A HISTORY OF

CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

On November 13, 1842, eighteen members of Government Street Presbyterian Church became the charter members of the Second Presbyterian Church, located on the northeast corner of Conception and St. Francis Street. This location, across from Bienville Square, was a new venture of Presbyterianism to reach out to new people.

In May, 1853, eighteen members organized the Third Presbyterian Church, located on the northeast corner of Broad and Dauphin Street. After being destroyed by fire, the congregation built a new building on the northeast corner of Jackson and St Michael Street. After the close of the Civil War, in November, 1868, the congregations of Second Presbyterian and Third Presbyterian officially merged, and numbering 168 persons, adopted the name of Jackson Street Presbyterian.

In March, 1906, the congregation of Jackson Presbyterian unanimously agreed that the name of Central Presbyterian Church be adopted for use upon moving to the northeast corner of Dauphin and Ann Street. Minutes of the meeting were sealed in the cornerstone laid on June 2, 1906. The first services were held at Central Church on March 31, 1907, with Dr. David A. Planck as Pastor. Dr. J. B. Carpenter served as pastor for 21 years and it was during his ministry in 1946 that the first building fund drive was conducted. The church bought the house at 10 North Ann Street to be used as a nursery and for the Junior Department. A house at 1252 Dauphin Street was later purchased to be used by the young people. In 1952, an Educational Building was built on the old Ann Street property. Later the Dauphin Street property became the present parking lot. In 1960 an intensive building fund drive for a new sanctuary was conducted when a building inspector for the city of Mobile condemned the building. On January 16, 1966, Dr. John M. Crowell and the Rev. Richard Kell officiated at the dedication of the present sanctuary. Dr. Andrew Edington, grandson of Dr. David A. Planck, delivered the message. Great devastation was brought to Central Presbyterian Church on September 11, 1979, when Hurricane Frederic destroyed the sanctuary. The storm came just three days after the Rev. Thomas Duncan Walker preached his first sermon at Central Presbyterian Church. The stained glass windows, which had been moved from the old church and rededicated in January. 1966, were totally destroyed. A Celtic Cross from the roof was blown into Dauphin Street. It took over a year for the sanctuary to be repaired and the windows replaced, but not one Sunday Worship Service was cancelled.

Today, under the leadership of the Rev. Andrew (Drew) W. Smith, Pastor, and the Session, the tradition continues of reaching out to new people and serving others in the community of Mobile. We, at Central Presbyterian Church, are descendants of that bold group of Presbyterians in 1842 who were seeking to spread the good news of Jesus Christ further into the city.

Past Ministers:

SECOND PRESBYTERIAN:

1842-1853 Dr. Robert Nall

THIRD PRESBYTERIAN:

1853-1854 Dr. Robert Nall

1854-1860 William Mickle

1860-1863 J. W. Kerr

1863-1866 Rev. John Neil

1866-1868 Dr. John H. Rice

JACKSON STREET PRESBYTERIAN

1868-1869 Dr. John H. Rice

1869-1870 Dr. John F. Matthews

1870-1882 Dr. Edward P. Palmer

1882-1886 Dr. William Flinn

1887-1889 Dr. A. M. Christie

1889-1907 Dr. David A. Planck

CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN

1907-1919 Dr. David A. Planck

1919-1922 Dr. Robert Excell Fry

1923-1927 Dr. William A. Alexander

1927-1948 Dr. James B. Carpenter

1948-1949 Dr. W. H. Frazer

1949-1978 Dr. John M. Crowell

1979-1985 Rev. Thomas B. Walker

1986-2000 Dr. Julian W. Walthall

2000-2001 Rev. John Shearer (Interim)

2001-Present Rev. Andrew W. Smith

ASSOCIATE PASTORS, Central Presbyterian

1956-1967 Rev. Richard L. Kell

1967 Rev. Howard Edington

1968-1971 Rev. George Peelen

1971-1976 Rev. Harold Adkins

1976-1979 Rev. Robert Stauffacher

1980-1985 Rev. Brett M. Mouron

1988-1990 Rev. Robert A. Hatcher

1991-1992 Rev. Rebecca D. Thurman

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