Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church History
Presbyterian History in Saint George Utah & Washington County by Douglas D. Alder and Karl F. Brooks
The Presbyterian mission to Utah focused on both religious and educational efforts. In 1880 Reverend A. B. Cort traveled from Chicago to Saint George with the intention of building a church and conducting a school. He was not received warmly by the local people who were defending their belief in polygamy against the federal government and many Protestants who were supporting the government on its anti-polygamy efforts. Reverend Cort helped several Protestant women begin schools, including Anna Stevenson in St. George, Virginia Dickey in Washington City, and Fannie Burke in Toquerville. In 1889 Mrs. A. E. Blackburn and her daughter Nellie came to St. George to teach. In 1891 Catherine Watt came to the area as did a Miss Rever. In 1893 Reverend Galen Hardy and his wife arrived in St. George. They had considerable success with their weekday and Sunday schools. Reverend Hardy died in 1898 at St. George.
