Clarksville
Tennessee
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First Presbyterian Church
Mission:
Our mission is to provide worship and education in the Reformed tradition so that people may fulfill their God-given potential and express God's love in our community and throughout the world.
Following the incorporation of Clarksville as a town in 1784, the city grew slowly. But by the early 1800's Clarksville had become a village of about 40 families. Among these families were a few who professed the Presbyterian faith although there did not exist an organized church. Into this pioneer environment rode a catalyst in the person of Dr. Gideon Blackburn, a traveling Presbyterian preacher, whose sanctuary was a wooded area in south Clarksville now called Tompkins Grove. It was under Blackburn's leadership that the First Presbyterian Church of Clarksville was formed on May 25, 1822, by a company of 14 worshippers. Worship continued at Tompkins Grove, later in private homes, and still later in the new brick Court House which replaced the initial log structure on the Square. There, all denominations met for almost 20 years. By 1835, however, the growth of the Presbyterian congregation made the need for a permanent place of worship obvious. For this purpose $2,300 was raised; land at the present site of Third and Main was donated by Lucinda Elder; and in 1840 the first building was opened to a membership which grew in number to 120 by 1844.
As the congregation continued to increase in number, it became obvious once again that the simple building on the corner of Third and Main Streets could not meet the growing needs. Thus, under the tutelage of Dr. J. B. Luton, First Presbyterian pastor from 1872-1897, the old walls were removed to make way for a neo-gothic building of pressed brick and stone with a sanctuary above and lecture room below. Included in the sanctuary were the stained glass windows (including the lovely Rose Window), pews, pulpits, communion table and chandeliers and all richly decorated with Christian symbols. The cornerstone was laid in 1876 and the building completed in 1878 at a cost of $43,285.15.
Our mission is to provide worship and education in the Reformed tradition so that people may fulfill their God-given potential and express God's love in our community and throughout the world.
Following the incorporation of Clarksville as a town in 1784, the city grew slowly. But by the early 1800's Clarksville had become a village of about 40 families. Among these families were a few who professed the Presbyterian faith although there did not exist an organized church. Into this pioneer environment rode a catalyst in the person of Dr. Gideon Blackburn, a traveling Presbyterian preacher, whose sanctuary was a wooded area in south Clarksville now called Tompkins Grove. It was under Blackburn's leadership that the First Presbyterian Church of Clarksville was formed on May 25, 1822, by a company of 14 worshippers. Worship continued at Tompkins Grove, later in private homes, and still later in the new brick Court House which replaced the initial log structure on the Square. There, all denominations met for almost 20 years. By 1835, however, the growth of the Presbyterian congregation made the need for a permanent place of worship obvious. For this purpose $2,300 was raised; land at the present site of Third and Main was donated by Lucinda Elder; and in 1840 the first building was opened to a membership which grew in number to 120 by 1844.
As the congregation continued to increase in number, it became obvious once again that the simple building on the corner of Third and Main Streets could not meet the growing needs. Thus, under the tutelage of Dr. J. B. Luton, First Presbyterian pastor from 1872-1897, the old walls were removed to make way for a neo-gothic building of pressed brick and stone with a sanctuary above and lecture room below. Included in the sanctuary were the stained glass windows (including the lovely Rose Window), pews, pulpits, communion table and chandeliers and all richly decorated with Christian symbols. The cornerstone was laid in 1876 and the building completed in 1878 at a cost of $43,285.15.