Church History
In 1802 at Peters Creek on the Lynchburg-Salem Turnpike was built Ebenezer, the First Presbyterian church in the Valley. Although of brick, it suffered from lack of proper maintenance, decayed and was abandoned sometime around 1819. Entered on the books September 6, 1837 is an indenture (deed) conveying 140 poles of land near Tinker Creek and the 'Great Road', the said land containing a brick church, in consideration of $1.
The deed stipulated that Presbyterians could use the church one half of each month and the 'Botetourt Episcopal Church' the other half.
A foundation was known to exist as late as 1900 but the site is no longer visible. Apparently Presbyterians, Episcopalians and Baptists used the church for some years, St. John's Episcopal having been organized in 1850 just a few months before Big Lick Presbyterian.
After Ebenezer Church was abandoned, Presbyterians met in the Methodist church in Salem until founding their own church in June 1831.
On April 25, 1851, the Montgomery Presbytery authorized the Rev. Urias Powers, pastor of Salem Church since 1837, to organize a church in Big Lick. This was done Wednesday, May 28, 1851, probably in the parlor of Mr. Powers' home which still stands at 621 10th Street, N.W., later known to the Moorman and Buford families as 'Melrose.'
There were 24 charter members of Big Lick Church, seven men and 17 women. Col. Elijah McClanahan, then 81, had been an Elder at Ebenezer since 1807, became the first Elder at Salem in 1831 and next was named first Elder at Big Lick. At his death in 1857, he had served as Elder for 50 years.
A small wooden church was erected on three lots in Gainesborough, two being purchased for $10 and $12 and the other being donated by Frederick Johnston.
Big Lick Church was occupied December 4, 1852 shortly after the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad extended its tracks to the tiny hamlet from Lynchburg, thereby changing the course of history. However, the Church would remain near Union (North Jefferson) and Hart Avenue for 23 more years, at times barely surviving.
Big Lick and Gainesboro (new spelling) combined in 1874 to form the Town of Big Lick and the following year the Rev. Charles Morse Howard held an extended revival which benefitted all churches, 29 members being added by Big Lick Presbyterian. That was the turning point.
In April 1875, the Church was dismantled, hauled across the railroad to the corner where WSLS-TV now stands and re-erected. A new convert, Ferdinand Rorer, donated the site and moved the building with his own oxen. What was then 'way out in the woods' would become a downtown corner in 50 years.
Then came young William Creighton Campbell, a remarkable man-pastor, preacher, colonizer and civic leader-whose service was to span over half the Church's first 100 years. Active pastor for 42 and a half years, he was pastor emeritus another 13 until his death in 1936.
The year after he came, Big Lick changed its name to Roanoke and our Church along with it to Roanoke Presbyterian. It did not become First Church until an offshoot, Second, was formed in 1891.
In 1888 it became necessary to move the little wooden building and erect a splendid red brick edifice seating 500. A Sunday School started and, as the city grew, First Church gave freely of its membership to found nine others of which only Bethany failed to survive. Nearly all this came under Dr. Campbell.
The 'Children' of First Church, the year founded and the number of charter members surrendered: Second, 1891 (24); Bethany, 1892 (49); Vinton, now Campbell Memorial, 1892 (17); Woodside, 1893 (2); West End, 1909 (45); Belmont, 1915 (41); Melrose, 1915 (50); Raleigh Court, 1924 (90); and Northminster (27).
Dr. Thomas K. Young followed Dr. Campbell in 1924, remaining until 1930 during which time decision was made to move from the business district to our present home in South Roanoke on the site of the great McClanahan plantation mansion.
We moved into our beautiful $275,000 Gothic style church of Catawba stone on June 23, 1929, only months before the financial crash that opened the Great Depression.
In 1965, the splendid new Church School wing and Lapsley Memorial Chapel were added at a cost of over $500,000.
It was Dr. Lapsley who founded the Natural Bridge Easter Sunrise Service and conducted it for 17 years. He also was responsible for regular radio broadcasting of our services for an even longer period.
A sign of changing times occurred in 1971 when Mrs. Arthur J. Lee (Susie) and Mrs. F. Meade Bailey (Evelyn) became the first women elected elders. More soon followed as members of the Session and Diaconate.
Dr. James Patton succeeded Dr. Healy as pastor on July 1, 1977, remaining until his resignation effective November 30, 1982 to become affiliated with a church in Nashville, Tennessee.
The year 1980 witnessed a remarkable change in our outreach program when the Norwich mission, after a century of support, became the Woodside Church and called its first pastor.
Prebyterianism in America, divided for 122 years by the Civil War, attained long-sought reunification on June 10, 1983, when the Southern and Northern churches were merged. First Church, with congregational, Session and Presbytery approval, became a part of that historic wedding. Elder Art Lee, our delegate to the Fincastle Presbytery, voted in the merger as commissioner from Fincastle, destined to change its designation to Presbytery of the Peaks (of Otter).
Through careful property acquisition by gift and purchase, the Church had become owner of the entire city bock bounded by McClanahan Street, Jefferson Street, 22nd Street and Crystal Spring Avenue. This included the home of Dr. Charles M. Irvin at Jefferson and 22nd and a large duplex on Crystal Spring. Parking problems created by hospital expansion made it necessary in 1985 to raze the duplex and construct a landscaped parking lot. In 1988, the Irvin residence, which had been rental property, was converted to manse.
Fortunately, due to foresight of its leadership, First Church has preserved, so far as possible its links to the past-its precious bells, furniture, stained glass and above all, its cherished records and memories. Thus, the Heritage Room beneath the sanctuary had been made into a religious museum.
Because of its historic nature, First Church has enjoyed numerous priorities in addition to those cited. It sponsored Boy Scout Troop No. 1 soon after the scouting movement's start in America in 1910. It also organized Girl Scout Troop No. 2. Such youth activities continue to play a prominent role in the church.
Beginning in 1929, ours has been the first church in the city to boast a gymnasium that is in almost constant use. It was among the first churches to be air-conditioned. Under Dr. Lapsley, it was first to have regular Sunday radio broadcasts of its services. First to locate in the 'new' Big Lick after moving from Gainesboro, it became first (in 1929) to move to 'the suburbs.'
The last decade has been marked by the call of our current pastor, Robert D. Smith. The church has also been blessed with several bequests that have grown to over one million dollars in assets available for the work of the church. New programs and mission work continue as the church works to proclaim God's Good News to Roanoke and the world.
PASTORS OF FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Urias Powers : 1851-1860
Henry Martyn White: 1860-1865
James Power Smith: 1866-1869
Alfred Jones: 1870-1871
John Speck Lefevre: 1875-1877
John Calvin Dinwiddie: 1878-1881
William Creighton Campbell: 1881-1923
Thomas Kay Young: 1924-1930
Robert Alberti Lapsley, Jr.: 1930-1951
John Edwards Richards: 1952-1956
Walker Bocock Healy: 1957-1976
James William Patton: 1977-1982
John Hunter LaMotte: 1984-1992
Robert D. Smith: 1992-
Interim Pastors between Patton and LaMotte: 1982-1984
Dr. Morris D. Warren
Dr. Charles C. Talley
Dr. J. Harris Stephens
