Church History
First Presbyterian Church was first chartered on September 10, 1914. The Rev. R. L. Phelps came by horse and buggy on what would more accurately be called trails rather than roads to preach the word of God in homes of the people of the community. The first church building was built in the winter of 1915 and early part of 1916.
The charter of the new church contained these words: “We declare our acceptance of the Bible as God’s word, the only infallible rule of faith and practice, and confess faith in Jesus Christ the Son of God as our only Savior from all sin.
The first elders elected to office were: J.W. Milling, J. J. Nicholson, J.M. Cole, and F.B. Nicholson. The first sanctuary served the church until the present sanctuary was completed in July of 1972.
The church was dismissed from the United Presbyterian (Northern) Church to the U.S. (Southern) Church in 1963. The church left the Southern church (now the PCUSA church) in 1974 and joined the Presbyterian Church in American (PCA).
Rev. R. L. Phelps was the minister from the founding of the church in 1914 until 1918. Rev. C.P. Thrailkill served on two separate occasions, from 1918 to 1924 and again from 1948 to 1956. Rev. A.C. Smith served from 1924 to 1929. The Rev. A.N. Penland served for the longest term of any of the ministers. He served from 1929 to 1944. Rev. J. H. Laster served from 1945 to 1948. Rev. V. A. Brogden served from 1957 to 1960. Rev. C. W. Allen served from 1961 to 1962. Rev. C. L. Skinner served from 1964 to 1968. Rev. E. H. McNeely served from 1970 to 1973. From 1973 to 1986 the church had four ministers. They were William Smith, Dan Faber, Stanley Hartman, and Jeff Weir. Rev. Michael Ahlberg served from 1987 – 1999. Rev. Chris Shelton, the current minister, has served from June 2000 to the present.
The church celebrated its 100 year anniversary on July 14, 2014 with special service and meal.
The church began livestreaming its services on Facebook in April of 2020. Both morning and evening services can be seen on the page from 2020 until 2024. Recent services are available on Youtube.
The Old Church
The original church building, or the “Old Church,” was a wooden structure behind Boler’s Inn in downtown Union. The building was dismantled after the new church was built in 1972. Some of the original stained glass windows were placed in the fellowship hall of the new building.
Two paintings have been made of the old church. The painting above the Bible was done by Pat Paulk Gordon, a Union resident and long-time member of the church, in honor of the church’s 100 year anniversary in 2014.
Commemorative Plate
This commemorative plate also features the old church facility.