First Presbyterian Church

Charlotte, North Carolina

Since 1821 First Presbyterian has reflected the good news of the Gospel to the ever-changing surrounding city and the world.

The church has wrestled with the challenges of maintaining and expanding its historic property with the needs of a growing congregation and with the call to expand its outreach into the surrounding community, global community and the church at large. In the 1950s and '60s - when many churches were moving into the suburbs - the church made the decision not just to remain in the center of a then “dying city” but to be a strong presence for Christ in the Heart of Charlotte.

While First Presbyterian realizes the need to nurture and educate our own members, it also feels the call to provide leadership and shape the city in the light of Christ.

From its founding in 1821, the church has answered the call to serve others.

A Brief History of First Presbyterian Church

Settled predominately by Ulster-Scot Presbyterians, Mecklenburg County was home to several Presbyterian churches when Charlotte was incorporated in 1768.  However, for about fifty years this little village had no church. Preaching was held when a minister was available, with services in the courthouse at the crossroads. 

In 1815 the town commissioners set aside a plot of land to be used for a town church. It was to be built by the townspeople and used by all denominations. Construction was begun about 1818, but the public venture failed, leaving the commissioners to complete the building. To do so, they had to borrow $1,500 from the Charlotte branch of the Bank of New Bern. The church was dedicated in 1823 and was called the Brick Church, the Town Church, and most often, the Presbyterian Church since it was the predominant denomination meeting there. 

In 1835 the bank note expired and the remaining balance of $674 was due. John Irwin, a Presbyterian and commissioner, paid off the debt and was deeded the property in trust for the Presbyterians. Irwin held the deed until 1841, when he was repaid in part. He then deeded a clear title to the trustees of the church “ . . . for the members of the Presbyterian Church in the aforesaid Town of Charlotte.” The Presbyterians of Charlotte had been officially recognized as a church on September 5, 1821, by the Concord Presbytery in session at Hopewell Church. 

The cemetery was and continues to be town property. A number of the early church members and one minister, Dr. Cyrus Johnston, are buried there. 

The first building was outgrown and a second building erected on the site in 1857 at a cost of about $13,000. Its Gothic Revival style of architecture has been retained through all subsequent additions. The facade, narthex and tower, with the rebuilt spire of 1883-84, remain as part of the present building. 

Although Second Presbyterian Church was formed in 1873, growth of First Presbyterian Church soon called for additional construction. With classes meeting in the sanctuary, there had been a need for many years for additional Sunday School space. In 1894-95 the Sunday School building was added on the east side. At that time the side walls of the sanctuary building from the facade back were rebuilt and extended toward Fifth Street to include the transept, pulpit area and choir loft. 

The Sunday School building was doubled in size in 1916-17.  Fellowship Hall and additional classroom space were added in 1952. At this time a part of the old Sunday School building was remodeled into the Orr Memorial Chapel. The office-educational building was constructed in 1960-61 on the site of the old manse built in 1876. The Jones Memorial windows were placed over the sanctuary entrance in 1970. In 1993 construction began on the 16,500 square foot building to house children’s ministries and administrative offices. 

The earliest relics of the church are: the first bell used in 1826-1861, a pulpit Bible given in 1853, a pew used from 1857-1894, and a communion set and baptismal bowl presented in 1857. Other gifts, including the stained glass memorial windows, have been given through the years. Too numerous to include here, they add to the beauty and usefulness of the church. 

First Presbyterian Church has been the scene of many special events from its earliest days. The first of these was the fiftieth anniversary celebration of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, held on May 10, 1825. Two women have been honored with military funerals in the church, Mrs. Julia Jackson Christian, August 30, 1889, and Mrs. Mary Anna Morrison Jackson, on March 26, 1915. They were the daughter and wife of General “Stonewall” Jackson, and the granddaughter and daughter of Dr. Robert Hall Morrison, first pastor of the church. 

The General Assembly has met in the church four times: 1864, 1897, 1920 and 1958. Nine ministers, regular or supply, and laymen connected with the church have been moderators of that body. 

Beginning with Dr. Morrison, who became in 1837 the first president of Davidson College, the church has had a succession of able ministers and laymen. Dr. James Robert Howerton, pastor, and Philip E. Howerton, elder, were the first father and son to serve as moderators of the General Assembly. The Celtic Cross in the sanctuary honors them. Dr. Howerton was the first president of the Montreat Association. A son of the church, Dr. Walter William Moore, was the first president of Union Theological Seminary after it was moved to Richmond. Dr. Charles E. S. Kraemer was president of the Presbyterian School of Christian Education in Richmond, Virginia, for twenty years. 

Through the years the church has been closely associated with Davidson College and Queens College, Alexander Children’s Center, Barium Springs Home for Children, Union Theological Seminary, Presbyterian Hospital and other institutions. A Child Development Center, begun in 1947, is housed in the church building. It was a pioneer in the field and has served as a model for other churches. Having at one time housed the Loaves and Fishes Program, the church still offers strong support for and involvement with the program.

The dedicated men and women of this church, from all walks of life, have sought to be faithful servants of our Lord in work here and throughout the world. We give thanks for them and for the heritage that is ours. 

 Missions to the City and Beyond

Mission Schools in Charlotte:  Starting in 1858, First Presbyterian Church noticed there were no free schools in the day so the Church established a day school in a mill village.  Paid salary of a young widow Mrs Martha Moore to teach in this school.  Was located where the Panther stadium stands today.  This site was sold in 1890 and the proceeds went to build a school in another mill section of town.  In 1856 minister of the church began teaching a class for “black people” on Sunday afternoons. Superintendent of the Sunday School Dr Scarr taught a Sunday School for “negro children” in the basement of the church beginning in 1859 continuing until his death in 1874 (Williams history) 

 Barium Springs Home for Children:  Women of the Church started an orphanage for “boys” right after the Civil War--as it grew Mecklenburg Presbytery took charge and finally the NC Synod.  Grew into what is now Barium Springs Home for Children.

 Alexanders Home:  In 1890s women of First and Second Presbyterian Churches began a rescue home which developed into Alexanders Home.

Child Development Center:  1947 the senior minister of the church noticed a large number of children playing unattended on the church lawn each day in the summer.  Upon learning this is where they stayed each day while their mothers worked he encouraged the Session to begin a “child Care Center”  which today still operates in the church as 5 star center

 Community School of the Arts:  In 1968, Henry Bridges the organist/choir director of the church taking note of the fact there were many pianos and empty rooms during the week convinced the Session to found the Community School of the Arts. The one admission requirement was that the children would not otherwise be able to afford lessons.  What started as piano lessons, supervised practice and recreation soon grew to violin, dance and art classes all housed at the church.  In 1972 the church turned the school over to an independent Board of Directors

 A Child’s Place:  The late 1970s a school for homeless children was founded and housed in our building.  The school later moved into a Charlotte Mecklenburg facility.  It now serves as a free standing not for profit serving homeless children throughout CMS schools.   

 Seigle Avenue Partners:  Church memebers were instrumental in founding of Seigle Avenue Preschool for underprivilidged children in an inner city public housing complex  Provides quality preschool and parent training and involvement

 Lakewood Preschool:  In 1995  Session of 1st Presbyterian through the assistance of a Smart Start grant as well as church funds and donations of services from businesses throughout the community partnered to build the Lakewood Preschool in another underserved area of the city.  Today this operates as a not for profit that serves children of several cultures and their families.

 Camp Grier Summer Camp Program:  Begun in the early 1970’s this program provides a 1 week camp experience for 125 at risk children at Camp Grier a Presbyterian Camp located in the mountains of NC.  Children come from the Lakewood Community, Westerly Hills and through referral from social service agencies.  Church members serve as “camp parents” to ensure each child has a positive camp experience 

Freedom School:  Today the church hosts Freedom School, a 10-week summer  program for at-risk children to promote the love of reading.  The school includes academic work but also makes use of the rich offerings uptown to immerse the children in a variety of experiences.  Children from our partnership with Lakewood Community and Westerly Hills Elementary School attend this program 

Urban Ministry Center:  1992-93 the senior minister serving on the Uptown Development Corporation Board as it wrestled how best to serve the growing homeless population as well as address the growing concern of uptown safety.  The vision was to provide more than a daily soup kitchen but to provide counseling services, job training, shower facilities and mail services.  This led to the building of the Urban Ministry Center bringing together churches and business sponsorships

 Global Missions

In 1875, First Presbyterian Church formed the Foreign Missions Society to sponsor mission work abroad, and send its first missionary member of the church to China in 1895, where she served her entire life.  From that beginning, we continue to sponsor foreign missionaries.

Not only does First Presbyterian support full-time missonaries, but it has established relationships with global mission initiatives in Mexico, Haiti, Russia.  Our mission trips provide an opportunity for First Presbyterian members to carry the love of Christ into the world.