BRIEF HISTORY
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
LEWISBURG, TENNESSEE
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
LEWISBURG, TENNESSEE
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The Beginnings
The First Presbyterian Church of Lewisburg was organized on June 13, 1847, by Reverend Edward McMillian with seven charter members, three of whom were men. These three men were duly installed and elected the first Elders of the church. They were Dr. S. W. Penn, G. B. Black and H. A. Hall. During the first seven years of the organization the congregation worshipped with their brethren of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. In 1854 a church building was erected on the NW corner of Church St. and 3rd Avenue North, and on the second Saturday in September, 1854, it was dedicated by Dr. Robert Hardin.
The first children to receive the sacrament of baptism in the new church were Mary Biddle Black, infant daughter of Mr.& Mrs. Gideon Black, and Nancy Reed infant daughter of Mr. & Mrs. James L. Reed. This rite was administered on the third Sunday in September l854, one week after the dedication of the new church.
In 1889 it was decided to erect a new building on another location on the City Square. This new building was completed and dedicated in 1890. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Reverend D. L. Wilson of Pulaski. The dedicatory prayer was offered by the pastor, Dr. M.
S. Kennedy. Twelve years after the dedication of this beautiful church, it was destroyed by fire, and in 1903 the present building was
erected on the same site.
The First Presbyterian Church of Lewisburg was organized on June 13, 1847, by Reverend Edward McMillian with seven charter members, three of whom were men. These three men were duly installed and elected the first Elders of the church. They were Dr. S. W. Penn, G. B. Black and H. A. Hall. During the first seven years of the organization the congregation worshipped with their brethren of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. In 1854 a church building was erected on the NW corner of Church St. and 3rd Avenue North, and on the second Saturday in September, 1854, it was dedicated by Dr. Robert Hardin.
The first children to receive the sacrament of baptism in the new church were Mary Biddle Black, infant daughter of Mr.& Mrs. Gideon Black, and Nancy Reed infant daughter of Mr. & Mrs. James L. Reed. This rite was administered on the third Sunday in September l854, one week after the dedication of the new church.
In 1889 it was decided to erect a new building on another location on the City Square. This new building was completed and dedicated in 1890. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Reverend D. L. Wilson of Pulaski. The dedicatory prayer was offered by the pastor, Dr. M.
S. Kennedy. Twelve years after the dedication of this beautiful church, it was destroyed by fire, and in 1903 the present building was
erected on the same site.
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The current sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church was built in 1903-1904, after the prior church sanctuary was so heavily damaged by a fire that swept through the west side of the Lewisburg square that it had be torn down and a new sanctuary erected. The current sanctuary was built just as the "Sunday School" movement was rising in the United States, and it is reflected in the “Akron” style of the sanctuary, in which partitions could be lowered to create Sunday School classrooms adjoining the main sanctuary.
There are multiple symbols incorporated into the overall sanctuary design.
- It is built in the classic Christian design of an upside down ship hull representing “the ark of salvation” holding us all in God’s care and protection.
- The stained glass window in the east wall of the sanctuary depicts the scene of the empty tomb on the morning of Jesus' resurrection, an angel pointing to where his body had lain, with the three crosses in the background.
-The stained glass window in the north wall of the sanctuary is an image of the resurrected and ascending Jesus.
- The ceiling beams of the ceiling have silhouettes cut out in them representing the saints in heaven with halos around their heads, as depicted in the earliest Christian art, with the large downward spindles representing the glory of heaven coming down to us and lifting us into God’s presence with them.
- The multiple directions of the ceiling boards create a pleasing visual effect, but more profoundly, they represent the “multi-faceted wisdom of God” throughout all of God’s creation on the earth and in the heavens.
- The three main light fixtures and the three curved sections of pews remind worshipers that we gather around God in three persons, as reflected in the Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
- The sanctuary doors exit to the east, toward the rising of the sun, and the magnificent stained glass window depicting the angel at the empty tomb of Jesus on the morning of his resurrection are vivid reminders that Christians are called to follow Jesus in service to the world, while living toward our own deaths and resurrection in assured confidence and hope.
All of this is designed to invite those who enter to recognize that they are entering into a holy time and space for worship to God joining with the saints in heaven who praise God night and day.
There are multiple symbols incorporated into the overall sanctuary design.
- It is built in the classic Christian design of an upside down ship hull representing “the ark of salvation” holding us all in God’s care and protection.
- The stained glass window in the east wall of the sanctuary depicts the scene of the empty tomb on the morning of Jesus' resurrection, an angel pointing to where his body had lain, with the three crosses in the background.
-The stained glass window in the north wall of the sanctuary is an image of the resurrected and ascending Jesus.
- The ceiling beams of the ceiling have silhouettes cut out in them representing the saints in heaven with halos around their heads, as depicted in the earliest Christian art, with the large downward spindles representing the glory of heaven coming down to us and lifting us into God’s presence with them.
- The multiple directions of the ceiling boards create a pleasing visual effect, but more profoundly, they represent the “multi-faceted wisdom of God” throughout all of God’s creation on the earth and in the heavens.
- The three main light fixtures and the three curved sections of pews remind worshipers that we gather around God in three persons, as reflected in the Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
- The sanctuary doors exit to the east, toward the rising of the sun, and the magnificent stained glass window depicting the angel at the empty tomb of Jesus on the morning of his resurrection are vivid reminders that Christians are called to follow Jesus in service to the world, while living toward our own deaths and resurrection in assured confidence and hope.
All of this is designed to invite those who enter to recognize that they are entering into a holy time and space for worship to God joining with the saints in heaven who praise God night and day.