History of First Presbyterian Church
In 1898, Rev. Milton Chalmers Arrowood from Wadesboro came and founded the church with 11 charter members. He was paid the grand sum of $64.00 for his first year's work. Two years later, the first sanctuary was erected on the southwest corner of North and First streets, diagonally across from the present building.
By 1918 the church was holding steady at 104 members. In 1924, after rapidly doubling in size to 208 members, a new church building was needed, and our current church was constructed. During one of their first hymns in the new sanctuary with their new pipe organ they sang, “The church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord.” It took until 1942 to fully pay off the debt of the new building. The church was built by D.A. Holbrook, who has descendants still worshipping with us today. D.A. Holbrook built many historic buildings in Albemarle including First Baptist Church, homes in the Pee Dee Avenue Historic District, and much more.
Another prominent early member of the church was James McKnight Morrow who would donate over 1000 acres to create Morrow Mountain State Park. He also has descendants who are still members of our church.
In 1961, what is now the SCCM Clothing Closet began as a collection bin for clothing at our church. The ministry grew greatly over the years and, in 1973, the ministry was expanded beyond our church, bringing in volunteers from the wider community.
Our men’s prayer breakfast ministry began under Toby Webb in 1962. Webb is in the NCHSAA Hall of Fame. He was a football coach at Albemarle High School (103-18-6 record), principal, and superintendent. He was also awarded with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine. Webb Athletic Field, named in his honor, is used by nearby Central Elementary School. The men’s prayer breakfast once hosted Rosalynn Carter, Jimmy Carter’s wife, while they were on the campaign trail. Instead of charging her the normal $3, they jokingly gave her breakfast for free on condition that if Jimmy Carter won the presidency she would have to "repay" their hospitality by inviting the entire prayer group to Washington, D.C. for a free breakfast. She kept her word and hosted the men’s prayer breakfast at the White House in 1977.
Our ministry to youth and children began to expand. In 1967, an expansion was added to the church with preschool classrooms on the first floor and a gymnasium/fellowship hall on the second. In 1970, we began handing out scholarships to students heading to college, as we still do today. In 1971, the popular youth breakfast averaged 300 community youth.
During WWII, 52 members of our church fought against fascism and imperialism. The old, original church building was sold off with proceeds being used to buy war bonds to support the effort. One member, Captain Jesse F Niven, Jr., died in the line of service. The Niven Community Center on E Main St. is named in his honor.
In 1987, an elevator and a chapel with stained glass windows were added. In 2005, $600,000 was raised to buy a needed new organ, a Létourneau Mechanical Pipe Organ.
In the 2000s our church entered into international missions. Recurring trips to Montaña de Luz in Honduras to help families affected by HIV began in 2005. Recurring trips were also made to Mwandi, Zambia to help support a community hospital.
We now look to build off the foundations laid by those who came before us. We are excited to ponder what God might have in store to do through this church in its present and future.