First Presbyterian Church
Henderson NC

Mission

“The mission of First Presbyterian Church is to be a joyful community of faith in which persons are nurtured, challenged, and comforted, and through which Christ takes form in this community and the world at large.”

Our Vision

"First Presbyterian Church, Henderson, NC, is a community of faith and hope in Christ, inviting all people into fellowship, worship, learning, and ministry. Our grateful response to God’s love and grace is to work together to discover our neighbors’ needs and to help fulfill those needs by sharing our time, talents, financial and physical resources.”

“...for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.”

-- Matthew 25:35-40

 

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http://www.fpchenderson.org  

 

First Presbyterian Church is located at the corner of Chestnut Street and Young Street. The back side of the church and choir room entrance face Church Street across from the Court House. From Garnett Street (aka 'Main Street') turn onto Young Street at the fire station with the brick clock tower, and the church will be at the end of the block on your right. As you face the building, the sanctuary is on the right (with the steeple), the fellowship hall is on the left (with the ramp), and the office is in the center section.  

The War Between the States had been over for three years and the small village of Henderson, founded many years after Oxford and Williamsboro were settled communites, began to grow. Between 1860 and 1870 the population increased from 186 to 545 as Henderson became a center for the cotton, tobacco and grain farmers in the area. Though Presbyterians were a minority, they decided it was time to establish a church in Henderson. On Sunday, August 28, 1868 a commission from Orange Presbytery met in Henderson to organize a Presbyterian church.

The first building housing the congregation was a small wooden structure located on William Street near the intersection of Spring Street. In 1878 a second church building was erected on Breckenridge Street between Wyche Street and Chestnut Street. Since there was no courthouse in Henderson at this time, courts were often held in this building. A brick church was built on our present site in 1881 with a Sunday School Assembly Room added in 1900. In 1929 this building was torn down and the present sanctuary with attached Sunday school rooms was constructed. An educational building was added to this structure in 1960. "Servants in Christ” is a clear statement of First Presbyterian’s purpose and mission. Since its founding in 1868, the church has been a leader in ministering to the people of Henderson and Vance County. In 1982 the church was the driving force behind establishing Area Christians Together in Service (ACTS), a cooperative venture by the church to try and alleviate the suffering of those unable to be helped by the various government agencies or existing private sources. Working with other local churches, we still support ACTS and provide a soup kitchen on Sunday to provide food when ACTS is not able to do so.

In 2009, leaders of the church worked closely with the local ministerial community to open an emergency men’s shelter in the basement of the church. That effort has led to the creation of Community Partners of Hope, Inc. which is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping homeless men become self-sufficient by offering them a place of hope, pride and resources. Through FPC Shares, the congregation donates food and paper goods to support local charities. The church provides a facility for both Boy and Girl Scouts to meet and provide additional resources to the community. These are just a few examples of how our mission is defined by doing Christ’s work right here in our local community. As has been the case throughout history, First Presbyterian Church seeks to renew the spirit of God's people whenever and where ever it is able to do so.