History
A brief history of First Presbyterian Church
By Roger Taylor
In 1882, a group of people met together for the purposes of worship and organization in the White School, located on the site now occupied by the Memorial Auditorium at Fresno and N Streets. The official organization of First Presbyterian Church took place on Jan. 20, 1884.
On March 1, 1884, Rev. Henry Budge came to the church as stated supply and served until Jan. 1, 1885, when Rev. I. N. Hurd was installed as the first pastor. The congregation met in various places in addition to the White School. In 1888, three lots were purchased at the corner of K (Van Ness) and Merced Streets, for $1,200 in gold coin. A church building, costing $9,600 and having a seating capacity of 500, was constructed that summer. A $2,000 pipe organ, the first in Fresno County, was donated to the church by a non-member, J. H. Hamilton, who was a friend of the pastor.
On the evening of Saturday, September, 12, 1896, a fire destroyed the church. Flying cinders threatened many downtown buildings. The pastor’s library was salvaged and little else. The fire occurred during a period of “moral development” in Fresno, with accompanying dissension, several churches were either damaged or destroyed by fire. The body met in temporary quarters before a new building could be built on the original site.
Dr. Thomas Boyd became the pastor in November of 1900 and served until 1914, during which time there was substantial growth in membership and ministry. Growth and vision led to the purchase of six lots at M and Merced streets, and the new church was completed in 1904. The loan for the new church was paid off in just five years on the church’s 25th anniversary. The membership by that time was approximately 1,000. Upon his retirement, Dr. Boyd was designated Pastor Emeritus.
The church has always had a rich and varied music ministry, and of all the outstanding participants, the most significant individual contribution to this ministry was that of Dr. Arthur Wahlberg. He became music director in 1904 and held that until 1930. His resignation on May 15, 1930 was not accepted and instead, he was granted a leave of absence.
The entire United State experienced a massive influenza epidemic in the winter of 1918-19, and the Fresno City Council and Fresno County Board of Supervisors suspended all public meetings and school classes for a time. As a result, when Dr. Robert E. L. Jarvis arrived to assume his duties at pastor, there was no worship, Sunday school or prayer meetings, and it was difficult to even make home visitations!
Shortly after the arrival of Dr. Hugh Bell, in 1920, the decision was made to develop a new church facility which would especially enhance Christian education. Westminster Hall was designed and built by church member Harry W. Shields. Located at 1560 M Street, it was completed in 1922. Since the old church had been sold, worship services were held in the assembly hall temporarily until a new sanctuary could be built. However the temporary arrangement lasted 27 years due to the Depression and World War II!
The adversities of the times did not hinder the ministry of the faithful congregation, as many programs of outreach and service prospered. The first radio broadcast of worship took place in Oct. 1929 when the 11 o’clock worship service with Rev. George Gibson preaching was broadcast live over radio station KMJ.
As Fresno grew First Pres started several mission churches, which in time became Knox Church (now merged with Easterby Church), and Calvary Pres. Luther Stein was pastor from 1932-1937, which included the church’s 50th anniversary in 1934.
World War II had a significant impact on the community and the church. Under the leadership of Rev. Joseph Ewing, the church responded to over 10,000 military personnel in the area as well as caring for church members away. In the front of the sanctuary there was a flag upon which a star was placed for each member in military service. By Dec. 1943, there were 162 stars and many more were added.
Dr. Clair Morrow became pastor in 1947. During his ten-year pastorate, the long-awaited sanctuary was completed. Mariners couples groups were begun (some are still meeting together today), an all-church library was established and an outstanding program of youth choirs was developed.
Sept. 1957 was the beginning of the pastorate of Dr. Robert Oerter, whose fruitful ministry led to the peak membership of 1,600; The Program of Progress, which led to the decision to remain a downtown church, and the completion of the present facilities in 1969.
Throughout all of these years, the mission of the church in proclaiming the Lordship of Jesus Christ has encompassed many forms of service, vision and faith in the support of countless local, national and world missions, seminaries, hospitals, youth camps and para-church ministries.
First Pres continues with its goal in equipping its membership to go deeper into the relationship with Christ through study, mentoring and service, sending many into full time Christian leadership in downtown Fresno, the surrounding community and the world.