First Presbyterian Church of Eureka Springs will hold its closing worship service and celebration of donating its building to the Eureka Springs Carnegie Public Library at 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 19, at 209 Spring St. There will be a reception in the Fellowship Hall after the service.
Rev. Stewart Smith of 1st Presbyterian Church of Fayetteville and Rev. John Arnold of 1st Presbyterian Church of Rogers will be the presiding ministers.
Presbyterian services were first held in Eureka Springs during 1880 and 1881 by Rev. W.B. McElwee. During the summer and fall of 1881 he preached under a large tent located at the corner of Mountain and Spring streets. Worshippers sat on wooden benches but when cold weather came the services were discontinued…