First Presbyterian Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee
Encyclopedia
First Presbyterian Church, located at 554 McCallie Avenue, in Chattanooga, Tennessee
, is an historic, downtown congregation of the Presbyterian Church in America
(PCA} and the first Christian congregation founded in Chattanooga. First Presbyterian Church began in 1838 by missionaries of the David Brainard Mission. It was, at first, a mission to the Cherokee
Indians. After the "Trail of Tears
" the missionaries returned to Chattanooga and began to work among the English, Scots-Irish, and Welsh in the community and helped plant what became known as the First Presbyterian Church.
Through the years, the congregation grew and its present building was dedicated in 1910. There have been thirteen pastors of the church with such notable clergy as Thomas McCallie {whose sons founded The McCallie School
), Jonathan Bachman (former Confederate
chaplain, former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in the United States
, 1910), James Fowle, and Ben Haden
. Michael A. Milton
was called in 2001 and served until 2008 when he accepted the call to become president and professor of practical theology at Reformed Theological Seminary
, Charlotte, North Carolina
. The Reverend Michael Preg served as the interim pastor before the church called present senior minister, The Reverend Timothy Tinsley.
The congregation has sponsored other local congregations in Chattanooga as well as in other parts of the United States. The congregation has a history of support for foreign missions and is active today, through partnerships with other churches and agencies, in numerous parts of the world. The church sponsors a year round camp and conference center, Camp Vesper Point. According to a history of the church (see reference), the church's Sunday morning live radio broadcast is the oldest continuing religious broadcast of its kind in America.
A centennial dedication of the notable Stanford White
designed sanctuary was held on December 18, 2010. Pastors or representatives of deceased pastors each spoke during the service of dedication.
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga is the fourth-largest city in the US state of Tennessee , with a population of 169,887. It is the seat of Hamilton County...
, is an historic, downtown congregation of the Presbyterian Church in America
Presbyterian Church in America
The Presbyterian Church in America is an evangelical Protestant Christian denomination, the second largest Presbyterian church body in the United States after the Presbyterian Church . The PCA professes a strong commitment to evangelism, missionary work, and Christian education...
(PCA} and the first Christian congregation founded in Chattanooga. First Presbyterian Church began in 1838 by missionaries of the David Brainard Mission. It was, at first, a mission to the Cherokee
Cherokee
The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...
Indians. After the "Trail of Tears
Trail of Tears
The Trail of Tears is a name given to the forced relocation and movement of Native American nations from southeastern parts of the United States following the Indian Removal Act of 1830...
" the missionaries returned to Chattanooga and began to work among the English, Scots-Irish, and Welsh in the community and helped plant what became known as the First Presbyterian Church.
Through the years, the congregation grew and its present building was dedicated in 1910. There have been thirteen pastors of the church with such notable clergy as Thomas McCallie {whose sons founded The McCallie School
The McCallie School
The McCallie School is a boys college-preparatory school located on Missionary Ridge in Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA. The school was founded in 1905 and now educates a student body comprising 230 boarding students in grades 9-12 and 660 day students in grades 6-12.- History :Brothers Spencer...
), Jonathan Bachman (former Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
chaplain, former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in the United States
Presbyterian Church in the United States
The Presbyterian Church in the United States was a Protestant Christian denomination in the Southern and border states of the United States that existed from 1861 to 1983...
, 1910), James Fowle, and Ben Haden
Ben Haden
Ben Haden is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church in America. He became internationally known through the medium of one of the most successful of the twentieth century religious broadcasts, Changed Lives...
. Michael A. Milton
Michael A. Milton
Michael Anthony Milton, b. 1958 is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church and the Chancellor-elect of Reformed Theological Seminary. Milton was elected on September 2, 2010, by the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees to become the next chancellor in 2012. With Milton's election...
was called in 2001 and served until 2008 when he accepted the call to become president and professor of practical theology at Reformed Theological Seminary
Reformed Theological Seminary
Reformed Theological Seminary is a non-denominational, evangelical Protestant seminary. RTS's first campus remains in Jackson, Mississippi, United States though the school has expanded to include several additional campuses.-Founding:...
, Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
. The Reverend Michael Preg served as the interim pastor before the church called present senior minister, The Reverend Timothy Tinsley.
The congregation has sponsored other local congregations in Chattanooga as well as in other parts of the United States. The congregation has a history of support for foreign missions and is active today, through partnerships with other churches and agencies, in numerous parts of the world. The church sponsors a year round camp and conference center, Camp Vesper Point. According to a history of the church (see reference), the church's Sunday morning live radio broadcast is the oldest continuing religious broadcast of its kind in America.
A centennial dedication of the notable Stanford White
Stanford White
Stanford White was an American architect and partner in the architectural firm of McKim, Mead & White, the frontrunner among Beaux-Arts firms. He designed a long series of houses for the rich and the very rich, and various public, institutional, and religious buildings, some of which can be found...
designed sanctuary was held on December 18, 2010. Pastors or representatives of deceased pastors each spoke during the service of dedication.