Third Presbyterian Church: Difference between revisions

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'''Third Presbyterian Church''' is a Presbyterian church located at 617 [[22nd Street South]], at the corner of [[7th Avenue South]].  It is a member congregation of the Presbyterian Church in America.   
'''Third Presbyterian Church''' is a Presbyterian church located at 617 [[22nd Street South]], at the corner of [[7th Avenue South]].  It is a member congregation of the Presbyterian Church in America.   


Third Presbyterian was organized on July 11th, [[1884]].  The church was an outgrowth of a “Sabbath” school established by [[First Presbyterian Church]].  After 6 months of operation, which included a two-week revival service under a “Gospel Tent,” the Third Presbyterian Church of Birmingham was organized.  The church began with 31 charter members and was served by four supply pastors between 1884 and [[1888]].  The following year, one of the visiting pastors was a young student from Princeton University, James Alexander Bryan.  He would later become known to virtually everyone in Birmingham as "[[Brother Bryan]]."


After the church was organized, the congregation immediately undertook the task of constructing a building.  The building, located at [[6th Avenue South]] and [[22nd Street South]], cost about $5300 and was dedicated in January [[1891]], free of debt.  The building was enjoyed for a decade, until April 17, [[1901]], when an apparent spark from a passing street car ignited something in the barn adjacent to Brother Bryan’s house.  The fire subsequently spread to the house and church. 
'''A Short History of Third'''


The building completely destroyed, the members resolved to rebuild.  The congregation would continue meeting in a tent, without missing a service, until a new church building was constructed a block down the street on the corner of 7th Avenue.  Completed in [[1902]], the building has been home to the congregation of Third for over a century.  [[Brother Bryan]] would continue to serve the church and the city for 52 years until his death on January 28, [[1941]].
Third Presbyterian was organized on July 11th, [[1884]].  The church was an outgrowth of a “Sabbath” school established by [[First Presbyterian Church]].  After 6 months of operation, which included a two-week revival service under a “Gospel Tent,” the Third Presbyterian Church of Birmingham was organized.  The church began with 31 charter members and was served by four supply pastors between 1884 and [[1888]]. 
 
By [[1889]], Third had grown to over 500 members, commissioning over 50 of its own to begin churches in [[Woodlawn]], [[Leeds]], and [[South Highlands]].  That same year, on August 4, the church installed its first permanent pastor, James Alexander Bryan, who had been a visiting pastor at Third while a seminary student at Princeton University.  He would later become known to virtually everyone in Birmingham as "[[Brother Bryan]]."  [[Brother Bryan|Bryan]] would continue to serve the church and the city for 52 years.
 
Also in this period, the congregation undertook the task of constructing a building.  The original building, located at [[6th Avenue South]] and [[22nd Street South]], cost about $5300 and was dedicated in January [[1891]], free of debt.  The building was enjoyed for a decade, until April 17, [[1901]], when an apparent spark from a passing street car ignited something in the barn adjacent to Brother Bryan’s house.  The fire subsequently spread to the house and church.    The building completely destroyed, the congregation would continue meeting in a tent, without missing a service, until a new church building was constructed a block down the street on the corner of 7th Avenue.  After Bryan's death in 1941, assistant minister James Cantrell became the full time pastor until his retirement in May [[1978]].  Richard C. Trucks has served as pastor since 1978.
 
 
'''The current building'''
 
Completed in [[1902]], the church sanctuary and chapel remain essentially the same today.  Only the corner steeple/tower is different, as the original was severely damaged by lightning. (date needed)  The tower was refitted with a less steep roof line, giving a slightly different appearance than the side tower which still maintains the original sharp-angled roof. 
 
From the 1950's to 1994, the corner tower was ornamented by a large cross on its apex and a large, vertical corner sign that read "God is Love." (date needed)  Immediately adjacent to the church was Brother Bryan's house, which had become the "Bryan Sunday School Building." It was replaced by an entire education annex & parking lot in 1959. 
 
The sanctuary and chapel (the original structure) underwent a major renovation/restoration from [[1993]] to [[1995]].  While entailing considerable structural repair, the restoration also gave a facelift to the interior as well as seeing the removal of the sign & cross on the corner tower.  The cross was replaced by a smaller metal-cast cross, matching the metal apex pieces of the central roof and side tower.


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:7th Avenue South|2200]]
[[Category:1902 buildings|Third Presbyterian Church]]
[[Category:1902 buildings|Third Presbyterian Church]]
[[Category:signage|Third Presbyterian Church]]
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Revision as of 16:28, 26 November 2006

Third Presbyterian Church is a Presbyterian church located at 617 22nd Street South, at the corner of 7th Avenue South. It is a member congregation of the Presbyterian Church in America.


A Short History of Third

Third Presbyterian was organized on July 11th, 1884. The church was an outgrowth of a “Sabbath” school established by First Presbyterian Church. After 6 months of operation, which included a two-week revival service under a “Gospel Tent,” the Third Presbyterian Church of Birmingham was organized. The church began with 31 charter members and was served by four supply pastors between 1884 and 1888.

By 1889, Third had grown to over 500 members, commissioning over 50 of its own to begin churches in Woodlawn, Leeds, and South Highlands. That same year, on August 4, the church installed its first permanent pastor, James Alexander Bryan, who had been a visiting pastor at Third while a seminary student at Princeton University. He would later become known to virtually everyone in Birmingham as "Brother Bryan." Bryan would continue to serve the church and the city for 52 years.

Also in this period, the congregation undertook the task of constructing a building. The original building, located at 6th Avenue South and 22nd Street South, cost about $5300 and was dedicated in January 1891, free of debt. The building was enjoyed for a decade, until April 17, 1901, when an apparent spark from a passing street car ignited something in the barn adjacent to Brother Bryan’s house. The fire subsequently spread to the house and church. The building completely destroyed, the congregation would continue meeting in a tent, without missing a service, until a new church building was constructed a block down the street on the corner of 7th Avenue. After Bryan's death in 1941, assistant minister James Cantrell became the full time pastor until his retirement in May 1978. Richard C. Trucks has served as pastor since 1978.


The current building

Completed in 1902, the church sanctuary and chapel remain essentially the same today. Only the corner steeple/tower is different, as the original was severely damaged by lightning. (date needed) The tower was refitted with a less steep roof line, giving a slightly different appearance than the side tower which still maintains the original sharp-angled roof.

From the 1950's to 1994, the corner tower was ornamented by a large cross on its apex and a large, vertical corner sign that read "God is Love." (date needed) Immediately adjacent to the church was Brother Bryan's house, which had become the "Bryan Sunday School Building." It was replaced by an entire education annex & parking lot in 1959.

The sanctuary and chapel (the original structure) underwent a major renovation/restoration from 1993 to 1995. While entailing considerable structural repair, the restoration also gave a facelift to the interior as well as seeing the removal of the sign & cross on the corner tower. The cross was replaced by a smaller metal-cast cross, matching the metal apex pieces of the central roof and side tower.

References

External link

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