Our History in Brief
Langston Schoolhouse, Kent Washington
White River Presbyterian Church (WRPC) was organized on July 9, 1867 in the Langston log schoolhouse near present-day Kent. WRPC is the oldest Presbyterian church in
the Presbytery of Seattle. Yep, little White River Presbyterian Church (also known as "WRPC" to those of us hanging around the building regularly) was founded way back in 1867
—back in the days of one-room schoolhouses. In fact, our earliest members even met in a log schoolhouse. Amazing, isn't it?
And speaking of local history, have you heard of
Whitworth College in Spokane? Well, it was founded by one of WRPC's early pastors,
Rev. George F. Whitworth.
The church began with six members, and met at various places in the White River valley after the Langston school burned to the ground.
"One of the founders was venerable [Auburn] pioneer Dr. Levi Ballard. For years, the group met in various multi-purpose buildings, usually schoolhouses. One of their early ministers was Rev. George F. Whitworth, the founder of Whitworth College (now in Spokane, but originally located in Sumner)."
--from: "Auburn-Area Churches" by Stan Flewelling, White River Journal: A Newsletter of the White River Valley Museum, October 2002
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