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| The Rev. A. W. Gaston |
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The Rev. A. W. Gaston served as the sixth pastor of First Presbyterian from 1869-1890. His portrait (above) was painted by Ellen Louisa Axson, Mrs. Woodrow Wilson. |
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History
Much of the history of any Presbyterian Church can be found in the minutes of the Session. A firm requirement of the Presbyterian Book of Order is that all meetings of the Elders be recorded and the minutes submitted each year to the Presbytery for approval. With the exception of the war years, 1864 and 1865, the records are remarkably complete.
The town of Cross Plains was in existence in 1847 when Captain Edward White purchased land and laid out a city, to which he gave his mother’s maiden name, Dalton. Early deeds were recorded in the courthouse at Spring Place, Murray County. Three years later Whitfield County was formed by the division of the larger county of Murray.
At the intersection of five roads, on the triangular lot where the courthouse annex now stands, stood a small frame building known as the Town House. This building was not only used for town meetings, but also for worship by many groups, including Presbyterians, Baptists and Methodists. During 1847 the Baptists and Methodists purchased other properties and began building separate churches.
The Presbyterians purchased the Town House building and property and became the first organized church within the city. The organizational meeting was held on October 31, 1847, with two ministers present: The Reverend John Jones and the Reverend I. M. Waddell. The Reverend Mr. Jones became the first minister to the congregation, which consisted of five men, six women, and one young boy. Two Elders elected were James McSpradden and A. E. Blunt. Mr. Blunt was also the first mayor of Dalton.
The original frame building was destroyed by Union solders before they withdrew from Dalton at the close of the Civil War. In 1868 a small red brick building was erected with most of the labor being furnished by the church members. A steeple was added in 1893.
The Rev. A. W. Gaston served as the sixth pastor of First Presbyterian from 1869-1890. His portrait (above) was painted by Ellen Louisa Axson, Mrs. Woodrow Wilson.
During 1913, with Dr. F. K. Sims as pastor and a membership of over 225, the single room sanctuary was veneered with white brick, the steeple removed, and education space added. The building remained essentially unchanged until 1954, when the sanctuary was again remodeled, an education wing added, and a chapel constructed. Dr. S. Wilkes Dendy was the minister during this period of expansion, and the membership had grown to over five hundred. In 1972, with the Reverend John H. Law as pastor, a new sanctuary was constructed. The former sanctuary was renovated to provide a new fellowship hall and kitchen, as well as four new classrooms. Dr. Law served the church for eleven years, leaving at the end of 1977. The Reverend William H. Todd, Jr., was called and came to Dalton in October, 1978. Under his leadership, the congregation voted in1986 to relocate the church facilities to a 9.5 acre lot on Tibbs Road. On October 29, 1989, services were held for the first time at our new home at 510 South Tibbs Road, and a new chapter in the life of this congregation was begun.
In September, 1990, Dr. Todd accepted a call from Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, Virginia. Dr. James Braswell Holderness accepted a call to become minister of this church in September 1, 1991. At the end of 1999 the church purchased a house and property on Ella Drive adjacent to the church. Dr. Holderness served this congregation until April, 2001.
After the interim service of Dr. Gerald Mills and Dr. Harry Daniel, Dr. Guy D. Griffith accepted a call to become the 17th minister of this church in September 2002. Dr. Griffith served this congregation through April, 2006. While serving as pastor, a three-year building campaign for the purpose of constructing an addition to the current building was begun. This addition opened January 2007 and is named The Recreation Place. It includes a full-court gym containing bleachers to accomodate the seating of up to 700 for the purpose of hosting concerts, church socials/recreation, basketball leagues, community events, etc. The new addition also houses a large open room to accomodate fitness classes and exercise equipment. Additionally included in the new building are large youth rooms, offices, and a kitchen/cafe area to be used for small gatherings. Along with the construction of The Recreation Place, a new wing was added to the back of the exsisting children's hallway to accomodate approximately 6 new children's classrooms, and the current children's hallway was remodeled.
After an interim service of the Rev. Dr. Dick Neelly, the Reverend Mickey Shealy accepted a call of this church on July 1, 2007. Rev. Shealy is currently serving as Pastor.
The First Presbyterian Church is a congregation of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and a member of Cherokee Presbytery and the Synod for the South Atlantic. We have vigorous programs in Christian education, music, women’s work, men’s work, scouting, recreation, and youth work. The church seeks to minister to the community through its weekday kindergarten and daycare. In addition, we support the institutions of the Synod: Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur, Georgia; Presbyterian College, Clinton, South Carolina; and Presbyterian Homes for the Elderly, Quitman, Georgia.
The church extends a continuing invitation to others, that they may join this congregation for worship in the service of our Lord.
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