As early as 1848, a small number of Presbyterians living in Mount Airy made attempts to organize a church in this small foothills village. After several attempts to form a church, it was not until June 6, 1858 that First Presbyterian became the second church to be organized in Mount Airy.
There were seven charter members of the new church. The group met in schools and the Methodist church until enough funds were donated to start a church building in the winter of 1872. It was completed in the spring of 1873 on a lot donated by R. S Gilmer, where the church now stands. The funds had been raised earlier, but construction was delayed by the Civil War and Reconstruction. Mr. Robert S Gilmer, one of the founders served as the only elder of the church for 14 years after the organization of the church. In 1902 Mount Airy Presbyterian Church helped organize a mission Sunday School in Flat Rock that grew into Flat Rock Presbyterian Church.
The original church building was 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. The pews were straight, uncomfortable and unattractive. A church bell was hung in the corner of the church in 1878 and a bell tower was added to the front of the church in 1887.
The granite church that stands today was started in 1907 and completed in 1914.
First Presbyterian has always been the recipient of gifts from members of the church, sufficient to meet the needs of the congregation.
· The Robert S Gilmer family, four of the charter members of the church, donated the land for the first building.
· The church bell was donated and originally hung in Mrs. Gilmer’s stable near the church
· The first communion service was given by Lizzie A Gilmer. Part of this service, the baptismal font, continues to be in use today.
· Women of the church held suppers to raise money for the foundation and roof of the granite building in 1907.
· The current pews were donated by Mrs. R. J. Reynolds
· The communion table was donated by Mrs. W. E Merritt
· The Celtic Cross was donated in 1968 in honor of C. B. Naylor
· In 1951 the church dedicated a new educational addition and in 1990, a new fellowship hall and Sunday school addition was added. The Koinonia Room (in the original New Testament Greek meaning “fellowship”) was renovated in 1997-98, next to the sanctuary and almost doubled the worship area. New Stained glass windows in the Koinonia Room and the hallway were added to beautify the worship area. In 2013 the Columbarium was added and the court yard renovated. These major additions and renovations were made possible by successful capital campaigns and donations.
For over 150 years, First Presbyterian has been a witness to the love of God in Jesus Christ in Mount Airy and the larger world. We continue to trust God to guide us in the years and decades ahead.
Ministers of the Church
William N Mebane 1848-1858
Charles M Payne 1872-1873
John Monroe Anderson 1876
Benjamin Watkins Smith 1881-1882
Egbert Watson Smith 1887-1890
W. C. Alexander 1892-1894
J. Earnest Thacker 1897
Benjamin Watkins Smith 1902-1906
John A. Gilmer 1907-1913
Tipton Clinton Bales 1914-1918
Zebulon Vance Roberson 1919-1923
James C. Grier 1925-1927
J. N. McFall 1928-1938
James B. Ficklin III 1938-1948
Davis S. McCarthy 1947-1965
Thomas B. Bagnal, Jr. 1966-1970
Paul Austin Layton 1971-1977
David C. Kennedy 1977-1982
Paul N. Ridolfi 1983-1998
Robert C. Bruce 2000-2001
Stephen B. Lindsley 2003-2013
There were seven charter members of the new church. The group met in schools and the Methodist church until enough funds were donated to start a church building in the winter of 1872. It was completed in the spring of 1873 on a lot donated by R. S Gilmer, where the church now stands. The funds had been raised earlier, but construction was delayed by the Civil War and Reconstruction. Mr. Robert S Gilmer, one of the founders served as the only elder of the church for 14 years after the organization of the church. In 1902 Mount Airy Presbyterian Church helped organize a mission Sunday School in Flat Rock that grew into Flat Rock Presbyterian Church.
The original church building was 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. The pews were straight, uncomfortable and unattractive. A church bell was hung in the corner of the church in 1878 and a bell tower was added to the front of the church in 1887.
The granite church that stands today was started in 1907 and completed in 1914.
First Presbyterian has always been the recipient of gifts from members of the church, sufficient to meet the needs of the congregation.
· The Robert S Gilmer family, four of the charter members of the church, donated the land for the first building.
· The church bell was donated and originally hung in Mrs. Gilmer’s stable near the church
· The first communion service was given by Lizzie A Gilmer. Part of this service, the baptismal font, continues to be in use today.
· Women of the church held suppers to raise money for the foundation and roof of the granite building in 1907.
· The current pews were donated by Mrs. R. J. Reynolds
· The communion table was donated by Mrs. W. E Merritt
· The Celtic Cross was donated in 1968 in honor of C. B. Naylor
· In 1951 the church dedicated a new educational addition and in 1990, a new fellowship hall and Sunday school addition was added. The Koinonia Room (in the original New Testament Greek meaning “fellowship”) was renovated in 1997-98, next to the sanctuary and almost doubled the worship area. New Stained glass windows in the Koinonia Room and the hallway were added to beautify the worship area. In 2013 the Columbarium was added and the court yard renovated. These major additions and renovations were made possible by successful capital campaigns and donations.
For over 150 years, First Presbyterian has been a witness to the love of God in Jesus Christ in Mount Airy and the larger world. We continue to trust God to guide us in the years and decades ahead.
Ministers of the Church
William N Mebane 1848-1858
Charles M Payne 1872-1873
John Monroe Anderson 1876
Benjamin Watkins Smith 1881-1882
Egbert Watson Smith 1887-1890
W. C. Alexander 1892-1894
J. Earnest Thacker 1897
Benjamin Watkins Smith 1902-1906
John A. Gilmer 1907-1913
Tipton Clinton Bales 1914-1918
Zebulon Vance Roberson 1919-1923
James C. Grier 1925-1927
J. N. McFall 1928-1938
James B. Ficklin III 1938-1948
Davis S. McCarthy 1947-1965
Thomas B. Bagnal, Jr. 1966-1970
Paul Austin Layton 1971-1977
David C. Kennedy 1977-1982
Paul N. Ridolfi 1983-1998
Robert C. Bruce 2000-2001
Stephen B. Lindsley 2003-2013
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