First Presbyterian Church
Charlottesville, VA

We are First Presbyterian Church – a covenant community, grateful to the creator God, faithful to our Lord Jesus Christ and responsive to the Holy Spirit. We welcome into our family women and men, boys and girls from a wide variety of backgrounds, interests, concerns and commitments. Out of our diversity, we celebrate our unity through worship, education, service and fellowship. Obedient to Christ’s call, we commit ourselves to God, to one another and to God’s world.

We are a congregation of the Presbyterian Church (USA). Through our denomination we offer a Reformed witness to Christ and to the grace of God in central Virginia and around the world.

We have served Charlottesville and Albemarle County since 1839. Our more-than-1500 members are served by a pastor, two associate pastors and an outstanding professional staff. Our congregation attracts members and guests from a four-county area, all united in their desire to grow in discipleship within a vibrant community of faith.

For more information, see our Our Pastors.

What We Do
First Presbyterian Church offers opportunities for worship, education, spiritual growth, and service for families and persons of all ages and interests. Here are just a few:

Mercy and Justice – Our members and guests work together to build houses for the poor, serve food to the hungry and provide shelter to the homeless as we live and share our faith. Our church serves and supports local and worldwide missions such as PACEM, IMPACT Alliance for Interfaith Ministries, Habitat for Humanity, Forman Christian College in Pakistan and Presbyterian relief efforts responding to flood, hurricane, drought and war disasters.

Discipleship Ministries - Persons of all ages here study the Bible and contemporary issues in Sunday School, Bible studies, prayer groups, Kirk Nights, Vacation Bible School, retreats, camps and conferences.

Youth - Youth groups and Sunday School classes for Mid-High and Senior High youth provide opportunities for fun, food, fellowship and faith development.

Preschool - The First Presbyterian Church Preschool provides a nurturing weekday program for children ages 18 months to 5 years.

Music - Vocal and handbell choirs provide opportunities for children, youth, and adults to develop and share their musical gifts. The Praise Team glorifies God and gets us moving at the 9:30 alternative-style worship service.

Fellowship - We have Covenant Groups, PW Circles for women, luncheons for men, Kirk Night events for all, field trips for older adults, church-wide retreats, and church picnics.

Caring Ministries – The deacons offer various opportunities to care for those in need through teams focused on health ministry, Stephen Ministry, member care, visitation and equipping new members.

Sunday Worship and Learning
Each Sunday we worship God with traditional services at 8:00 and 11:00 a.m. (no 8:00 service in the summer) and an alternative-style service at 9:30 a.m. Child care is provided at all three services. Evening Vespers are offered on the third Sunday of each month, except in the summer.

A fully graded Sunday School program for all ages is offered at 9:30 and 11:00 a.m., September to June. Adults choose from among a variety of year-round classes, which include Bible study and reflection on contemporary issues. A nursery is provided during church school.

We celebrate the Lord’s Supper weekly at 9:30 and frequently throughout the year at 8:00 and 11:00. All baptized persons are welcome at the Lord's Table regardless of church affiliation.

History
In the fall of 1819, the Presbyterians of Charlottesville and neighboring districts joined together under the guidance of The Rev. William Armstrong, a missionary from Pennsylvania, to form the South Plains Presbyterian Church. The congregation and the Session met alternately at Keswick, Proffit and Charlottesville. For the first five years the scattered congregation lacked regular ministerial services, but in 1824, The Rev. Francis Bowman, a native of Vermont and a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary, became the first permanent pastor. In the early 1820's, no denomination had a church building in Charlottesville. Worship services were held in private homes, and at times in the Albemarle County Court House. In 1827, the South Plains Church acquired a lot at the southeast corner of Market and Second Streets. The "First Presbyterian Meeting House" was built on this lot and was occupied in 1829. In 1839, the tri-sectional church became strong enough to be divided into its component localities, thereby creating a separate congregation of 58 members known as the Charlottesville Presbyterian Church. The year 1856 found an expanding congregation constructing on the same lot a building of Gothic design, which served as a house of worship until 1898. In 1898, a new church was constructed on the southwest corner of Market and Second Streets. The new building was dedicated in 1898. Around 1930, a private home on the comer of Market and First Streets was purchased and used for the next twenty-five years as an education building. The site of our present building was acquired in 1951, and construction began in 1955. This year also brought a change of name from Charlottesville Presbyterian Church to First Presbyterian Church. The present building was dedicated in 1956. The construction of a 4,000 square foot addition to the education wing began in July 1986 and was dedicated on October 11, 1987.

For more information, see our Church history.

Membership
Membership is open to anyone who professes faith in Jesus Christ as Savior, accepts his Lordship in all of life and who desires to worship, grow and serve with us. The Session (the governing body of elders and ministers of the church) receives new members upon their transfer of membership from another church, reaffirmation of faith, profession of faith or profession of faith and baptism. New and prospective member classes for adults are held regularly.

For more information, see our new member course schedule.

Our mission is to live as a faithful community of Christian stewards committed to the joyful service of God ... through worship, education, evangelism and ministry.

First Presbyterian Church
500 Park Street
Charlottesville, Virginia 22902
Phone: (434) 296-7131   Fax: (434) 296-0751
www.fpchurch.com
Church Office