OUR HISTORY

First Presbyterian Church of Salisbury was founded on August 1, 1821 as a member of Concord Presbytery. Many renovations and changes have occurred throughout the years (including three Sanctuary buildings), but our unity in faith has never altered. We are located in Salisbury’s Historic West End Square district and are proud of our heritage and our community. We have a special room for members and visitors to come explore our history.

The Reverend Jonathan Otis Freeman served as our first minister until 1826 when the first church was built on the corner of West Innes and Jackson Streets. Freeman had come to Salisbury as a teacher of the classics at the Salisbury Academy housed in what is known as the Wrenn Building. The lot on which the first church was built had been given to this congregation by Rebecca (Nesbit) Troy Caldwell, half-sister of Maxwell Chambers. At his death, Chambers willed all the property on the square where the church stood, now the Bell Tower Green, and the entire block on which the present church stands.

The second church, built on the site of the first church, was completed in the fall of 1892. The church was cited as an outstanding example of Romanesque Revival style. Its tower, known as the Bell Tower, was preserved when the church was torn down in 1971. The third and current building was built and the congregation first worshiped there on Easter Sunday, April 6, 1969. It was designed by John Erwin Ramsay.

First Pres has a long history of scholarly ministerial leadership including Revs. Jesse Rankin (1827-1831), Thomas Espy (1831-1833), P.J. Sparrow (1834-1836), Stephen Frontis (1836-1845), Archibald Baker (1846-1859), Dr. Jethro Rumple (1860-1906), John H. Grey (1906-1907), Dr. Byron C. Clark (1907-1925), Edgar A. Woods (1925-1929), Dr. Marshall Woodson (1930-1937), Dr. Charles J. Woodbridge (1937-1945), Dr. Sidney Austin Gates (1946-1960), Herbert L. Underwood (1962-1970), Dr. William W. Williamson (1971-1978), Dr. Robert M. Lewis (1979-2002), Dr. James C. Dunkin (2004 to 2016), Dr. Thomas LaBonte (Senior Pastor, Transitional (2016-2018). Our current pastoral staff is co-lead by Revs. Josh and Lara Musser Gritter (2018 to present) with Dr. Randy Kirby (2001 to present) serving as our Associate Pastor.

The church membership grew dramatically at the end of the last century. The result was a Strategic Plan exploring the needs for additional space. We were blessed with the Seeds of Promise Campaign and contributions from of many dedicated people. Over one half of the cost of this growth was committed prior to the formal announcement. This is just one more Leap of Faith for First Presbyterian Church Salisbury. On January 1, 2006, this project came to fruition with the opening of our much-anticipated Family Life Center. Lewis Hall, located inside the Family Life Center has also become home for our contemporary service, which began in our original Fellowship Hall.