First Presbyterian Church

About

Loving, Learning and Leading people to Christ.

Story

An interested group of Christians was responsible for the founding of the Americus Presbyterian Church on the 19th of June, 1842, just ten years after the incorporation of the city of Americus. Approval for the church formation was given by the Flint River Presbytery, then a member of the northern Presbyterian Church. This separation existed until 1983 when the two churches were reunited as the Presbyterian Church U. S. A.

The founding Christians deserve to be known by those who have come after. It was through their devotion that the church was founded. Those responsible for this event were Mr. George M. Dudley and his wife Caroline, H. K. McCay and his wife Catherine, Eleanor Gibson, Mary McCay, William J. Patterson, Mary Lynes and Rebecca Daniel. The original elders installed June 19, 1842, were George M. Dudley, H. K. McCay, and William J. Patterson. There is no record of Deacons until 1871.

Back in those days no church was complete until a bell was hung in the steeple. Our present bell is the first and only bell the church has ever owned. It still tolls for the morning worship service as it has done for many years. The bell has rung for special occasions such as marriages, funerals, and the ends of wars. It was even a fire bell for the Lee Street fire Department for a time. It rang daily from November 1979, until January, 1981, for the release of the American hostages in Iran.

Charles M. Wheatley built the Victorian-Gothic structure from blueprints that were drawn by a Columbus architect. The structure was made entirely of materials from Georgia. There are enormous pine beams that support the roof and that are exposed to the viewer’s eye inside the sanctuary. The ceiling is of dark wood; cream colored upper plaster walls lend a lovely contrast. Beautiful stained glass windows catch the sunlight. The pews are made of pine with walnut ornamentation. The interior of the sanctuary gives the appearance of an old English sailing vessel. The building was completed and dedicated in 1884. This structure is the oldest existent church building in Americus. The beautiful stained glass window on the south side of the building is a memorial to Louise Wheatley, wife of builder Charles M. Wheatley. She worked untiringly with her husband for the completion of the building, but God called her before it was finished. Mr. Wheatley gave the window in her memory. It is located opposite the pew where she sat with her family and where her Sunday School classes assembled for their lesson.

At one point during the Civil War it was feared that Sherman’s troops would come through Americus. Concerned for the safety of the Communion silver, a quaint little pitcher and two silver goblets, Mrs. Dudley and Mrs. Patterson buried the silver at the Patterson home which was located out from the city. When news came that Sherman had turned east at Buena Vista, the silver was retrieved from its burial place and used for many years. Cathedral lights and a chandelier were added to the sanctuary in 1970. They were a bequest of two ladies who were members and had diligently worked during their lifetimes to raise money for this project.

Mission

Loving, Learning and Leading people to Christ.