Living things naturally want to grow. I see this with some of the plants I've put in my yard over the past few years. If I work to get the right combination of healthy soil, water and sunlight, in a year or so I've got a beautiful azalea, rhododendron, mountain laurel or dogwood tree. But this growth takes a lot of effort - it doesn't just "happen." Like so much in life, it takes a lot of nurturing, care and faithful work to bring about the kind of growth we desire.
Some would say the church is much the same way. A church can grow, not only in numbers but also in spirit as well. God has richly blessed this church at the corner of Church and Main Streets with an amazing potential to "grow." And it's up to you and me to do the kinds of things we need to in order for the growth to take place - a lot of nurture and education, a good dose of fellowship, and a whole lot of worshipping God with all our heart, soul and mind. For almost 150 years since its founding, that has been the calling of this great church.
I sincerely hope you'll find the information on this website helpful as you get to know more about this congregation. And I hope this will lead you to come worship with us on Sunday morning and witness the community of faith that God has called us to be. More importantly, though, I hope you'll find ways that you too can be part of the growing process, serving God as we continue living into our mission and vision!
Faithfully yours,
Stephen B. Lindsley, D.Min
Pastor/Head of Staff
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OUR MISSION:
We are a community of Christians
Celebrating the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ,
Gathering in God’s grace,
To worship and serve our Lord.
OUR VISION:
We envision our church as a growing community of excited Christians
Who glorify God through spiritual growth,
Congregational nurturing,
Passionate mission and service,
And active participation in the life of the church! |
 There are over 30 denominations around the world that refer to themselves as “Presbyterian.” Our congregation is part of the Presbyterian Church (USA), the largest Presbyterian denomination in the world. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has approximately 2.4 million members, 11,100 congregations and 14,000 ordained and active ministers. Presbyterians trace their history to the 16th century and the Protestant Reformation. Our heritage, and much of what we believe, began with the French lawyer John Calvin (1509-1564), whose writings crystallized much of the Reformed thinking that came before him. To learn more about the denomination and some general Presbyterian beliefs, please visit the denomination’s website.
In addition, we are also part of Salem Presbyteryin northwest North Carolina, a body of over 150 congregations ranging from a few members to churches in the thousands.
GENERAL BELIEFS OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (USA) [back to top]
What does it mean to be a Presbyterian in the PC(USA)? This is not an easy question. In the image of Christ, we embrace diversity while holding fast to some key beliefs and understandings about God, Jesus, the Bible, and humanity. To learn more about our doctrines, beliefs and identity, click here.
A HISTORY OF FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
As early as 1848, a small number of Presbyterians living in Mount Airy made attempts to organize a church in this small foothills village. The Reverent W. N. Mebane spent eight months here as a spiritual leader; but on December 9, 1848 he said that it was inexpedient to organize a church at that time.
Presbyterians continued to meet, however, in school buildings and were led from December 1849 to June by the Reverend Monroe T. Allen. A study for Orange Presbytery in 1851 again found the time was not for a church. Worship services continued in school buildings and with visiting ministers. After an attempt to organize in early 1858 did not succeed, on June 6 of that year First Presbyterian became the second church to be organized in Mount Airy.
Charter members of the new church were: Susan and Robert S. Gilmer and daughters Martha J. and Lizzie A. Gilmer; Mildred and Allen Denny; and Mary Dicks. The group met in schools and the Methodist church until enough funds were donated to start a church building in the winder of 1872. It was completed in the spring of 1873 on a lot given by R.S. Gilmer, where the church now stands. Though funds had been raised earlier, construction was delayed by the Civil War and Reconstruction.
The Gilmer family and John M. Brown were largely responsible for erecting the church, at the time a plain frame building. To early members the church was a wonderful sight with its flowered carpets, pine ceiling, ruffled curtains, and horsehair pulpit furniture. But the pews were straight, uncomfortable and unattractive.
The church bell, originally hung in Mrs. Gilmer’s stable near the church in 1876, was hung in the corner of the church in 1878. In 1887 a bell tower was added to the front. Mr. Gilmer was the church’s only elder for the first fourteen years after organization. Because the church was small, several ministers who came eventually left for larger churches after short stays. In 1902, Mount Airy Presbyterian helped organize a mission Sunday School in Flat Rock that grew into the Flat Rock Presbyterian Church.
The granite church that stands today was started in 1907 and completed in 1914 during the ministry of Dr. T. C. Gales. When construction started, the minister was the Reverend J.A. Gilmer, a nephew of the church’s founder. The women of the church held suppers to raise money for the foundation and the roof.
The firsts communion service was given by Lizzie A. Gilmer, daughter of the founder. Part of the service, the baptismal font, continues to be in the current sanctuary and is still used today. The present pews were donated by Mrs. R.J. Reynolds, and the communion table by Mrs. W.E. Merritt. The Celtic Cross at the front of the sanctuary was donated by members in 1968 in honor of long-time elder C.B. Naylor.
In 1951, the church dedicated a new educational addition that also includes the current office space and choir room. In 1990 a new fellowship hall and Sunday school addition was added to account for a growth in membership. The Koinonia Room (in the original New Testament Greek meaning “fellowship”) next to the sanctuary was renovated in 1997-98, almost doubling the church’s worship space. New stained-glass windows in the Koinonia Room, the hallway off the sanctuary, and former pastor’s study behind the sanctuary increase the beauty of the church.
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