First Presbyterian Church of La Grange Celebrates Its 175th Anniversary

Gather to worship, depart to serve. That’s been a constant theme at First Presbyterian Church since its beginning. The story begins with five hearty souls and a guiding vision. On 30 October 1838, Catherine Bell, the Townsend family, and Hannah Rankin (Dr. Townsend’s slave) established a Presbyterian community in La Grange under the direction of the Rev. Daniel Baker.

Their vision has weathered wars, economic catastrophe, and deadly pestilence; 175 years later, the church remains a visible witness to God’s grace in our city.

Although the church is celebrating 175 years, Presbyterians have been in La Grange since 1844, four years before the church was established. In 1848, the five charter members of the newly organized church met for worship and communion services in the county courthouse. In 1854, the Presbyterian Church and the Baptist Church banded together to purchase a city lot from C. W. Sinks for $400. The lot, located at 135 East Travis Street, was a halfblock off the square in downtown La Grange. Together, the churches built the Union Church building. Lumber for the church came from Rabb’s mill.

Sharing the building, the Presbyterians met on the first and third sabbath and the Baptists on the second and fourth. In 1885, the Baptists sold their interest in the building and the Presbyterians owned the property free and clear. Through the years, the congregation improved this house of God adding an organ in 1911 and ceiling fans in 1916. Presbyterians worshiped in this little building for almost 100 years.

Before Emancipation came to La Grange on 19 June 1865, the congregation included 36 enslaved members for whom the church provided designated pews in the balcony. One of these pews is on display at the Fayette County Library.

In 1937, the generous donation of house and furnishings by Mrs. Lad Vanek gave the congregation its first manse used for pastor housing. The home, located on East Crockett Street, was a particular blessing during the Great Depression and World War II. In 1948, the congregation acquired additional property at Franklin and Crockett, after a men’s Sunday School opened a “new building fund” in 1940. Groundbreaking ceremonies for the new building took place on 15 March 1952, and the new building was dedicated on 21 March 1954.

The church community held its final worship service in the Union Church building in December 1953 (see picture at right). It was an Advent Season to remember as the congregation eagerly anticipated the completion of their new facilities. The Union Church building was then sold to the African Methodist Church of La Grange and relocated in early 1954 to East Guadalupe Street across from Randolph High School.

First Presbyterian Church has continued to adapt its physical plant and ministry to meet the needs of the local community. In the early 1970s the property at East Crockett and South Madison became the site for a newly constructed church manse. In the late 1990s, the church added offices, an enclosed sanctuary entry, and porta-cochere. In 2019, classroom space became a temporary home for students of St. James Preschool, and in 2022 those same classrooms opened as the First Light Campus, a sattelite of the St. James Preschool.

In 2022, after seven decades of service, the church completed renovations to the sanctuary that brightened and renewed the sacred space in which this community worships. From that worship springs service to this community and beyond.

Members collectively support the AMEN Food Pantry and Second Chance Emporium with organizational talent and many, many volunteer hours. These same members, also engage in personal ministries of service and witness to love of God in Jesus Christ.

What began with five brave souls, and pastoral vision has weathered the challenge of time, and the people of First Presbyterian Church are still here in La Grange, gathering to worship and departing to serve.