An awards certificate recognizing First Presbyterian Church of Macomb as one of the historic churches in the State of Illinois was presented at the church on March 7, 2010.

The Illinois Historical Society has presented annual centennial awards for businesses since 1984, but this is the first year the Society has focused on sesquicentennial churches.  More than 100 churches from several faiths and denominations throughout the state were recognized.

Instrumental in preparing the necessary information to the state society for the competition were Mrs. Sheila Nollen and Mrs. Dorothy Forman.

All the state award recipients were churches established prior to President Abraham Lincoln’s election to office in November 1860.

The Macomb congregation was organized on June 9, 1832, by the Rev. William Frazer.  In 1835, with 16 charter members, the first building was constructed.  It was a small brick structure erected a half block west of the present church.  By 1853 the congregation had grown to more than 100 members.  The present church structure was dedicated on October 1, 1893.  The final major addition to the present building came in 1958.  In 2000, a renovation project extended the front of the building along Dudley Street, with some interior changes.

Many of today’s members belong to families that have attended the church for several generations.