Memories of First Presbyterian Church

Harriet Bibb

Goodtimers 2.0 Presbyterian Heritage Event

September 18, 2025 | FPC Fellowship Hall

My, that trip from Georgia was long and hard but this little settlement seems to be a good place to plant some roots here by the spring. The only problem is there is no church! Robert Donnel, a Presbyterian minister, visited Huntsville frequently during the years of 1806-1810 but then the Cumberland Presbyterians split from the Presbyterians. Well, some of us Scotch-Irish started to gather on Sunday and we have finally gotten some young men to preach to us but they aren't ordained and can't marry us,  serve communion or baptize our babies. What to do? Thank goodness the Presbytery of West Tennessee told Gideon Blackburn, a missionary in Franklin, TN, to come to Huntsville and stay for three days since it was a 100 mile horseback ride for him. Friday and Saturday he preached in the courthouse, Sunday he served communion and on Monday, June 15, 1818 the Presbyterian church in Huntsville was organized. The next session of Presbytery recognized the new church and ordered more frequent visits by the traveling preachers. Rev. Blackburn was ordered to return to Huntsville and serve communion before the next Presbytery meeting.

You know communion was served differently in those days. You had to have a token to bring to a long table stretched across the front of the church and covered with a fine linen cloth. You sat at the table and the wine was in one silver goblet and the bread was distributed by a ruling elder.

Huntsville had grown from when we first arrived to around 200 houses by 1818. Many were of brick construction but still no house of worship. The Presbyterians collected money and promised to build the first meeting house in Huntsville. The lot selected was in the neighborhood of the fine homes on the corner of Lincoln and Gates. We couldn't afford brick, so a white wooden structure was built facing Gates Ave. Three balconies were common – one for choir, one for young men and one for slaves, (Some of the foundation was found when Fellowship Hall was redone in the 1980's). The service of dedication was held on October 13, 1822.

Guess what, one thing leads to another. We now wanted our own minister. There was an ordained Presbyterian minister, Rev. John Allen, teaching down the way at the Green Academy. He preached on Sundays in Huntsville, organized a church in Cortland and was going to organize one in Moulton when the congregation here convinced him to become their pastor and he was installed on September 25, 1823. This proved to be a good decision because he stayed for 20 years. He died Nov. 14, 1843 and is buried at Maple Hill Cemetery.

You know, we think of the Civil War as being in the early 1860s. Well, I'm here to tell you dissention between the North and South was beginning to develop as early as 1837.  The New School passed some drastic resolution condemning slavery and the southerners withdrew and organized the New School church in the South which they named "The United Synod of the Presbyterian Church."

The Presbyterian Church in Huntsville went through some trying times - five ministers in ten years - which reduced the attendance. Dr. Frederick Ross came in 1855 and stayed until 1875. He did an outstanding job building up the congregation to the point we had outgrown our sanctuary. Of course, the new Jarvin organ was so strong the plaster was falling off the ceiling which hurried the decision to build a new house of worship. We had to move our meetings to the courthouse so the wooden structure could be torn down and the new one, facing Lincoln St. could be built. The project was to cost $25,000, but just like today, changes and additions ran it up to $35,000. They paid approximately $15,000 and borrowed the rest thinking it was a good thing to have a loan - Bad timing!  May 17, 1860 the first meeting of the United Synod of the PCUS, afterwards the GA of the PCUS, met in this church.

Dr. Ross was a strong leader in the local church and in the Synod and the General Assembly. He was even arrested and sent to prison in Decatur and was threatened with being treated as a spy if he did not go North. Several days later he was released but forbidden to preach. That ban was lifted after two months.

Following the war, the one-time wealthy congregation was now poor. The meeting house had been damaged by the invaders and the construction debt demanded 8% interest. Several members decided to move to other churches rather than having to help pay off this debt. The GA of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S. met in our church on May 19, 1871 for ten days.

Following Dr. Ross was Rev. John DeWitt Burkhead who came in 1876. He worked hard to get the debt down. The steeple, which had been added after the church was completed, was never very strong and toppled by wind April 17, 1878. The organ and the church roof were damaged by the fall. An appeal to the citizens of the community brought the required funds but the debt remained. Mr. Burkhead became discouraged and left in 1879.

Following him came a wonderful period with Rev. Dr. John B. Bryson. Dr. Bryson accepted the call and started work but refused to be installed until the debt was paid. Two years later the debt was paid and he was installed October 1882. The congregation had declined in numbers, spirit and activity. Dr. Bryson faced the task of regenerating this body. The women's organization - missionary and benevolent groups, all rallied to the call. Sunday School teachers were earnest and well trained. Dr. Bryson was not married so the women made sure that the manse was clean and that there was food in the pantry.  On April 5, 1896, Dr. Bryson asked to be relieved of his heavy burden. He died in 1897 and is buried in the church lot at Maple Hill Cemetery.

The Rev. George Bitzer became the next pastor and during his time from 1898 - 1903 he led the congregation to think outside of their four walls. A mission school was established at McLean's house, and the scholars attended public worship. A house of worship was erected in Merrimack Village and named Bryson Chapel in honor of  Dr. Bryson. The Presbyterian Church in Huntsville gave the new chapel a bell, l melodeon, and a communion set. The site was donated by Merrimack Mill. (This church later became Trinity Presbyterian Church located on Holmes Avenue. It closed the doors in March of 2023. They returned the communion set to First Church and the bell was placed at Camp Maranatha). Pew rentals, $10 a seat or $100 a pew, were inadequate to pay all the church expenses so they were abandoned in favor of the present system of voluntary contributions. The Bryson Memorial Window was installed in the west wall of the sanctuary in 1900.

Rev. Francis Tappey started his ministry here in 1903 and stayed until 1918. Twickenham Town Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution was organized in the Manse

of First Presbyterian Church of Huntsville by Sarah Strother Robins Tappey on May 19, 1908.

In 1903 the Reverend Francis Tappey and his lovely wife, Sarah, drove into Huntsville in their automobile,

which was the first automobile in Huntsville.  They moved to Huntsville from Valley Creek Presbyterian Church in

Selma, Alabama to be pastor at First Presbyterian Church. He got rid of the automobile shortly after they

moved because he said, “It traveled too fast.” He was noted for his forceful sermons and his scholarship.

The church Bible that he used while in Huntsville is on display in the Church Historical Room.

The Tappey’s were very active in the cultural and social life of Huntsville. He served on the Board of Carnegie Library. They lived in the Manse and it was in the Manse that Sarah invited some ladies from Huntsville to meet and to organize the Twickenham Town Chapter NSDAR on May 19,1908.

The gavel that you use every meeting was made from wood of a tree from Mrs. Tappey’s sister’s family farm.

They left Huntsville in 1918 and moved to Shelbyville, Tennessee.  He died in the 1920 and they are both

buried in Camden, Alabama. This was the beginning of a new century - a century marked with decided changes in the outlook and customs of the people. Automobiles, electricity, and telephones brought significant change to the way of life and habits of the people. Women were assuming a new dignity, new freedom and a new responsibility.

The 1913-1914 renovation brought many changes to the old building. The old-fashioned straight-backed pews with their doors and silver name plates gave way to handsome carved seats which we are using today. A large and costly Skinner organ powered by electricity was installed. Electric lights replaced the old gas chandeliers. Miss Virginia McCormick made a handsome contribution toward the cost of the organ and pulpit furniture.

Dr. Harry Moffett served for three years and then Rev. Neill Stevens started his long ministry - 1922-1945. He saw us through the Great Depression and World War II. New memorial windows were dedicated on Jan. 1, 1927, replacing the rare brown and tan stained-glass windows installed during the construction of the building. The Bryson window was moved to the South wall because the sanctuary was changed to move the organ and the choir to the front of the sanctuary with the pipes of the organ displayed in the arch. The bulletins always carried the following invitation: To all who mourn and need comfort - to all who are weary and need rest - to all who are homeless and want sheltering love - to all who pray, and to all who do not but ought - to all who sin and need a Savior, and to whomsoever will - this church opens wide the door and makes free a place in the name of Jesus. The Lord says WELCOME.

Two members of the congregation, Miss Marjorie Mayhew Speake and Mrs. Emma Corinne (Dickson) Hollis, left the church to become foreign missionaries.

Rev. Frederick Heidelberg served for only two years - 1945-1947 - but brought high energy to this congregation. His evangelistic work increased the membership by a large percentage in one year. A program of physical renovation was started but he had to give up his call due to medical reasons.

Then came our beloved Dr. Harry B. Wade. The incomplete plans for renovation and remodeling of the building became his first concerns. He offered many suggestions that were accepted. The organ pipes were moved into a specially constructed chamber, and a divided chancel took its place. The seating arrangement was changed to provide a central aisle. Improvements to Sunday School space and a renovated Fellowship Hall were incorporated. The work was completed in 1950 at the cost of $65,000.

Due to the reopening of Redstone Arsenal, all churches experienced an opportunity for rapid expansion. The Sunday School quickly outgrew its space in the old manse. It was removed and replaced by a new educational annex, thus providing more space for offices and classrooms. Dr. Wade wanted to be near his congregation so he started Wednesday night suppers followed by Bible study. The congregation outgrew the sanctuary so two services were started in 1959. Also during this period, First church helped start Lakewood, Faith and Fellowship churches.

The Rev. Dr. Donald Bailey started his 17 years as pastor of this church in 1961.  During his time here we started broadcasting our services for the benefit of the shut-ins, sold the old manse and built a new one, purchase in 1962 a house behind the church which was later torn down and a new educational building was built in 1967 at a cost of $250,000.

Dr. E. Lee Stoffel followed Rev. Bailey and in his short time here, he realized he was an unintentional interim,  the session became a rotating session, women were added as deacons and elders, handbells were added and the kitchen and fellowship hall were renovated, we got our first pictorial directory and the church newsletter, THRUST, was begun, and COOKBOOK was published.

Dr. Shep Crigler began a 13-year period as our pastor in 1983.  During his service the church rolls were purged but with his leadership and visitation, the church grew in numbers and in service reaching out in missions to Mexico and support of missionaries. The staff was reorganized, and many committees were added to allow the people to become a more interregnal part of the church.  One of the biggest things happening in the denomination was the reunion of the PCUS and PCUSA in 1983. The two presbyteries of these two denominations were already working together as a Union Presbytery. In 1988 new boundaries were drawn for the presbyteries in the state of Alabama and the constituting meeting for North Alabama Presbytery was held in this church on Jan. 22, 1988.

After two years of interim pastors, Dr. Bill Cockrill began his work in 1998. He was a good organizer and during his time here the church purchased the property across Gates Avenue and remodeled and added to the house which became the Gideon Blackburn House with the John Allen Hall in it - sound familiar?  We also purchased the Health Department property along with the Church of Nativity.

Again we had a two-year interim and then called Dr. Mark Mueller as our pastor. He led us in many new missionary endeavors which meant that we were following the great commission of Jesus. His youth, strong sermons, etc. have grown our church with many young families and new programs.

Again we had a two-year period of interims until we call the first woman pastor of FPC in 2018, the Rev. Dr. Tara Bulger. She was a strong leader and we grew with many young couples with young children which makes me happy as I see our church continuing its rich heritage for many more years when a lot of churches are dying and closing their doors. Tara led the church in pledging over $3,500,000 to build an addition to the front of the church which makes FPC more accessible for everyone with bathrooms on two levels, a large elevator, and access to the second floor of the education building.

Before I close, I want to read to you what Elder Sydney J. Mayhew wrote about women in his notes at the commemoration of the ninetieth Anniversary in 1908:

From the time that the wife of Dr. Allen used the influence attributed to her for influencing for good those around her, on through the growing period of the church, before the time when women's auxiliaries were formed, during the time when the quiet, unadorned and undemonstrative appearance of women was believed to be enjoined by the Scriptures, the quiet influence of woman was then as now, dominant. On through the church building eras, their taste was manifested. Through the long years of "Civil War" when men were gone they formed almost alone, the body of the church. They performed the duties in giving temporal aid and spiritual assistance wherever such was needed.

Where do we go from here? What will be written about us at the 300th anniversary? I am just happy, along with you, to have been a small part of this glorious old church and look forward to continuing my activities here for as long as the Lord has planned for me.

Harriet W. Bibb