Presbyterianism in the Tennessee River Valley has its origins with frontier missionary and church planter Rev. Gideon Blackburn, who traveled, according to legend, "carrying a Bible in one hand and a musket in the other." Blackburn trained and ordained our first pastor, Dr. Alexander A. Campbell, who was soon called by a congregation of 13 Scots-Irish settlers in the new community of Tuscumbia who desired a minister of the gospel. First meeting at a boarding house above Big Spring, our church particularized and elected its first ruling elders in 1824. Since then, First Pres has been blessed with a long line of twenty-seven faithful pastors spanning two centuries. The building itself was erected in 1827 and stands today as the oldest sanctuary in continuous use in the state of Alabama.
While we proudly boast of what God has done throughout our distinguished history, there is just as much reason to be interested in our future. For the church is a vibrant, thriving congregation full of young families, children, and other communities with whom one can travel in one’s pilgrimage on earth.
If you are interested in learning more about our 200+ years of history, follow this link to see a historical timeline of pastors and notable events in the life of the church.
The church celebrated its bicentennial in 2024