First Presbyterian Church of Greensboro

First Presbyterian Church
Basic information
Location 617 N Elm St, Greensboro, North Carolina, United States 27401
Geographic coordinates 36°04′52″N 79°47′26″W / 36.0812°N 79.7905°W / 36.0812; -79.7905Coordinates: 36°04′52″N 79°47′26″W / 36.0812°N 79.7905°W / 36.0812; -79.7905
Affiliation Presbyterian Church USA
District Salem Presbytery
Territory Synod of Mid-Atlantic
State North Carolina
Website
Architectural description
Architectural style Gothic Revival
Groundbreaking 1927

First Presbyterian Church is a historic Presbyterian church located in the Fisher Park Historic District of Greensboro, North Carolina.

History

First Presbyterian Church was founded in 1824[1] and was the first chartered Presbyterian church in the city.[2][3] Four of its 12 original members were slaves. Thirty to 40 slaves were members by the time of the American Civil War, and after being freed, 37 former slaves started Saint James Presbyterian at Friendly Avenue and Church Street. Saint James is now located on Ross Avenue.[1] First Presbyterian Church has occupied four buildings in its history. The first three were located at Church Street and Summit Avenue north of the city center. The third building on that site, a Romanesque Revival style brick structure, now houses the Greensboro Historical Museum. In 1929 First Presbyterian Church moved into its fourth and current building, a Gothic Revival cathedral overlooking Fisher Park.[4]

Recent pastors

  • Dr. John A. Redhead began a 25-year pastorate in 1945. Dr. Redhead also spoke on the Protestant Radio Hour and Armed Forces Radio.[5]
  • Dr. Joseph B. Mullin served from 1971 to 1988. The church's Mullin Life Center is named in honor of Dr. Mullin.[6]
  • Dr. Jerold D. Shetler served from 1988 to 1998.
  • On January 1, 2001, Dr. Sidney F. Batts became the church’s eleventh pastor.

Notable parishoners

Interior view of north-facing rose window
Interior view of north-facing rose window inside First Presbyterian Church, Greensboro, NC

References

  1. 1 2 McLaughlin, Nancy (October 27, 2017). "Coming home: After 150 years, St. James returns to First Presbyterian". News and Record. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
  2. ↑ http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=10453
  3. ↑ http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/visit/fpc-in-50
  4. ↑ http://www.visitgreensboronc.com/greensboro-history-churches#.VVVZa_lViko
  5. ↑ "Radio Days: The Protestant Hour". Presbyterian Historical Society. Retrieved 2016-08-02.
  6. ↑ "Joseph Mullin Papers". UNCG.
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