History
1820 - 1950 | 1952 - 1990 | 1991 - 1999 | 2000 - 2007
The Presbyterian Church in the City of Richmond was organized on June 18, 1812 with fourteen members and two ruling elders. Dr. John Holt Rice was installed as its first pastor on October 19 of that year in the new church building on the south side of Main Street, between 27th and 28th Streets.
In 1816 its name was changed to First Presbyterian Church, and it moved to a new site on the south side of Main Street, between 17th and 18th Streets.
1990-1999
| 1990 | Mr. Edward C. Dawkins installed as associate pastor, replacing Dr. Laha who resigned to accept call to Weems, Virginia. |
| 1991 | Soviet delegation visits church. Youth delegation visits Nicaragua. Adult delegation visits Soviet Union. |
| 1992 | Bicentennial Fund tops $380,000 for mission projects. Nicaraguan delegation visits church. |
| 1993 | Mrs. Maud Tucker, the church secretary retires. 20 youth and adults go to Nicaragua on a mission trip. Dr. Mann retires; Mr. Randall C. Stevens installed as associate pastor for pastoral care. Completed resettling a single-mother family into our First Homes project. |
| 1994 | Mr. Dawkins resigns. Mr. Eddie Bellis named interim youth director. 3,500 Bibles are sent to Belarus. 25 scholarships are created for children in Bluefields, Nicaragua to attend school. FPC celebrates the debt retirement on the new addition, renovations, pipe organ, and furnishings. |
| 1995 | Dr. John Trotti gives the Carson Memorial Lectures. Nicaraguan delegation visits our church. Mr. Bellis leaves to become Minister of Youth at Westminster P.C. in Richmond. Dr. Rosalind Banbury-Hamm installed as associate pastor of adult ministries. A delegation of 15 visits our sister church in Minsk, Belarus. Mr. Hugh Turner is named interim Minister of Music, replacing Dr. Grant. Mrs. Fanny Taylor honored for her 40 years of service as the church librarian. Membership, 1,826. |
| 1996 | Nine FPC members go on a Nicaragua mission trip. Church sponsors resettlement of Bajro and Suada Pehlic from Bosnia to Richmond. First major renovation since 1951 begun, with $500,000+ raised in pledges. Worship held in the Fellowship Hall from June through November. Sanctuary rededicated with a celebration on the first Sunday of Advent. Ms. Trish Bracken arrives as Minister of Youth. Mr. Turner leaves. Mr. Roger Morin retires as maintenance supervisor. |
| 1997 | Mr. Tom Bashore installed as associate pastor for business administration. Mrs. Suzanne Riehl arrives as Minister of Music. Mrs. Joanna Pendleton retires as church secretary. Disciple Bible Study and the Stephen Ministry programs begun. Dialogue and partnership initiated with the Metropolitan African-American Baptist Church in Richmond. 40 scholarships are made available for children in Bluefields, Nicaragua to attend school. Mosby Mentoring program initiated. |
| 1998 | FPC and four other Presbyterian churches build a Habitat for Humanity house. Mission delegations from both Bluefields, Nicaragua and Minsk, Belarus visit FPC. Plans are begun for Dr. Sadler's retirement. Membership, 1,788. |
| 1999 | Dr. Sadler retires after twenty-five years of service to First Presbyterian Church. Dr. Donn K. Langfitt arrives at Interim Pastor. |
Data Sources:
A History of First Presbyterian Church, compiled by Dr. Walter Lapsley Carson (Pastor, 1922-1959)
A Chronological Summary 1812-1998, the First Presbyterian Church Directory 1998
A Short History of the Presbytery of the James (presbyteryofthejames.org)