year saw the calling of Hope’s organizing pastor, Rev. C. Luther Bostrom and the purchase of land for a future church site. Hope Church was officially organized with 66 charter members on March 12th 1961 during a special service at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church. Hope’s church home, located at 1331 Section St, held its first services on February 3rd 1963 and was dedicated amongst Presbyterians leaders from all over Indianapolis on March 10, 1963. On December 7th 1969, Jean Jensen and Ann Ritzius were the first women to be ordained to the office of elder at Hope. Organizing Pastor Rev. Bostrom parted ways with Hope on September 29th 1970, going on to continue his ministerial education. Rev. W. Jack Noble was called to Hope in 1971 initiating new members’ classes and communicant classes. 1973 saw Hope’s first increase in membership in several years as well as the removal of the leaking steeple from the top of the sanctuary. Rev. Noble accepted another call in Virginia in May 1974. Dr. William Walter accepted the position of pastor on November 15th 1975 and immediately set in place a steering committee to adopt a goal-setting program for Hope Church. This renewed enthusiasm in the leadership spread to the congregation, increased commitment and planning for possible dreams of an associate minister, a larger sanctuary, and more Christian Education space. Much fund-raising occurred throughout 1977-1979 to accomplish these dreams. However, a snag in the road occurred when Rev. Walter retired in June 7th 1981. On August 1st 1982, Rev. Mike Bullard was called to Hope as pastor. That same year, Hope opened its doors to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. Hope Church celebrated its 25th anniversary in ministry in March of 1986. Rev. Bullard left Hope on August 14th 1988 to accept a call in Twin Falls Idaho. Rev. John Irwin was called September 24th 1989 to become the pastor of Hope Presbyterian Church. The church continued its long-term planning under Rev. Irwin’s dedicated care and saw the church thrive again. Plans for an addition to the current building allowing for new offices and meeting spaces went underway in second half of the decade. A Director for Youth and Family Ministry was also hired to serve the additional needs of the church. Rev. John Irwin was in a car accident on December 22nd 1998 and passed away three weeks later. While still grieving this devastating loss, the building addition was completed and a new piano was dedicated in John’s memory. The new building was dedicated on December 5th 1999. Rev. Dan Sutherin was called to Hope in 2001. Hope Church held a second praise worship service on Sunday afternoons during this time. A strained relationship with the congregation and pastor led to Rev. Sutherin stepping down as minister in December of 2007 and Rev. Peggy McDonald was installed as the stated supply pastor. Then in March 2009, Rev. James Gray Marshall was installed as designated pastor of Hope Church. |