Memphis' second-oldest congregation traces its history to 1828. First Presbyterian Church's historic building stands at the northwest corner of Poplar Avenue and Third Street.
The current sanctuary at 166 Poplar Avenue dates to 1884.
A Landmark Building's History
The sanctuary itself carries significant architectural weight. It was designed by prominent 19th-century architect Edward Cullaitt Jones in the Romanesque Revival style, according to the National Park Service, which added the building to the National Register of Historic Places on March 15, 2005. Memphis Heritage Inc. says the tower was partly dismantled in 1928.
A Congregation Rooted in Civic Sacrifice
Founded in 1828, First Presbyterian was the second congregation established in Memphis, according to First Presbyterian Church. During yellow fever epidemics in the 1860s, pastor Rev. Henry Bowman refused to abandon Memphis residents and died from the disease while caring for sick parishioners in the city, the church's history states.
Outreach Ministry Reports a Record
First Presbyterian has publicized a record of nearly 400 people served by its Sunday meal and food pantry ministry.
After World War II, many downtown residents moved to the suburbs. Historic Memphis churches have also undergone adaptive reuse; Hoodline reported in August that LeMoyne-Owen College filed plans for a $1.5 million renovation converting the former Bethel Presbyterian Church building in Soulsville into a new business school.
Joint Worship With a Downtown Neighbor
This Sunday, First Presbyterian will worship jointly with Memphis First United Methodist Church, according to WREG. The host congregation, founded in 1826, previously rebuilt its own sanctuary after a major 2006 fire and expanded further in May 2023 by merging with Bluff City Church, according to Memphis First United Methodist Church.
First Presbyterian's 1884 sanctuary stands at 166 Poplar Avenue.
