A Cloud of Witnesses from the Heart of the City: First Presbyterian Church, Raleigh, 1816-2016

The First Presbyterian Church of Raleigh, North Carolina has animportant presence as a leading community of faith in North Carolina’s capitalcity. This book examines the history of the church from its birth in 1816 topresent. It is comprehensive and contextualized within the broader national,state, city, and denominational history over the last 200 years.

Through the years the church has been the spiritual home for numerousleaders within Raleigh’s business community. Several governors have beencounted among its membership, along with other important members ofthe state’s political and legal communities. Its pastors have been among themost important Presbyterians in the state making this church one of the topPresbyterian congregations in the South. The church has also been an importantresource for the city. When the State House, located across the street from thechurch, was destroyed by fire in 1831, the Legislature and Supreme Court usedthe church building until a new capitol could be completed in 1840. The 1835Constitutional Convention also convened in the church’s building.

The First Presbyterian Church served as the mother church for theestablishment of other congregations in the Raleigh area. This book will behelpful to anyone interested in the Presbyterian movement in Raleigh. Readersinterested in the rich history of Raleigh will also find valuable information.