Kalispell in Flathead County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)
First Presbyterian Church
Courthouse Historic District
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 19, 2020
1. First Presbyterian Church Marker
Inscription.
First Presbyterian Church. Courthouse Historic District. Reverend George M. Fisher organized Kalispell’s Presbyterian congregation in 1891 with 17 members. Reverend Fisher came to Montana in 1882, preached the first sermon in Flathead County in 1886, and organized six congregations during his career. Under Reverend Fisher, the Presbyterians built Kalispell’s first church in 1892 placing the valley’s first bell in its steeple. Plans to build a larger church were begun in 1904 but they were not realized until 1925. Architect Fred Brinkman designed the present church to double as a community facility. Some 600 individual contributions and many local craftsmen made the Tudor style church a true community project. Water-smoothed river rock, log rafters, and decorative timbers are reminiscent of Glacier National Park’s rustic chalets. The octagonal belfry conveys its religious identity while the original 1892 bell survives displayed on the church lawn. First services were held in 1926. In 1927, the long retired Reverend Fisher, who according to pioneer Emma Ingalls “married and buried more people than all the other preachers put together,” dedicated this community landmark. It is one of Kalispell’s most enduring treasures.
Reverend George M. Fisher organized Kalispell’s
Presbyterian congregation in 1891 with 17
members. Reverend Fisher came to Montana in
1882, preached the first sermon in Flathead
County in 1886, and organized six congregations
during his career. Under Reverend Fisher, the
Presbyterians built Kalispell’s first church in
1892 placing the valley’s first bell in its steeple.
Plans to build a larger church were begun in
1904 but they were not realized until 1925.
Architect Fred Brinkman designed the present
church to double as a community facility. Some
600 individual contributions and many local
craftsmen made the Tudor style church a true
community project. Water-smoothed river rock,
log rafters, and decorative timbers are
reminiscent of Glacier National Park’s rustic
chalets. The octagonal belfry conveys its
religious identity while the original 1892 bell
survives displayed on the church lawn. First
services were held in 1926. In 1927, the long
retired Reverend Fisher, who according to
pioneer Emma Ingalls “married and buried more
people than all the other preachers put
together,” dedicated this community
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landmark.
It is one of Kalispell’s most enduring treasures.
Location. 48° 11.587′ N, 114° 18.718′ W. Marker is in Kalispell, Montana, in Flathead County. It is on South Main Street near 6th Street West, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 524 South Main Street, Kalispell MT 59901, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Western Montana and in Glacier Country. It is also in the American Mountain West and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor. Globally, it is in North America, the Rocky Mountains, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land and also the Louisiana Purchase.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 4, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 21, 2020, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 369 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on November 21, 2020, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.
