1788 - The City of Meadville is founded
1800 - Meadville's First Presbyterian Church is organized, with Joseph Stockton as its first pastor
1818 - Construction begins on the first church building, on a lot bounded by Liberty St, East Center St, East Cherry St, and Chancery Lane
1839 - As a result of the "Old School" vs. "New School" controversy within American Presbyterianism, dissenters from First Church leave to form the Second (later called Central) Presbyterian Church of Meadville
1873 - The 1818 church building is demolished and the site prepared for new construction
1875 - The present church building is completed at a cost of $43,000 (over $1 million in today's currency)
1903 - Central Presbyterian disbands and its members rejoin First
1924 - The Tellers/Kent company of Erie installs a four-manual pipe organ
1932 - The original clear glass windows are replaced with stained glass
1950 - The congregation celebrates its 150th anniversary; the photo above is taken from the commemorative booklet produced for the occasion
1965 - Rebecca Borthwick becomes the church's first full-time Director of Music, faithfully serving the congregation until her retirement in 2006
1970 - A fire of unknown origin destroys the Christian Education building and damages the sanctuary
1972 - The new classroom/office wing is dedicated, along with a three-manual pipe organ built by the Schlicker company of Buffalo
1983 - The United Presbyterian Church and Presbyterian Church in the United States merge to become the Presbyterian Church (USA); First Presbyterian joins the new denomination
1989 - The 8:30 service is added to the worship schedule
1991 - The church begins broadcasting worship services via local cable TV
2000 - The congregation celebrates its 200th anniversary with the dedication of the chapel & choir room
2003 - The Reverend Dr. Brian Jensen is called to be the church's 19th pastor
2020 - In response to the COVID pandemic, the church begins livestreaming worship services
Today - the church continues its worship and ministry in the heart of Meadville
1800 - Meadville's First Presbyterian Church is organized, with Joseph Stockton as its first pastor
1818 - Construction begins on the first church building, on a lot bounded by Liberty St, East Center St, East Cherry St, and Chancery Lane
1839 - As a result of the "Old School" vs. "New School" controversy within American Presbyterianism, dissenters from First Church leave to form the Second (later called Central) Presbyterian Church of Meadville
1873 - The 1818 church building is demolished and the site prepared for new construction
1875 - The present church building is completed at a cost of $43,000 (over $1 million in today's currency)
1903 - Central Presbyterian disbands and its members rejoin First
1924 - The Tellers/Kent company of Erie installs a four-manual pipe organ
1932 - The original clear glass windows are replaced with stained glass
1950 - The congregation celebrates its 150th anniversary; the photo above is taken from the commemorative booklet produced for the occasion
1965 - Rebecca Borthwick becomes the church's first full-time Director of Music, faithfully serving the congregation until her retirement in 2006
1970 - A fire of unknown origin destroys the Christian Education building and damages the sanctuary
1972 - The new classroom/office wing is dedicated, along with a three-manual pipe organ built by the Schlicker company of Buffalo
1983 - The United Presbyterian Church and Presbyterian Church in the United States merge to become the Presbyterian Church (USA); First Presbyterian joins the new denomination
1989 - The 8:30 service is added to the worship schedule
1991 - The church begins broadcasting worship services via local cable TV
2000 - The congregation celebrates its 200th anniversary with the dedication of the chapel & choir room
2003 - The Reverend Dr. Brian Jensen is called to be the church's 19th pastor
2020 - In response to the COVID pandemic, the church begins livestreaming worship services
Today - the church continues its worship and ministry in the heart of Meadville
