| First Presbyterian Church |
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| 100 South Norton Avenue Sylacauga, AL 35150 Telephone 256-249-0391 Rev. James B. Stanford, Pastor |
| Church History |
As early as 1901 the Presbyterians of the village of Sylacauga, through the Presbytery
of North Alabama, began to look forward to the establishment of an organized church
here. Mrs. Mary Brown was the person most interested in this effort. She was
instrumental in getting Rev. A. B. Curry, D.D., pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of
Birmingham, to visit Sylacauga. He was impressed with the possibilities of growth in
this area, and proposed to Mrs. Brown's son, Mr. John Brown, that he build a chapel
for services, and that the Presbytery would furnish a preacher. However, before the
plan could be put into operation, Dr. Curry accepted a call to the Second Presbyterian
Church of Memphis, Tennessee. So the matter was dropped.
The second effort at a church organization occurred in January, 1903, when the A. K.
McLeod family moved to Sylacauga from Goodwater. Soon after their arrival a meeting
was held, evidently with Dr. Mack, the evangelist for North Alabama Presbytery, in
charge. The charter members of the new church were: Mr. and Mrs. A. K. McLeod,
Mrs. Mary Brown, Miss Margaret McLeod, Miss Angie McLeod, Mr. R. Nall McLeod, Mr.
John Prather, and Mr. Tom Irwin. Mr. A. K. McLeod, assisted by Dr. J. M. Smith, a young
physician from Nixburg, Alabama, led the Presbyterian constituency to decide to
secure a tent for special services. Dr. Smith became ill with typhoid fever and was
sent to his home in Nixburg, where he later passed away. The Methodist Church gave
permission for Dr. Mack to hold the services in their church. This meeting was held in
July. A number of other people joined the group at these meetings. There is no record
of these members by name, because the original minute book was lost when Mr. Milner
took it to Presbytery in 1907.
The original officers of the church were: Mr. A. K. McLeod, and Mr. John Prather,
elders; and Mr. Fred Prather and Mr. W. J. McLeod, deacons. The first pastor was Rev.
Frank Marston, who was pastor of the Goodwater church. He was called for half time.
The services were held in the auditorium of the high school building.
Early in 1904 the Women's Auxiliary, under the leadership of Mrs. A. K. McLeod, bought
a lot on the corner of Spring Street and Norton Avenue, which became the permanent
location of the church. Much of the success of the new church was due to the zeal,
perseverance, and consecration of Mrs. McLeod. During the entire remainder of her
life, she put an unprecedented amount of energy, faith, and prayer into the growth and
expansion of the church and all its facilities. To the Women of the Church she left the
heritage of devotion to God's Kingdom through the work of their organization.
Throughout the years they have been very active and intent about advancing the work
of the Master through the avenue of this church.
The next move was made by the officers of the church in constituting themselves a
building committee, with Mr. W. J. McLeod as chairman. The committee met and staked
off the ground for the new building. Without a dollar in the treasury for the work, but
with great faith, and the promises of God, they determined to build a Presbyterian
church. Mr. Frank Kaup was the owner of a large lumber mill, and Mrs. Kaup was a
most enthusiastic worker of the church. When Mr. Kaup was asked about furnishing
the lumber for the new building , he consented to do so, and also made a large
contribution of lumber. The members of the church and the friends of the church
contributed as liberally as they could, and materials necessary to complete the building
were secured. Mr. Sim McLendon was employed to construct the building. He and his
helpers worked so well that by the first of August, 1904, the church was ready for
occupancy. There were times when funds ran low. Mr. McLeod told of once when
there was not enough money for another payroll. The daughter of Mr. John Smith of
Nixburg gave him a check from her father for $100. At another time Judge Ernest
Hammett of Talladega came to the rescue and raised the funds to plaster the building.
There was a great joy in the hearts of the little congregation when they dedicated the
building to the Lord.
By 1922, the congregation had begun to realize that the building was inadequate, and
they had started a Building Fund. In November of 1922, Rev. J. C. McQueen, who had
served as a missionary in Africa, was called as pastor. He suggested that the evening
offering be added to the Building Fund. Mrs. S. E. Thomas was treasurer of this fund.
During the six years that he was pastor of the church, he and the congregation worked
and planned to increase the fund for a new and more permanent church building. Mr.
McQueen resigned in February, 1928, to accept the pastorate of the Bay St. church in
Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
On September 1, 1928, Rev. J. E. Hixson was called as pastor. He was an excellent
organizer and in a few months he convinced the congregation that with the funds on
hand, and those which might be raised among members, and the neighbors and
friends of the church, they could, with the help of the Lord, build a new brick building.
The pastor and the officers were the building committee. A financial campaign was put
on in a downtown office on December 1, 2, and 3 and every one was given an
opportunity to subscribe. The loyal fellowship among the churches of the town was
shown by the large number of contributions from members of the other churches.
The old rectangular frame building was razed in a week's time. The windows were
given to a group of colored people who were building a new church. The first brick
was laid on May 14, and the last one was placed on July 27. The new building was
opened to the public on September 8, 1929, with a worship service at 3:30 p.m.
The first church building had been heated with two iron stoves, one near the right
front corner, the other near the entrance at the left rear corner. On cold mornings, Mr.
Fred Prather always went down to the church to see, personally, that there was
sufficient heat to make the building comfortable. The new building was heated with
steam. The auditorium, the balcony, and the rooms on the auditorium level were all
completed. There were no funds with which to complete the basement. At first for
several years the basement was used for Sunday School space, for young people's
meetings, and for other get-together meetings with only the earth floor covered with
sawdust. This worked very well for several years. One summer Mrs. E. S. Smith
suggested that a Cement Shower be held. Each person took his supper and as much
cement as he could and met in the church basement. There was enough cement for
the basement floor. Eventually enough money was borrowed to finish all construction.
The repayment of this debt spread over all the depression years, and into the World
War II period. One Sabbath, when discouragement was deeper than usual, one of the
deacons, Mr. Charlie S. Northen, saved the day by an impassioned appeal to all the
members to try tithing. Not all of them agreed to accept this method, but such an
increase of funds resulted that the debt was considerably reduced. At a later time, Col.
Delbert Heinbaugh came to the rescue with the visual device of a poster, showing a
thermometer, graduated in the amount of the debt. Much enthusiasm was aroused and
the rising sum of the thermometer was watched with interest from Sabbath to Sabbath.
of North Alabama, began to look forward to the establishment of an organized church
here. Mrs. Mary Brown was the person most interested in this effort. She was
instrumental in getting Rev. A. B. Curry, D.D., pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of
Birmingham, to visit Sylacauga. He was impressed with the possibilities of growth in
this area, and proposed to Mrs. Brown's son, Mr. John Brown, that he build a chapel
for services, and that the Presbytery would furnish a preacher. However, before the
plan could be put into operation, Dr. Curry accepted a call to the Second Presbyterian
Church of Memphis, Tennessee. So the matter was dropped.
The second effort at a church organization occurred in January, 1903, when the A. K.
McLeod family moved to Sylacauga from Goodwater. Soon after their arrival a meeting
was held, evidently with Dr. Mack, the evangelist for North Alabama Presbytery, in
charge. The charter members of the new church were: Mr. and Mrs. A. K. McLeod,
Mrs. Mary Brown, Miss Margaret McLeod, Miss Angie McLeod, Mr. R. Nall McLeod, Mr.
John Prather, and Mr. Tom Irwin. Mr. A. K. McLeod, assisted by Dr. J. M. Smith, a young
physician from Nixburg, Alabama, led the Presbyterian constituency to decide to
secure a tent for special services. Dr. Smith became ill with typhoid fever and was
sent to his home in Nixburg, where he later passed away. The Methodist Church gave
permission for Dr. Mack to hold the services in their church. This meeting was held in
July. A number of other people joined the group at these meetings. There is no record
of these members by name, because the original minute book was lost when Mr. Milner
took it to Presbytery in 1907.
The original officers of the church were: Mr. A. K. McLeod, and Mr. John Prather,
elders; and Mr. Fred Prather and Mr. W. J. McLeod, deacons. The first pastor was Rev.
Frank Marston, who was pastor of the Goodwater church. He was called for half time.
The services were held in the auditorium of the high school building.
Early in 1904 the Women's Auxiliary, under the leadership of Mrs. A. K. McLeod, bought
a lot on the corner of Spring Street and Norton Avenue, which became the permanent
location of the church. Much of the success of the new church was due to the zeal,
perseverance, and consecration of Mrs. McLeod. During the entire remainder of her
life, she put an unprecedented amount of energy, faith, and prayer into the growth and
expansion of the church and all its facilities. To the Women of the Church she left the
heritage of devotion to God's Kingdom through the work of their organization.
Throughout the years they have been very active and intent about advancing the work
of the Master through the avenue of this church.
The next move was made by the officers of the church in constituting themselves a
building committee, with Mr. W. J. McLeod as chairman. The committee met and staked
off the ground for the new building. Without a dollar in the treasury for the work, but
with great faith, and the promises of God, they determined to build a Presbyterian
church. Mr. Frank Kaup was the owner of a large lumber mill, and Mrs. Kaup was a
most enthusiastic worker of the church. When Mr. Kaup was asked about furnishing
the lumber for the new building , he consented to do so, and also made a large
contribution of lumber. The members of the church and the friends of the church
contributed as liberally as they could, and materials necessary to complete the building
were secured. Mr. Sim McLendon was employed to construct the building. He and his
helpers worked so well that by the first of August, 1904, the church was ready for
occupancy. There were times when funds ran low. Mr. McLeod told of once when
there was not enough money for another payroll. The daughter of Mr. John Smith of
Nixburg gave him a check from her father for $100. At another time Judge Ernest
Hammett of Talladega came to the rescue and raised the funds to plaster the building.
There was a great joy in the hearts of the little congregation when they dedicated the
building to the Lord.
By 1922, the congregation had begun to realize that the building was inadequate, and
they had started a Building Fund. In November of 1922, Rev. J. C. McQueen, who had
served as a missionary in Africa, was called as pastor. He suggested that the evening
offering be added to the Building Fund. Mrs. S. E. Thomas was treasurer of this fund.
During the six years that he was pastor of the church, he and the congregation worked
and planned to increase the fund for a new and more permanent church building. Mr.
McQueen resigned in February, 1928, to accept the pastorate of the Bay St. church in
Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
On September 1, 1928, Rev. J. E. Hixson was called as pastor. He was an excellent
organizer and in a few months he convinced the congregation that with the funds on
hand, and those which might be raised among members, and the neighbors and
friends of the church, they could, with the help of the Lord, build a new brick building.
The pastor and the officers were the building committee. A financial campaign was put
on in a downtown office on December 1, 2, and 3 and every one was given an
opportunity to subscribe. The loyal fellowship among the churches of the town was
shown by the large number of contributions from members of the other churches.
The old rectangular frame building was razed in a week's time. The windows were
given to a group of colored people who were building a new church. The first brick
was laid on May 14, and the last one was placed on July 27. The new building was
opened to the public on September 8, 1929, with a worship service at 3:30 p.m.
The first church building had been heated with two iron stoves, one near the right
front corner, the other near the entrance at the left rear corner. On cold mornings, Mr.
Fred Prather always went down to the church to see, personally, that there was
sufficient heat to make the building comfortable. The new building was heated with
steam. The auditorium, the balcony, and the rooms on the auditorium level were all
completed. There were no funds with which to complete the basement. At first for
several years the basement was used for Sunday School space, for young people's
meetings, and for other get-together meetings with only the earth floor covered with
sawdust. This worked very well for several years. One summer Mrs. E. S. Smith
suggested that a Cement Shower be held. Each person took his supper and as much
cement as he could and met in the church basement. There was enough cement for
the basement floor. Eventually enough money was borrowed to finish all construction.
The repayment of this debt spread over all the depression years, and into the World
War II period. One Sabbath, when discouragement was deeper than usual, one of the
deacons, Mr. Charlie S. Northen, saved the day by an impassioned appeal to all the
members to try tithing. Not all of them agreed to accept this method, but such an
increase of funds resulted that the debt was considerably reduced. At a later time, Col.
Delbert Heinbaugh came to the rescue with the visual device of a poster, showing a
thermometer, graduated in the amount of the debt. Much enthusiasm was aroused and
the rising sum of the thermometer was watched with interest from Sabbath to Sabbath.
| "Pastor Jim" The Reverend James B. Stanford, III, Pastor, FPC Sylacauga 2000 - present |
| Those Who Have Served |
| Please contact us with comments or questions by e-mail at: reverendstanford.yahoo.com or admin@fpcsylacauga.org By mail at 100 South Norton Avenue, Sylacauga, AL 35150 By phone to 256-249-0391, fax to 256-249-0390 |
1903
1903-1906
1907-1908
1909-1911
1911
1912
1912-1915
1917-1918
1918-1919
1918-1919
1923-1928
1928-1929
1929-1930
1929-1930
1930-1941
1941
1941-1942
1942-1944
1946-1964
1964-1969
1970
1970
1969-1970
1971-1979
1979
1980-1982
1981-1982
1982
1982-1990
1987
1988
1989
1989
1990
1991
1991-1997
1995-1997
1998
1999-2000
2000-
1903-1906
1907-1908
1909-1911
1911
1912
1912-1915
1917-1918
1918-1919
1918-1919
1923-1928
1928-1929
1929-1930
1929-1930
1930-1941
1941
1941-1942
1942-1944
1946-1964
1964-1969
1970
1970
1969-1970
1971-1979
1979
1980-1982
1981-1982
1982
1982-1990
1987
1988
1989
1989
1990
1991
1991-1997
1995-1997
1998
1999-2000
2000-
J. B. Mack
Frank H. Marston
John B. Milner
C. B. McLeod
J. W. Stagg
E. D. McDougal
T. J. Ponder
Zack E. Lewis
U. G. Lacy
W. B. Holmes
John C. McQueen
James E. Hixson
E. B. Robinson, Sr.
C. G. Partridge
William B. Hood, Sr.
James H. Gailey
Leonard E. Woodward
James E. Graham
Joseph L. Plexico
Anderson Buchanan
Stephen A. Bacon
Richard Bass
Robert D. Burnett
John M. Partridge
Roland Sims
James R. Kennedy
Craig D. Childs, Sr.
Walter D. Langtry
Lynn E. Shurley
Libby Smith
Peter Shelly
Margaret R. Northen
Harvey Jenkins, Jr.
William H. Kryder
Thomas C. Duncan
G. Taylor Brown
Joseph M. Hinds
Albert S. Crigler, III
William F. Charles
James B. Stanford, III
Frank H. Marston
John B. Milner
C. B. McLeod
J. W. Stagg
E. D. McDougal
T. J. Ponder
Zack E. Lewis
U. G. Lacy
W. B. Holmes
John C. McQueen
James E. Hixson
E. B. Robinson, Sr.
C. G. Partridge
William B. Hood, Sr.
James H. Gailey
Leonard E. Woodward
James E. Graham
Joseph L. Plexico
Anderson Buchanan
Stephen A. Bacon
Richard Bass
Robert D. Burnett
John M. Partridge
Roland Sims
James R. Kennedy
Craig D. Childs, Sr.
Walter D. Langtry
Lynn E. Shurley
Libby Smith
Peter Shelly
Margaret R. Northen
Harvey Jenkins, Jr.
William H. Kryder
Thomas C. Duncan
G. Taylor Brown
Joseph M. Hinds
Albert S. Crigler, III
William F. Charles
James B. Stanford, III