First Presbyterian Church of Meridian
Encyclopedia
First Presbyterian Church of Meridian is a historic church in Meridian, Mississippi
, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places
on December 18, 1979. The church was founded in 1856 by eight members including John T. Ball and Lewis A. Ragsdale, founders of the city of Meridian. The reverend at the time was William Curtis Emerson.
From 1856 to 1867, the church met in the second floor of a store owned by one of the members. In 1867, the church had grown enough to construct a building on the corner of 25th Avenue and 7th Street in which to hold its services. After a fire on January 27, 1883, the building was destroyed; members of the church later rebuilt the structure using brick
instead of wood. The church remained at its location on 25th Avenue and 7th Street until September 25, 1911, when it was sold to the city of Meridian. The city currently uses the building to house the Meridian Museum of Art
.
After selling the old building, the church bought a lot
at the corner of 23rd Avenue and 10th Street. The building was built in 1913 by Penn Jeffries Krouse and dedicated on March 29, 1914. In 1951, an educational building addition used for Sunday School
was completed under the leadership of pastor Dr. J. Kelly Unger, and the sanctuary was renovated in 1982. In October 1996, the church bought an adjacent building which became the Administration & Education Building and is presently used for staff offices as well as both Adult Sunday School and committee
meetings.
Meridian, Mississippi
Meridian is the county seat of Lauderdale County, Mississippi. It is the sixth largest city in the state and the principal city of the Meridian, Mississippi Micropolitan Statistical Area...
, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on December 18, 1979. The church was founded in 1856 by eight members including John T. Ball and Lewis A. Ragsdale, founders of the city of Meridian. The reverend at the time was William Curtis Emerson.
From 1856 to 1867, the church met in the second floor of a store owned by one of the members. In 1867, the church had grown enough to construct a building on the corner of 25th Avenue and 7th Street in which to hold its services. After a fire on January 27, 1883, the building was destroyed; members of the church later rebuilt the structure using brick
Brick
A brick is a block of ceramic material used in masonry construction, usually laid using various kinds of mortar. It has been regarded as one of the longest lasting and strongest building materials used throughout history.-History:...
instead of wood. The church remained at its location on 25th Avenue and 7th Street until September 25, 1911, when it was sold to the city of Meridian. The city currently uses the building to house the Meridian Museum of Art
Meridian Museum of Art
Meridian Museum of Art is an art museum located at 628 25th Avenue, Meridian, Mississippi. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 and declared a Mississippi Landmark in 1985...
.
After selling the old building, the church bought a lot
Lot (real estate)
In real estate, a lot or plot is a tract or parcel of land owned or meant to be owned by some owner. A lot is essentially considered a parcel of real property in some countries or immovable property in other countries...
at the corner of 23rd Avenue and 10th Street. The building was built in 1913 by Penn Jeffries Krouse and dedicated on March 29, 1914. In 1951, an educational building addition used for Sunday School
Sunday school
Sunday school is the generic name for many different types of religious education pursued on Sundays by various denominations.-England:The first Sunday school may have been opened in 1751 in St. Mary's Church, Nottingham. Another early start was made by Hannah Ball, a native of High Wycombe in...
was completed under the leadership of pastor Dr. J. Kelly Unger, and the sanctuary was renovated in 1982. In October 1996, the church bought an adjacent building which became the Administration & Education Building and is presently used for staff offices as well as both Adult Sunday School and committee
Committee
A committee is a type of small deliberative assembly that is usually intended to remain subordinate to another, larger deliberative assembly—which when organized so that action on committee requires a vote by all its entitled members, is called the "Committee of the Whole"...
meetings.