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History of First Presbyterian Church - Est. September 23, 1837
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The present-day, beautiful
old church sits on the original three and three-fourths acre site deeded
by Judge Joseph N. Whitner for the purpose of constructing a house of
worship.
Thirteen charter members organized the church on September 23, 1837, and
the small frame sanctuary was dedicated on June 14, 1839. This church
was originally named the "Anderson Court House Presbyterian Church" and
after the turn of the century, it became "The First Presbyterian Church
of Anderson, South Carolina".
The village of Anderson had approximately 200 residents at the time.
There were 26 states and some 15 million people in the nation; Martin
Van Buren was president. In the mid-1850s, First Presbyterian organized
the first church school. The cemetery, located on the back side of the
property, was the first public burial place in the village. Both Judge
Whitner and Mrs. Whitner are buried in this cemetery.
The Kirk (Dining & Fellowship Hall) was built in 1922.
Its name came into being during the ministry of Dr. Kirkpatrick, whom
the church members fondly called "Dr. Kirk". Our present fellowship hall
& dining facility is still referred to as "The Kirk."
The newest wing of the church building (offices and classes) was begun
on May 18, 1967, and placed in service in May, 1969. During the 1960's
the church also built a Log Cabin for their Scouting Units to meet.
This "Scout Hut" was named the "Jack Seel Scout Hut" after a longtime
First Church member and Scout Leader. The Scout Hut originally was
placed in the current location of the Family Life Center. It has
since been moved across the W. Whitner Street. In 2008, a second
scout has was built to support the growing needs of our scouting
programs. The most recent building, the Family Life Center, was
dedicated on April 13, 1986. The FLC keeps our youth busy with a variety
of sports, mission work and community service.
The 1990's & 200's have been a decade of tremendous activity in First
Presbyterian Church, in which cemetery monuments were refurbished,
interior and exterior were painted and the sanctuary was repaired and
cleaned. A new library was added and a number of other improvements
were made to upgrade all of our facilities.
Additional Church History can
be found in the FPC Library
YESTERYEARS
"The Heritage and History of The First Presbyterian Church Anderson,
South Carolina"
Written by: Ellenor Lee Cathcart
Caroline Dickson Smith Alice Inman Brown Louise Klugh Rankin
Editors: Mary Ligon Spann
Davant T. Williams
The Ministers of First
Presbyterian through the years
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Edwin
Carter, D.D.: 1837 to 1839 |
C.W. Martin - Interim:
1839 to 1840 |
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Benjamin M. Palmer, D.C.:
1841 |
Andrew W. Ross, D.C. - Interim:
1841 |
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David Humphreys: 1841 to
1849 |
Robert H. Reid: 1849 to 1853
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Albert Augustus Morse:
1853 to 1863 |
David X. LaFar: 1863 to 1864
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Wallace H. Stratten:
1865 to 1870 |
David Ethan Frierson, D.D.: 1871
to 1894 |
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James Howard Summerell:
1895 to 1900 |
Samuel Jackson Cartledge, D.D.:
1901 to 1906 |
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William Henry Frazer, D.D.:
1906 to 1917 |
John Shaw Foster, D.D.: 1917 to
1921 |
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Robert Foster Kirkpatrick, D.D.:
1921 to 1939 |
James Mourning Appleby, D.D.:
1939 to 1946
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Samuel Shannon Wiley, D.D.:
1946 to 1951 |
Carl Ruffin Pritchett, D.D.: 1952
to 1956 |
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Leroy Lawther, D.D. - Interim:
1956 |
Richard Thomas Gillespie, D.D.:
1957 to 1964 |
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Marshall Woodson, D.D.-Interim:
1964 to 1965 |
John Blaney Pridgen Jr.: 1965 to
1978 |
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Dr. Joseph Gettys, Ph.D., D.D. - Interim:
1978 |
Dr. B.E. Pettit, D. Min, D.D.:
1979 to 1999 |
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Dr. Robert Blumer - Interim:
1999 |
Dr. Phillip Rick Baggett: 2000 to
2004 |
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Dr. Alan Elmore - Interim:
2004 to 2006 |
Dr. Dennis R. Tedder: 2006 to
Present |
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