First Presbyterian Church Anderson County, South Carolina Genealogy Trails The present-day, beautiful old church sits on the original three and three-fourths acre site deeded by Judge Joseph N. Whitner for the purpose of constructing a house of worship.   Thirteen charter members organized the church on September 23, 1837, and the small frame sanctuary was dedicated on June 14, 1839. This church was originally named the "Anderson Court House Presbyterian Church" and after the turn of the century, it became "The First Presbyterian Church of Anderson, South Carolina".   The village of Anderson had approximately 200 residents at the time. There were 26 states and some 15 million people in the nation; Martin Van Buren was president. In the mid-1850s, First Presbyterian organized the first church school. The cemetery, located on the back side of the property, was the first public burial place in the village. Both Judge Whitner and Mrs. Whitner are buried in this cemetery.   The Kirk (Dining & Fellowship Hall) was built in 1922. Its name came into being during the ministry of Dr. Kirkpatrick, whom the church members fondly called "Dr. Kirk". Our present fellowship hall & dining facility is still referred to as "The Kirk."   The newest wing of the church building (offices and classes) was begun on May 18, 1967, and placed in service in May, 1969. During the 1960's the church also built a Log Cabin for their Scouting Units to meet.  This "Scout Hut" was named the "Jack Seel Scout Hut" after a longtime First Church member and Scout Leader.  The Scout Hut originally was placed in the current location of the Family Life Center.  It has since been moved across the W. Whitner Street.  In 2008, a second scout has was built to support the growing needs of our scouting programs. The most recent building, the Family Life Center, was dedicated on April 13, 1986. The FLC keeps our youth busy with a variety of sports, mission work and community service.   The 1990's & 200's have been a decade of tremendous activity in First Presbyterian Church, in which cemetery monuments were refurbished, interior and exterior were painted and the sanctuary was repaired and cleaned. A new library was added and a number of other improvements were made to upgrade all of our facilities. (Source: 1st Presby. Church website) The church had the following ministers: Edwin Carater, D. D...........1837 - 1839 C. W. Martin, Interimn..........1839 - 1840 Benjamin M. Palmer, D. C...........1841 Andrew W. Ross, D. C., Interim..........1841 David Humphreys..........1841 - 1949 Robert H. Reid..........1849 - 1853 Albert Augustus Morese..........1853 - 1863 David X. LaFar..........1863 - 1864 Wallace H. Stratten..........1865 - 1870 David Ethan Frierson, D. D...........1871 - 1894 James Howard Summerell..........1895 - 1900 Samuel Jackson Cartledge, D. D...........1901 - 1906 William Henry Frazer, D. D...........1906 - 1917 John Shaw Foster, D. D...........1917 - 1921 Robert Foster Kirkpatrick, D. D...........1921 - 1939 James Mourning Appleby, D. D...........1939 - 1946 Samuel Shannon Wiley, D. D...........1946 - 1951 Carl Ruffin Pritchett, D. D...........1952 - 1956 Leroy Lawther, D. D., Interim..........1956 Richard Thomas Gillespie, D. D...........1957 - 1964 Marshall Woodson, D. D...........1964 - 1965 John Blaney Pridgen Jr...........1965 - 1978 Dr. Joseph Gettys, Ph. D., D. D., Interim........1978 Dr. B. E. Pettit, D. Min. D. D...........1979 - 1999 Dr. Robert Blumer, Interim..........1999 Dr. Phillip Rick Baggett..........2000 - 2004 Dr. Alan Elmore, Interim..........2004 - 2006 Dr. Dennis R. Tedder..........2006 to (present 2008) First Presbyterian Church:  Organized Sept. 23, 1837 on land given by J. N. Whitner.  First frame structure was built in 1839.  Anderson's first cemetery is here, and city's first Sunday School was organized here about 1855.  Present sanctuary's cornerstone was laid in 1879.  Kirk was built in 1922 on the site of the first sanctuary.  Education building and Gallant Chapel were built in 1968. The First Presbyterian Church cemetery  lies to the right of the church, surrounded by a black metal fence. Back to Anderson County, South Carolina Main Page