|
History
|
John Quincy Adams was president, Arkansas was still a territory and Memphis had a population of only 500 when First Presbyterian Church was organized in 1828. It was the second congregation founded in the young city.
In 1832, the city deeded to the church a site at the corner of Poplar Avenue and Third Street (now called B.B. King) where First Pres has stood ever since, proclaiming the word of God to all who come and continuing to be a pioneer in faith and service to the community.
First Presbyterian Church's history closely parallels that of our city. The early years were plagued first by the Civil War in the 1860s, then the yellow fever epidemics a decade later when its pastor, the Rev. Henry Bowman, refused to abandon caring for the sick and dying, and eventually succumbing to the disease himself.
Raising itself literally from the ashes after the church burned and was rebuilt in 1884, First Pres continued to grow until the years after World War II, when many downtown residents migrated to the suburbs. Yet the church remained stedfast, feeling committed to the downtown community and how it might continue to serve it's neighbors.
First Pres was instrumental in forming the Hospitality Hub the Downtown Churches Association, and provided an early home for the Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association (MIFA) before moving into it's current location. Today our outreach programs including the Soup Kitchen and Clothes Closet continue to be a place where we serve with joy and hope every Sunday afternoon at 2:15 pm.
Members of First Pres come from all over Memphis and the MidSouth area. We extend to you a warm invitation to visit any Sunday at 11am and become part of this church's future. Parking and childcare are available.
Today at First, as with Memphis, renewal and revitalization have become our focus. We are undergoing some repairs in our historic sanctuary, and planning for our future ahead. With joy and thanksgiving, First Presbyterian Church is alive and well in downtown Memphis.
In 1832, the city deeded to the church a site at the corner of Poplar Avenue and Third Street (now called B.B. King) where First Pres has stood ever since, proclaiming the word of God to all who come and continuing to be a pioneer in faith and service to the community.
First Presbyterian Church's history closely parallels that of our city. The early years were plagued first by the Civil War in the 1860s, then the yellow fever epidemics a decade later when its pastor, the Rev. Henry Bowman, refused to abandon caring for the sick and dying, and eventually succumbing to the disease himself.
Raising itself literally from the ashes after the church burned and was rebuilt in 1884, First Pres continued to grow until the years after World War II, when many downtown residents migrated to the suburbs. Yet the church remained stedfast, feeling committed to the downtown community and how it might continue to serve it's neighbors.
First Pres was instrumental in forming the Hospitality Hub the Downtown Churches Association, and provided an early home for the Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association (MIFA) before moving into it's current location. Today our outreach programs including the Soup Kitchen and Clothes Closet continue to be a place where we serve with joy and hope every Sunday afternoon at 2:15 pm.
Members of First Pres come from all over Memphis and the MidSouth area. We extend to you a warm invitation to visit any Sunday at 11am and become part of this church's future. Parking and childcare are available.
Today at First, as with Memphis, renewal and revitalization have become our focus. We are undergoing some repairs in our historic sanctuary, and planning for our future ahead. With joy and thanksgiving, First Presbyterian Church is alive and well in downtown Memphis.