A Brief History of First Presbyterian Church

Presbyterians have been worshiping in Huntsville since its earliest days on the frontier, but there was no established congregation of Presbyterians in the community until 1818. In that year, the Rev. Gideon Blackburn came to Huntsville from Middle Tennessee and officially organized what was then known as the Presbyterian Church of Huntsville, making it the oldest Presbyterian Church in Alabama.

By 1822, the church had grown sufficiently to purchase land and build its first meeting house on a lot at the corner of Gates Avenue and Lincoln Street, a site that the church has occupied ever since. The first installed pastor, Dr. John Allan, was called the next year and continued to serve the church until his death twenty years later.

As to the original building, it continued to be used until it was razed and replaced by a Gothic revival building which was completed in 1859 and dedicated in 1860. Although the interior has been remodeled several times since then, it continues to serve as the congregation’s main worship space
and retains much of its historical character. Marble plaques in the front of the sanctuary bear the names of the founding elders as well as the church’s pastors.

Over these years, the congregation has continued to grow in its ministries of proclamation, evangelism and service, both in this community and beyond, as a part of the Presbyterian Church (USA).