Curiosities & Notable Facts
What formally become First Presbyterian Church in 1817, began in Mrs. Elizabeth Minors home. One of our first elders, Elias Hawes, regarded her so highly that before the church had a name he called it "Mrs. Minor's Church".
The Rev. Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) famous theologian of the Great Awakening, and fountainhead of the "New Divinity" movement in the United States and the United Kingdom had a daughter and granddaughter who were two of the thirteen founding members of First Presbyterian Church. Eunice Hunt and Frances Devereux; their father and grandfather was considered a famous New England Congregationalist Pastor, considered America's most famous philosopher and theologian.
Vice-president Aaron Burr was the nephew of the same Eunice Hunt and cousin of Frances Devereux.
The Rev. John Knox Witherspoon, President of the College of New Jersey (Princeton) teacher/mentor of James Madison architect of the US Constitution - Witherspoon was the only clergyman to sign the Declaration of Independence. His grandson the Rev. John Knox Witherspoon was the organizing pastor of First Presbyterian Church.
His successor the Rev. John Nicholson Campbell, who served less than a year in 1820. Only 22 years old, resigned to become the chaplain of the United States Congress.
The sanctuary cost $7000 and the last payment of $120 was made in 1825, four years after the sanctuary was completed. The sanctuary was designed to seat 800 with and inclined sanctuary floor.
In January 1822 Isaac Taylor purchased four pews in First Presbyterian Church. He is the great-great-great-grandfather of the North Carolina singer & musician James Taylor.
Former pastor the Rev. Drury Lacy (1834-37) become president of Davidson College (1855060) and later founded Peace Institute (Peace College) in 1872.
The buildings and the campus were commandeered by the United States Government and used by the Union Army as a hospital and surgeon's quarters on March 14, 1862.
The weather vane at the top of the steeple is at least 150 years old and may be original to the sanctuary. There are marks of Minnie balls, "bullets" of Federal soldiers who used the weather vane for target practice.
First Presbyterian Elder Caleb Bradham invented a popular drink, Brad's Drink, but lost the patent at the end of WWI but it is now enjoyed worldwide as Pepsi.
The Rev. Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) famous theologian of the Great Awakening, and fountainhead of the "New Divinity" movement in the United States and the United Kingdom had a daughter and granddaughter who were two of the thirteen founding members of First Presbyterian Church. Eunice Hunt and Frances Devereux; their father and grandfather was considered a famous New England Congregationalist Pastor, considered America's most famous philosopher and theologian.
Vice-president Aaron Burr was the nephew of the same Eunice Hunt and cousin of Frances Devereux.
The Rev. John Knox Witherspoon, President of the College of New Jersey (Princeton) teacher/mentor of James Madison architect of the US Constitution - Witherspoon was the only clergyman to sign the Declaration of Independence. His grandson the Rev. John Knox Witherspoon was the organizing pastor of First Presbyterian Church.
His successor the Rev. John Nicholson Campbell, who served less than a year in 1820. Only 22 years old, resigned to become the chaplain of the United States Congress.
The sanctuary cost $7000 and the last payment of $120 was made in 1825, four years after the sanctuary was completed. The sanctuary was designed to seat 800 with and inclined sanctuary floor.
In January 1822 Isaac Taylor purchased four pews in First Presbyterian Church. He is the great-great-great-grandfather of the North Carolina singer & musician James Taylor.
Former pastor the Rev. Drury Lacy (1834-37) become president of Davidson College (1855060) and later founded Peace Institute (Peace College) in 1872.
The buildings and the campus were commandeered by the United States Government and used by the Union Army as a hospital and surgeon's quarters on March 14, 1862.
The weather vane at the top of the steeple is at least 150 years old and may be original to the sanctuary. There are marks of Minnie balls, "bullets" of Federal soldiers who used the weather vane for target practice.
First Presbyterian Elder Caleb Bradham invented a popular drink, Brad's Drink, but lost the patent at the end of WWI but it is now enjoyed worldwide as Pepsi.