Biographical Information on Former Important Pastors of 1st Presbyterian Church:
Arthur W. Mielke, D.D. (1912 – 3 April 1978) Pastor from (1 January 1963 - 1 January 1978) was born in Danville, IL where it very likely that he attended the First Presbyterian Church while Rev. Ralph B. Hindman was the pastor. He graduated from the Danville High School in 1929, then attended the University of Illinois, receiving his B.A. (with high honors) and then attended Yale Divinity School where he earned his B.D. in 1936. He was conferred a Doctorate of Divinity degree in 1958 by Hamilton College in Clinton, NY. He served as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Cooperstown, NY from 1938 – 1942 and then as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Middletown, NY from 1943-1945 and also concurrently as pastor of the First Congregational Church of Middletown, NY from 1943-1945. Dr. Mielke came to First Presbyterian church from the Park Central Presbyterian Church in Syracuse, NY, where he was installed October 2nd, 1945 with Dr. Ralph B. Hindman preaching at the installation service. He served as senior pastor there until 1962. He was elected pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Buffalo, NY on 2 December 1962, and assumed the duties as senior pastor 1 January 1963 and his installation took place 17 February 1963.
A gifted speaker and published author who wrote several books, he was much loved by his congregation. During his pastorate land was purchased adjacent to the church for a parking lot and playground, along with the property on St. John’s Place adjacent to the parish house & parking lot. In 1968 the sanctuary chancel was remodeled, the Youth Center redesigned which eliminated the third floor balcony and second floor stage in youth center. The redesign allowed for expanded classroom space on the second floor, and incorporated a new Youth Choir Room by installing a floor between the Sunday school rooms on the second floor, the new Youth Center on the third floor. This new Youth Center was a gift from the recently merged congregation of First United Presbyterian Church. The redesigned chancel was dedicated May 26, 1968, and on March 2, 1969 the Youth Center was dedicated. In 1969 the old church organ was dismantled, and work began on the currently installed Noehren Organ. This organ, with a greatly expanded and improved sound, was designed by renowned organist and builder Robert Noehren (1910-2001), a close friend of Squire Haskin, then organist and choirmaster. This new organ was dedicated on December 14th, 1969 although it was not completed until January 1970. After his wife Hazel Jackson Mielke’s sudden death from a stroke April 1st 1973, funds were raised in her memory through contributions for a new cross to be hung in the sanctuary over the communion table. The large Tiffany designed chandelier that hung over the communion table since about 1897 was removed to hang in the Historical Hall until November 2006 when it was sold to a buyer in Texas. Because of recent health problems, Dr. Mielke made the decision to retire December 31st, 1977, preaching his farewell sermon January 1st, 1978. Following his retirement, Dr. Mielke was elevated the position of Pastor Emeritus, along with Dr. Ralph B. Hindman until Dr. Mielke’s untimely death from cancer April 3rd, 1978 in New Haven, CT.
Arthur W. Mielke, D.D. (1912 – 3 April 1978) Pastor from (1 January 1963 - 1 January 1978) was born in Danville, IL where it very likely that he attended the First Presbyterian Church while Rev. Ralph B. Hindman was the pastor. He graduated from the Danville High School in 1929, then attended the University of Illinois, receiving his B.A. (with high honors) and then attended Yale Divinity School where he earned his B.D. in 1936. He was conferred a Doctorate of Divinity degree in 1958 by Hamilton College in Clinton, NY. He served as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Cooperstown, NY from 1938 – 1942 and then as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Middletown, NY from 1943-1945 and also concurrently as pastor of the First Congregational Church of Middletown, NY from 1943-1945. Dr. Mielke came to First Presbyterian church from the Park Central Presbyterian Church in Syracuse, NY, where he was installed October 2nd, 1945 with Dr. Ralph B. Hindman preaching at the installation service. He served as senior pastor there until 1962. He was elected pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Buffalo, NY on 2 December 1962, and assumed the duties as senior pastor 1 January 1963 and his installation took place 17 February 1963.
A gifted speaker and published author who wrote several books, he was much loved by his congregation. During his pastorate land was purchased adjacent to the church for a parking lot and playground, along with the property on St. John’s Place adjacent to the parish house & parking lot. In 1968 the sanctuary chancel was remodeled, the Youth Center redesigned which eliminated the third floor balcony and second floor stage in youth center. The redesign allowed for expanded classroom space on the second floor, and incorporated a new Youth Choir Room by installing a floor between the Sunday school rooms on the second floor, the new Youth Center on the third floor. This new Youth Center was a gift from the recently merged congregation of First United Presbyterian Church. The redesigned chancel was dedicated May 26, 1968, and on March 2, 1969 the Youth Center was dedicated. In 1969 the old church organ was dismantled, and work began on the currently installed Noehren Organ. This organ, with a greatly expanded and improved sound, was designed by renowned organist and builder Robert Noehren (1910-2001), a close friend of Squire Haskin, then organist and choirmaster. This new organ was dedicated on December 14th, 1969 although it was not completed until January 1970. After his wife Hazel Jackson Mielke’s sudden death from a stroke April 1st 1973, funds were raised in her memory through contributions for a new cross to be hung in the sanctuary over the communion table. The large Tiffany designed chandelier that hung over the communion table since about 1897 was removed to hang in the Historical Hall until November 2006 when it was sold to a buyer in Texas. Because of recent health problems, Dr. Mielke made the decision to retire December 31st, 1977, preaching his farewell sermon January 1st, 1978. Following his retirement, Dr. Mielke was elevated the position of Pastor Emeritus, along with Dr. Ralph B. Hindman until Dr. Mielke’s untimely death from cancer April 3rd, 1978 in New Haven, CT.
Biographical Information on Former Important Pastors of 1st Presbyterian Church:
Arthur W. Mielke, D.D. (1912 – 3 April 1978) Pastor from (1 January 1963 - 1 January 1978) was born in Danville, IL where it very likely that he attended the First Presbyterian Church while Rev. Ralph B. Hindman was the pastor. He graduated from the Danville High School in 1929, then attended the University of Illinois, receiving his B.A. (with high honors) and then attended Yale Divinity School where he earned his B.D. in 1936. He was conferred a Doctorate of Divinity degree in 1958 by Hamilton College in Clinton, NY. He served as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Cooperstown, NY from 1938 – 1942 and then as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Middletown, NY from 1943-1945 and also concurrently as pastor of the First Congregational Church of Middletown, NY from 1943-1945. Dr. Mielke came to First Presbyterian church from the Park Central Presbyterian Church in Syracuse, NY, where he was installed October 2nd, 1945 with Dr. Ralph B. Hindman preaching at the installation service. He served as senior pastor there until 1962. He was elected pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Buffalo, NY on 2 December 1962, and assumed the duties as senior pastor 1 January 1963 and his installation took place 17 February 1963.
A gifted speaker and published author who wrote several books, he was much loved by his congregation. During his pastorate land was purchased adjacent to the church for a parking lot and playground, along with the property on St. John’s Place adjacent to the parish house & parking lot. In 1968 the sanctuary chancel was remodeled, the Youth Center redesigned which eliminated the third floor balcony and second floor stage in youth center. The redesign allowed for expanded classroom space on the second floor, and incorporated a new Youth Choir Room by installing a floor between the Sunday school rooms on the second floor, the new Youth Center on the third floor. This new Youth Center was a gift from the recently merged congregation of First United Presbyterian Church. The redesigned chancel was dedicated May 26, 1968, and on March 2, 1969 the Youth Center was dedicated. In 1969 the old church organ was dismantled, and work began on the currently installed Noehren Organ. This organ, with a greatly expanded and improved sound, was designed by renowned organist and builder Robert Noehren (1910-2001), a close friend of Squire Haskin, then organist and choirmaster. This new organ was dedicated on December 14th, 1969 although it was not completed until January 1970. After his wife Hazel Jackson Mielke’s sudden death from a stroke April 1st 1973, funds were raised in her memory through contributions for a new cross to be hung in the sanctuary over the communion table. The large Tiffany designed chandelier that hung over the communion table since about 1897 was removed to hang in the Historical Hall until November 2006 when it was sold to a buyer in Texas. Because of recent health problems, Dr. Mielke made the decision to retire December 31st, 1977, preaching his farewell sermon January 1st, 1978. Following his retirement, Dr. Mielke was elevated the position of Pastor Emeritus, along with Dr. Ralph B. Hindman until Dr. Mielke’s untimely death from cancer April 3rd, 1978 in New Haven, CT.
Arthur W. Mielke, D.D. (1912 – 3 April 1978) Pastor from (1 January 1963 - 1 January 1978) was born in Danville, IL where it very likely that he attended the First Presbyterian Church while Rev. Ralph B. Hindman was the pastor. He graduated from the Danville High School in 1929, then attended the University of Illinois, receiving his B.A. (with high honors) and then attended Yale Divinity School where he earned his B.D. in 1936. He was conferred a Doctorate of Divinity degree in 1958 by Hamilton College in Clinton, NY. He served as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Cooperstown, NY from 1938 – 1942 and then as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Middletown, NY from 1943-1945 and also concurrently as pastor of the First Congregational Church of Middletown, NY from 1943-1945. Dr. Mielke came to First Presbyterian church from the Park Central Presbyterian Church in Syracuse, NY, where he was installed October 2nd, 1945 with Dr. Ralph B. Hindman preaching at the installation service. He served as senior pastor there until 1962. He was elected pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Buffalo, NY on 2 December 1962, and assumed the duties as senior pastor 1 January 1963 and his installation took place 17 February 1963.
A gifted speaker and published author who wrote several books, he was much loved by his congregation. During his pastorate land was purchased adjacent to the church for a parking lot and playground, along with the property on St. John’s Place adjacent to the parish house & parking lot. In 1968 the sanctuary chancel was remodeled, the Youth Center redesigned which eliminated the third floor balcony and second floor stage in youth center. The redesign allowed for expanded classroom space on the second floor, and incorporated a new Youth Choir Room by installing a floor between the Sunday school rooms on the second floor, the new Youth Center on the third floor. This new Youth Center was a gift from the recently merged congregation of First United Presbyterian Church. The redesigned chancel was dedicated May 26, 1968, and on March 2, 1969 the Youth Center was dedicated. In 1969 the old church organ was dismantled, and work began on the currently installed Noehren Organ. This organ, with a greatly expanded and improved sound, was designed by renowned organist and builder Robert Noehren (1910-2001), a close friend of Squire Haskin, then organist and choirmaster. This new organ was dedicated on December 14th, 1969 although it was not completed until January 1970. After his wife Hazel Jackson Mielke’s sudden death from a stroke April 1st 1973, funds were raised in her memory through contributions for a new cross to be hung in the sanctuary over the communion table. The large Tiffany designed chandelier that hung over the communion table since about 1897 was removed to hang in the Historical Hall until November 2006 when it was sold to a buyer in Texas. Because of recent health problems, Dr. Mielke made the decision to retire December 31st, 1977, preaching his farewell sermon January 1st, 1978. Following his retirement, Dr. Mielke was elevated the position of Pastor Emeritus, along with Dr. Ralph B. Hindman until Dr. Mielke’s untimely death from cancer April 3rd, 1978 in New Haven, CT.
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