The Presbyterian Church.
CHARLOTTESVILLE was
founded in 1762. From that
year to the year 1820, there
seems to have been no church
building in the town, though there was
occasional preaching. About 1820 a
union church was built where all denominations
worshiped. The first
Presbyterian church building was
erected in 1827 on the southeast corner
of Market and Second streets. This
building was replaced by a better
structure in the same lot in the year
1856. The third building, which is the
present church edifice, was erected in
1898. The corner stone was laid June
24, 1897, and the building was dedicated
May 15, 1898. It occupies the
southwest corner of Market and Second
streets. It is a very handsome structure,
a credit to the enterprising spirit
of the church, and an ornament to the
city. The cost of the lot, building and
furnishings was about $36,000. The
church seats 720 persons, and has an
expansion in its Sunday-school room,
which increases the seating capacity to
1200. On the occasion of its dedication
there were 1200 persons present in sight
and hearing of the speaker. The
church room is a perfect auditorium,
the acoustics being without fault. A
handsome organ, built by Stein of Baltimore,
was placed in the church in
1902 at a cost of $3,000. The old pipe
organ was placed in the Sunday-school
room where its sweet tones are still
heard. The new church is furnished
with all modern church conveniences;
and is most complete. The first organized
Presbyterian church in Charlottesville
was called "South Plains"
church. It included three preaching
places: Charlottesville, Keswick and
Bethel. But it was one organization,
governed by one session. This organization
was effected in 1819. In the year
1840 Charlottesville Presbyterianism
claimed a separate organization, which
was designated "The First Presbyterian
Church of Charlottesville." The
other two places of preaching retained
the old name: South Plains church.
In 1870 Bethel was set off into a separate
church, and Keswick retained and
still retains the original name South
Plains church. The following ministers
have been identified with the
Charlottesville Presbyterian church as
pastors or supplies in some period of
its history: B. H. Rice, J. C. Wilson,
W. J. Armstrong, F. Bowman, W. S.
White, D. B. Ewing, B. M. Wailes, J.
H. Smith, J. E. Annan, W. J. Hoge,
W. H. McGuffey, E. Woods, J. H.
Bryson, R. L. Dabney and G. L.
Petrie. The present pastorate is the
longest in the history of the church,
having now extended over 28 years.
The membership of the Charlottesville
Presbyterian church today is about
500. This number includes many distinguished
names of persons in the
various circles of life and influence in
the city, lawyers, physicians, and business
men of Charlottesville, and eminent
professors in the University. The
church is thoroughly organized in the
various departments of christian work,
including Sunday-school and societies.
It is liberal in its contributions to
benevolent causes, and progressive in
its spirit and work. A cordial greeting
is extended to all visitors and
strangers who worship in this church.
It is the earnest desire of the Presbyterians
of Charlottesville to make their
church a church of the people where
all are welcome and all are invited to
feel at home. It endeavors to stand
for what is true, right and pure in life
and methods, and to justify its existence
by its contribution to the well
being of the city.
