First Presbyterian Church of Houston, Houston

First Presbyterian Church of Houston, Houston

First Presbyterian Church in Houston is a historic church that has been a prominent member of the Southern Presbyterian Church. It was founded in 1839 by Rev. James Weston Miller, a foreign missionary from Pennsylvania who came to the Republic of Texas. The church started with 13 charter members and met in the Senate Chamber of the Republic of Texas before moving to its first building in 1842.

Over the years, the church grew rapidly and became a significant influence in the Presbyterian community in Houston. It even began mission efforts to South Korea and Brazil. In 1948, the church moved to its current location in the Museum District, where it built the first air-conditioned sanctuary in Texas.

The church has had several pastors over the years, including B. William Vanderbloemen, who served as the church's pastor from 2001 to 2007. In February 2014, the church voted on whether to sever ties with the PCUSA following a policy change that allowed for the ordination of openly gay ministers. First Presbyterian narrowly voted to stay with the denomination. However, in November 2016, the church decided to leave the PCUSA and align with ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians.

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First Presbyterian Church of Houston on Map

Sight Name: First Presbyterian Church of Houston
Sight Location: Houston, USA (See walking tours in Houston)
Sight Type: Religious

Walking Tours in Houston, Texas

Create Your Own Walk in Houston

Create Your Own Walk in Houston

Creating your own self-guided walk in Houston is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Museum District Tour

Museum District Tour

Houston is often considered more of a business obligation than a tourist destination, which is unfortunate since many of the city's museums and cultural attractions are first-rate. Those who make the effort to visit them, be it for personal or professional reasons, will discover several days' worth of intriguing activities. To maximize your experiences during a brief visit, head to the...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles
Historic Downtown Walking Tour

Historic Downtown Walking Tour

Clean, shiny, new, and impressive, Downtown Houston – a true metropolis – rises high above the dusty plains and swamplands of Texas. Just like the other major Texan city of Dallas, Houston has been described as a concrete jungle (or a spaghetti bowl) of endless freeways. Yet, it somehow manages to tower over the stream of engines, with a glittering uber-American presence. There is much to...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles