The History of First Presbyterian Church
in Lynchburg, Virginia

The first building housing the First Presbyterian Church of Lynchburg, Virginia  was a small brick structure with a high steeple, erected in 1815 on what is now Main Street across from City Market between Twelfth and Thirteenth Streets. Dr William Shields Reid, the first pastor, and his wife Clementina donated the land. The Sabbath School Society began classes in May 1818. When this church building was severely damaged by a storm in 1854, a new and larger church, a two story edifice with Sabbath School Room below Church Auditorium, was built on the same site and dedicated on Sunday, November 14, 1858.  As the church congregation continued to grow, a third church building was put up at Ninth and Court Streets and dedicated on May 8,1900. A weekly church bulletin, a "first" in Lynchburg, was introduced in 1904.

 Our present sanctuary, chapel, library, and offices with the connecting hallways and educational space was built in 1952 just off V.E.S. Road on land which included seven acres purchased from the Presbyterian Home. Because future growth was anticipated, a temporary wall was constructed at the rear of the Sanctuary. This building was consecrated at a Sunday Worship service on September 2l, 1952, with Dr. Emmett B. McGukin presiding and former pastor of the congregation, Dr. Russell C. Stroup, as guest minister. The former church building located downtown subsequently became the home of the First Methodist Church. In the following decade, the congregation grew rapidly. In 1958 it was decided to build additional educational space and a Fellowship Hall. This new Educational Building opened on September 20, 1959. During the pastorate of Jerold D. Shetler, in early 1975 the congregation authorized a funds campaign to build a two-story addition at the rear of the sanctuary, providing a narthex on the first floor and choir rehearsal space on the second floor. The chapel and Fellowship Hall were refurbished and air-conditioned, pastoral staff offices were consolidated on the second floor adjoining the Officers' Room, and better space arrangements were accomplished. This construction work was completed in March, 1976.

 In 1996, under the leadership of Dr. Richard T. Harbison, an additional expansion and renovation effort called "Our Time to Grow" was begun. By 1998, a new structure was built to provide classrooms, offices and other supporting space along with a new handicapped entrance with elevator. The Sanctuary and Fellowship Hall were also renovated. An adjoining Columbarium Garden was built. The congregation has also supported the formation of a new Presbyterian church in nearby Forest, Va.

The Rev. Arthur Fogartie served our church from 1998-2001.

 
A total of seventeen Senior Pastors together with a number of Assistant and Associate Pastors have served the congregation over the years. This church has sustained its members through the terrible days of conflict in 1861-1865 followed by the First and Second World Wars and then the Korean and Vietnam Wars. During the time span of 186 years since 1815, First Presbyterian Church has grown a hundred-fold from 13 members to the present total of over 1300 members.