Church History
Origin
First Presbyterian Church was formed on August 15, 1841, by two ministers and five others committed to the Presbyterian faith. Some of our current members are descended from these founders.
The Church Building
The worship area of the present church was built in 1905, the previous building having been destroyed by the "Great Fire" of 1904. It is designed to seat 600, if needed, by means of mechanically raising the wall which divides the sanctuary and chapel areas.
The sanctuary as it is most often used seats 365 in the "theater" seats the 1904 congregation voted 165-126 to install rather than conventional pews. A unique feature of the sanctuary is that each seat directly faces the pulpit, from which the Word of God is faithfully proclaimed.
The educational annex was built in 1952 and also houses the church offices, an extensive church library, and the Good News Bookstore, which sells Bibles and Christian books to the public at discounted prices as part of the church's ministry.
Denominational Affiliation
In July 1973 the congregation voted overwhelmingly to request dismissal "from the Presbyterian Church in the United States to a Presbytery to be formed," thus becoming a charter member of the denomination now known as the Presbyterian Church in America.