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On April 23, 1905, four years after the town of Cody, Wyoming was incorporated, Julia Goodman gathered a group of women together in the Irma Hotel parlors and formed the Women's Society as an arm of the Presbyterian Church, almost six months before the church was officially organized. As the Rev. Henry W. Bainton presented a petition, with its 25 signatures, and received authorization at the Presbytery's Spring meeting in Rawlins for a new church to be formed in Cody, the Women's Society was stitching aprons to be sold to finance a building and to support a ministry that as yet existed only in their minds and hearts.

Rev. Bainton, Pastor-at-Large for Wyoming, oversaw the initial establishment of Cody First Presbyterian Church. The Home Mission Board procured W.O. Harper to supply the church beginning October 18,1905. The church was chartered in the fall of 1905 and officially incorporated the following year. In 1906 two pieces of property were purchased, one for a church structure and one for a manse.

The original church, built on the northeast corner of the intersection of Beck Avenue and 11th Street, was dedicated on April 9, 1910. Over the years the church relied on ministers from stated supply and those called by the church to be pastors.

In 1938 the Hoopes Memorial Chapel was added to the north side of the church. This addition not only raised the seating capacity but also provided room in the basement for a growing Sunday School program. Various groups used this basement for luncheon meetings with the food being provided by the Presbyterian Women.

R. N. Buswell (1944-1978), Cody Presbyterian's longest serving pastor, was bestowed with the title Pastor Emeritus after his retirement. Under Buswell's leadership, plans for the education wing in the Dacken subdivision, with 16 classrooms, a fellowship hall and kitchen, grew to fruition (1959), as did plans for the new sanctuary, which was dedicated November 28, 1968. The stained glass windows in the parlor and in the back of the sanctuary and the bell in the tower are from the original church building. The cross hanging above the Communion table was built by Glenn Hill, Jr. and his father. It was at this point that the church continued its growth in membership, which required additional staff.

Rev. Freeman McCall served as pastor from 1978-1989. Until Roger Waid was called and installed as pastor (1991-1995), interim pastors and stated supply served the church. From 1995-1997 the church again depended on stated supply and interim pastors.

Dr. Patrick M. Montgomery arrived as pastor in 1997. With continued growth of the church, additional staff was needed and Bill Eaton joined the church staff as Associate Pastor December 1, 2000.

First Presbyterian Church ends its first 100 years as a healthy, growing, vibrant church blessed with a wealth of talented members and staff, a full calendar of church programs and activities plus an excellent physical plant. A year of celebration will begin in 2005 to mark the anniversary of the founding of this church and to prepare for the next 100 years.

With continued growth, the church began construction on the present church building in the mid 1950's, completing the Education Wing in 1959. Buswell Hall was used as the Sanctuary until the completion of the present Sanctuary in 1968. The stained glasswindows in the parlor and outside the Sanctuary, the bell in the tower, and the needlepoint chairs and pews in the narthex are from the original church building. The cross hanging above the communion table was built by Glenn Hill, Jr. and his father.

Pastor Emeritus R. N. Buswell served the congregation for over 30 years, from 1944 to 1978. Our current Pastor, Pat Montgomery, and his family joined us in the fall of 1997. Together we look forward to the future, glorifying God and uniting in fellowship with one another.

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