History of First Presbyterian Church of Asheville Historical Background
In the 1780s land in North Carolina west of the Blue Ridge Mountains was opened to settlers. Large numbers of Scot-Irish immigrants arriving from Pennsylvania became the nucleus of Presbyterian churches forming around this area.
The Reverend James Hall in 1794 made a mission trip to the Bee Tree/Swannanoa settlements and as a result one of the congregations established was “at the mouth of the Swannanoa River” in what is now Asheville.
From a tiny congregation of a few stalwart members, this church developed, through difficult periods as a mission church without a permanent minister and through active periods of energetic growth, with outreach to the community and the world becoming a central part of its mission.
The beginning: The 18th Century
1794 The General Assembly recognizes the Presbyterian Church “at the mouth of the Swannanoa River.”
1796 Worship services are held in the large brick home of George and Caroline Swain between Pack Square and Eagle Street.
1797 First Presbyterian Church is officially incorporated, and Sunday worship services are held at the Newton Academy log cabin school for boys on Biltmore Avenue (now the site of Asheville Radiation Center). The Reverend George Newton is the first minister. His portrait hangs beside the church library door.
The 19th Century
1841 The first sanctuary is built on Church Street, facing Biltmore Avenue across a ravine (now Lexington Avenue).
1861 Asheville suffers hardship and grief after the outbreak of the Civil War. The first casualty on the battlefield at Manassas is William Hardy, age 19, from the First Presbyterian Church congregation.
1865 After the Battle of Asheville, remnants of Colonel Gilliam’s Union Calvary plunder the village and burn the Presbyterian manse.
1884 The church is replaced with the brick Gothic building which forms the nave of the present church.
1892 Dr. Robert F. Campbell becomes the pastor, serving for 54 years. He makes many major contributions in the church and as a leading citizen of Asheville and is also recognized as an influential leader within the entire denomination.
The 20th Century
1914 Eighty-one women in the congregation form the Women’s Auxiliary.
1938 Thomas Wolfe’s funeral is held at First Presbyterian Church, the church of his childhood.
1942 First Presbyterian Church organizes Bible school for 80 black children at Brown Temple C.M.E. Church.
1951 The sanctuary receives major renovations.
1953 Two hundred fifty-two members form a colony church, Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church on Merrimon Avenue. Altogether, First Presbyterian Church develops 10 colony churches, seven still survive.
1964 First Presbyterian Church elects first women to the Session and Diaconate.
1968 The Child Care Center is developed for day care for the children of working parents.
1968 Campbell Memorial Chapel is built.
1979 The Diaconate merges with the Session. (Diaconate resumed in 2010)
1980 First Presbyterian Church is placed on the American Presbyterian and Reformed Sites Registry.
1981 The Korean Presbyterian Church begins holding services in Campbell Chapel on Sunday afternoons.
1994 First Presbyterian Church celebrates its bicentennial.
The 21st Century
2003 A major church expansion is completed and dedicated. First Presbyterian Church representatives make the first trip to sister church, Eben Ezer Church in La Blanca, Guatemala.
2008 Senior pastor, Pete Peery, resigns in October to become President of the Montreat Conference Center.
2009 "Saturday Sanctuary" is initiated, providing a room for comfort and fellowship for the homeless during the cold winter months.
2010
New Pastor, Mark Burnham joins the congregation on April 5th.
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