The PCA's Fifty Oldest Churches

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Fifty Oldest Churches in the PCA

The PCA was organized as a denomination in 1973. Though still a rather young denomination, it be surprising to find out that about one-third of our churches predate the PCA. Here’s a list of the fifty oldest PCA churches. The hands-down winner is in this category is Fairfield Presbyterian Church of Fairton, New Jersey, established in 1680! Also included in this list, in red type, are those churches that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
All praise to God for the faithful witness of these congregations to the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ!

[Error correction : It has been brought to our attention that Olivet Presbyterian Church in McConnells, SC was actually established in 1842. This correction (as of 29 May 2006) removes Olivet from this list and adds Sharon Presbyterian Church of Magee, MS to the list. Our apologies for the error].

#	Church	City	State	Presbytery	Org.
1	Fairfield Presbyterian Church	Fairton	NJ	New Jersey	1680
2	Faggs Manor Presbyterian Church	Cochranville	PA	Susquehanna Valley	1730
3	First Presbyterian Church	Waynesboro	GA	Central Georgia	1760
4	First Presbyterian Church	Schenectady	NY	Northeast	1760
5	Goshen Presbyterian Church	Belmont	NC	Central Carolina	1764
6	Bethel Presbyterian Church	Clover	SC	Fellowship	1764
7	Knowlton Presbyterian Church	Columbia	NJ	Metropolitan NY	1766
8	Bullock Creek Presbyterian Church	Sharon	SC	Fellowship	1769
9	Greene Valley Presbyterian Church	Carmichaels	PA	Pittsburgh	1775
10	Lebanon Presbyterian Church	Winnsboro	SC	Palmetto	1775
11	Mount Carmel Presbyterian Church	Ellerbe	NC	Central Carolina	1776
12	Providence Presbyterian Church	Limestone	TN	Westminster	1780
13	Bethany Presbyterian Church	Greensboro	GA	Central Georgia	1786
14	Fairview Presbyterian Church	Fountain Inn	SC	Calvary	1786
15	Liberty Springs Presbyterian Church	Cross Hill	SC	Calvary	1787
16	Prosperity Presbyterian Church	Charlotte	NC	Central Carolina	1788
17	Aimwell Presbyterian Church	Ridgeway	SC	Palmetto	1790
18	Reformed Presbyterian Church [parsonage]	Duanesburg	NY	Northeast	1795
19	Middlesex Presbyterian Church	Butler	PA	Ascension	1799
20	First Reformed Presbyterian Church	Pittsburgh	PA	Pittsburgh	1800
21	First Presbyterian Church	Ellerbe	NC	Central Carolina	1803
22	Pioneer Presbyterian Church	Ligonier	PA	Pittsburgh	1803
23	First Presbyterian Church	Augusta	GA	Central Georgia	1804
24	Back Creek Presbyterian Church	Mt. Ulla	NC	Central Carolina	1805
25	Mount Calvary Presbyterian Church	Pinson	AL	Evangel	1806
26	Pine Ridge Presbyterian Church	Natchez	MS	Grace	1807
27	Zion Presbyterian Church	Columbia	TN	Nashville	1807
28	Bethany Presbyterian Church	Centreville	MS	Grace	1808
29	Hopewell Presbyterian Church	Rock Hill	SC	Fellowship	1808
30	Salem Presbyterian Church	Blair	SC	Palmetto	1812
31	Meadow Creek Presbyterian Church	Greeneville	TN	Westminster	1812
32	Lowndesboro Presbyterian Church	Lowndesboro	AL	SE Alabama	1816
33	Union Church Presbyterian Church	Union Church	MS	Grace	1817
34	Bethel Reformed Presbyterian Church	Sparta	IL	Illiana	1819
35	Kanawha Salines Presbyterian Church	Malden	WV	New River	1819
36	First Presbyterian Church	Greenville	AL	SE Alabama	1820
37	Friendship Presbyterian Church	Laurens	SC	Calvary	1820
38	Philadelphus Presbyterian Church	Waynesboro	MS	Grace	1821
39	Lebanon Presbyterian Church	Abbeville	SC	Calvary	1821
40	Pea River Presbyterian Church	Clio	AL	SE Alabama	1823
41	Marion Presbyterian Church	Marion	AL	Warrior	1823
42	New Life Presbyterian Ch. of Hopewell Township	Alquippa	PA	Ascension	1823
43	Catherine Presbyterian Church	Catherine	AL	Warrior	1824
44	First Presbyterian Church	Centreville	AL	Warrior	1824
45	First Presbyterian Church	Eutaw	AL	Warrior	1824
46	First Presbyterian Church	Montgomery	AL	SE Alabama	1824
47	First Presbyterian Church	Tuscumbia	AL	Evangel	1824
48	First Presbyterian Church	Macon	GA	Central Georgia	1826
49	Bethesda Presbyterian Church	Edwards	MS	Mississippi Valley	1826
50	Sharon Presbyterian Church	Magee	MS	Grace	1827

While we might think more of these churches deserve to be on the National Register, church properties are not normally considered eligible, unless they are distinguished as significant architectural works or places where historic events occurred.

The PCA Historical Center is currently gathering a list of all the PCA churches on the National Register, and would like to hear from you if your church is already part of the Register. If you would like to explore the possibility of nominating your church property for inclusion on the Register, please contact Wayne Sparkman at wsparkman@pcanet.org for more information.

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