FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF BURLINGTON HISTORY

In the early part of the 16th century, Christians in Europe, including Calvin, Luther, and Zwingli, rediscovered the church as it had been in the first century. John Knox studied with Calvin in Geneva and carried this new understanding of the early Christian church to Scotland, his home. Scotland and the Scotch Presbyterian Church became an important part of the history of the United Kingdom.

The Scotch Presbyterians, including Scotch-Irish, brought their beliefs and church with them as early settlers in America. Francis Makemie, known as the Father of American Presbyterianism, came to Maryland as a missionary in 1683. By 1706 he and other ministers formed the first presbytery, making this the first independent American denomination. From that start, came Orange Presbytery, and from that comes Salem Presbytery, the current body of which First Presbyterian Church is a member.

When Alamance County was chartered in 1849, Graham was the county seat and a center of growth. During the 1850's the NC Railroad Company built shops for the repair and maintenance of its trains on property that is now the center of Burlington. The community that grew up there was known as Company Shops. The minister of nearby Graham Presbyterian Church began gathering people for religious services in one of the Company Shops buildings. Soon they were one of eight denominational groups meeting regularly and the North Carolina Railroad Company built a building for their shared use, called the Union Church. This building, which was a school during the week, was on the site of the present Burlington Police Station.

In 1879, the Company Shops Presbyterian Church was organized with twenty-one charter members by a commission from Orange Presbytery. Dr. Benjamin Watkins Mebane, pastor of the Graham Presbyterian Church, was the minister, continuing the connection with Graham. In 1886, the headquarters of the maintenance shops were moved and the railroad company began selling its property. The town of Burlington was born on February 1, 1887, with between one and two thousand inhabitants. Company Shops Presbyterian Church became First Presbyterian of Burlington and by 1888 had fifty-seven members.

In 1889, through the interest and generosity of Mr. J. H. Holt, the church purchased a building lot 103.9' by 150.5' at the corner of Front and Church Streets, where the Burlington Fire Department is now located. By 1891, the first church building was completed, free of debt and dedicated to the worship of God. The first full-time pastor, Rev. Malcolm Shields, was called in 1895. He saw the need for mission work in the new community and began the continuing commitment of this congregation to outreach by starting a chapel in the Elmira community. That became Second Presbyterian Church, now Westminster Presbyterian Church.

First Presbyterian Church recognized the need for a larger, more adequate building during the 1940's. A building committee, chaired by Ralph Holt, Sr., planned the construction of the present structure on West Davis Street and the sanctuary portion of the church was completed and dedicated in May 1953 while Dr. Chester Alexander was pastor. The total cost was approximately three quarters of a million dollars. The fellowship and educational portion of the church, part of the original plan, was completed in 1964 under the supervision of a new building committee chaired by C. A. McIver at a cost of approximately $450,000. This final addition was dedicated on October 31, 1964, while Dr. Tom Anderson was pastor. The Activity Building was a second project during the ministry of Dr. Anderson. It was dedicated in 1973 and has been constantly used for youth, Scout and other activities of our church and the community. At a time when the need for quality child care was very great, the church opened the Child Development Center. The church also provided the original offices for Alamance County Hospice, and continuing offices for Meals on Wheels, Alcoholics Anonymous, and Narcotics Anonymous. The church celebrated one hundred years of life on June 16, 1979. Dr Anderson had already announced his plans to retire at the end of the year and his dedicated service was recognized along with the festivities.

Dr Charles Williams began his long and constructive 21-year leadership of the church in 1980. He brought so many developments and changes that is it impossible to summarize them adequately: the youth program, work of the PW (Presbyterian Women), the music program's six choirs, the educational program for all ages, the community service activities, and the mission outreach, all testify to the vitality and dedication of the twelve-hundred member church's life.

In 1983, the mainline Presbyterian denomination ended a division dating from the Civil War in the 19th century with a reunion of "Northern" and "Southern" branches. First Presbyterian of Burlington now is a part of Salem Presbytery in the Presbyterian Church (.U.S.A). In 1996, a $1.6 million major repair and improvement project brought important changes, including two elevators with porte cochere entrances on the east and west sides of the church. The interior was refurbished and two new offices were added. The church library underwent a major revision with addition of computer data management.

Some members of the church have in the past few years been going for work missions to Moyobamba, Peru for medical and construction projects. Their long-term goal is to collaborate with the church there in starting a higher education facility.

In 2001, Dr. Williams retired from his productive ministry, greatly missed by the members of the church and community. The pulpit Nominating Committee, chaired by Michael Holt, consulted groups within the church, did a diligent search, and brought forward the name of Dr. Ron Shive, who became the minister in 2002.

This too-brief summary of the growth of First Presbyterian Church is based on the two-part history prepared for the one-hundredth anniversary by Robert and Frances White in 1979 and for the 125th anniversary celebrated this year, 2004, prepared by the Quasquicentennial Committee, chaired by David Vaughan and Lyn Moser. Members of the church were given copies at the Quasquicentennial Celebration on September 26, 2004 and there is a copy in the church library. Seek out a copy-you will find it interesting to read, especially since there any many photographs of places and people.