The Story of First Presbyterian Church
Our History
200+ years and counting...
The Presbyterian Church traces its beginnings back to the work of reformer John Calvin (1509-1564) in Geneva, Switzerland and to John Knox (1514-1572) of Scotland, Many early immigrants brought the Reformed Faith to eastern North Carolina from Scotland, Switzerland and the German Palatinate.
In New Bern, the First Presbyterian Church formed in 1817 with 13 founding members. John Knox Witherspoon, grandson of a signer of the Declaration of Independence, was the organizing Minister. The current Sanctuary was constructed in 1819-21, and dedicated on January 6, 1822. During the Civil War, the Sanctuary was occupied as a Union hospital. First Presbyterian Church has benefited form the leadership of several long-tenured pastors.
The Rev. L.C. Vass was Minister following the Civil War until 1890. He wrote a detailed history of the church. In the 20th century, Rev. J. Murphy Smith served the church for 28 years, form 1951-1979. Rev. Smith continued writing the church's history through 1987. Both writings are combined in one volume, available in the church library. There is an active Church History Committee. The Donald Taylor History Room is located in the Session House for those who wish to learn more. The church is listed on the National Historic Register.
First Presbyterian Church of New Bern is a congregation of the Presbyterian Church (U.SA.) denomination. Headquartered in Louisville, KY, there are approximately 1.3 million denomination members nationwide. The Constitution of the PCUSA is comprised of the Book of Confessions and the Book of Order. The church is representative in its form of government, with each congregation electing its own Elders and calling its own clergy. National government decisions are made at bi-annual General Assembly meetings. In Eastern NC, the Presbytery of New Hope is made up of 113 PCUSA churches. Presbytery offices are located in Raleigh.
First Presbyterian Church offers extensive program opportunities for children, youth, adults and seniors. Visitors and members are invited to participate in all aspects of church life.
The WeatherVane atop First Presbyterian Church
Written by Lynn Lancaster Gorges, 2016
Take a moment as you walk out of the church to look closely at the weathervane perched on our steeple. It is certainly not a typical weathervane. Often they are roosters, horses, banners, but this weathervane is a five pointed star with a tail flowing behind it. There are no letters that give the directions of North, South, East and West. Then on top are four prongs. What is this all about? And why do we even have a weathervane?
The earliest weathervane dates back to 43BC and were then used extensively. In the 16th Century the Pope even ordered that all churches have a rooster style weathervane to note the scripture about the cock crowing three times in regard to Peter's betrayal of Jesus. In the early colonies the weathervane was extremely popular and many designs were used. They were decorative, but most of all they were useful in foretelling the weather.
Our weathervane was very important for our steeple in 1821 was probably one of the highest points in all of New Bern, It would have been a tremendous help to determining weather conditions that would be coming their way. The design is interesting in that in the 1700's there was a famous comet so this motif became popular. Some even speculated that the use of a meteor style weathervane might keep the church from being struck by any future meteors. In doing research there are many meteor, flying star, etc. style weathervanes but so far none look exactly like the one on our church. Ours is copper and iron. The four iron prongs on top are there to act as lightning rods.
We do know that the church had a weathervane the year it was built. The Newbern Sentinel of September 15, 1821 wrote of "the most dreadful hurricane which has been experienced for many years." And in that article it stated... ''The spire of the steeple to the Presbyterian meeting house, together with the lightnighrod, vane, and ball, were blown down, and the square fronting of the church, is strewed with the shattered branches of the trees which surrounded it."
In one article it mentioned that some churches used the shooting star atop their churches to pay tribute to the star that led the wise men to the baby Jesus. It seems like a special way to look at our star atop our church. The purpose of this church has been for 200 years to follow that star to hear the word of Jesus. May we continue to follow that star as we plan for the future of our church.