Handley Memorial Presbyterian Church

Handley Memorial Presbyterian Church originally Central Presbyterian Church, was a Presbyterian church founded in 1890 as an offshoot of First Presbyterian Church. It was located at 1724 5th Avenue North, on a site later used by Happy John Bollas and now occupied by Birmingham Parking Authority Deck 7.

After founding pastor Luman Handley died in November 1910, the church was renamed in his memory. In 1915 the congregation merged with the former Westminster Presbyterian Church in Norwood. The combined churches began planning to construct a new building at 1328 31st Street North. Before the church building was completed, Central Presbyterian met at Temple Emanu-El at the invitation of Samuel Ullman.

In 1964 then-pastor David Singleton initiated a Norwood Community Ministry as an outreach to residents of the neighborhood. Some members objected to what they saw as an attempt to racially integrate the church.

The church building was heavily damaged by a fire on November 21, 1968.

Pastors

• Luman Handley, 1890–1910
• F. P. Tappey, 1917–
• S. O. Coxe, 1918–
• Robert Lee Bell
• Wick Broomall Jr, 1933
• David Singleton, 1964

References

• "Rev. S. O. Coxe Will Be Installed at Morning Service." (April 27, 1918) The Birmingham News, p. 6
• "Norwood Ministry: The 'Church House' was meant to bring conciliation, but ironically it became a symbol of division" (December 7, 1969) In Dixieland (Birmingham News magazine), pp. 10-14, - via Birmingham Public Library Digital Collections