Covenant First Presbyterian Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Covenant First Presbyterian Church |
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Front of the church
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| Location |  Cincinnati, Ohio, USA |
| Denomination | Presbyterian |
| Website | Covenant First Presbyterian Church |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | First Presbyterian Covenant Presbyterian |
| Founded | 1933 |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Gothic |
The Covenant First Presbyterian Church is a church in Cincinnati, Ohio. It is located at 717 Elm Street. This church is part of the Presbyterian Church (USA).
The church you see today was formed in 1933. This happened when two older churches, the First Presbyterian and Covenant Presbyterian, joined together. The very first Presbyterian church in Cincinnati was started on October 16, 1790.
Contents
A Look at Church History
Covenant-First Presbyterian Church carries on the traditions of two important churches. These are the First Presbyterian Church of Cincinnati and the Covenant Presbyterian Church. Covenant Presbyterian used to be called Second Presbyterian.
The First Churches
First Presbyterian Church began on October 16, 1790. Its first pastor was James Kemper. You can still see a log cabin that belonged to Kemper in Sharon Woods Park today.
Second Presbyterian Church started in 1816. It grew out of the First Presbyterian Church. Over time, Second Presbyterian moved to different spots in downtown Cincinnati. Eventually, it settled at the corner of 8th and Elm streets. The church building there was officially opened on April 11, 1875.
Pastors and Disagreements
In 1833, a famous pastor named Lyman Beecher came to lead Second Presbyterian. He was also the president of a school called Lane Theological Seminary.
During his time in Cincinnati, Beecher had a disagreement with Joshua Lacy Wilson. Wilson was the pastor of First Presbyterian. Their disagreement was very public. Even though the two churches later joined, their pastors' portraits are still on opposite sides of the building. This reminds people of their old disagreement.
The Church Building
The church building we see today was finished on April 11, 1875. A Cincinnati architect named William Walter designed it. The church is built in the Gothic style. It faces Piatt Park.
The stone used for the church came from quarries owned by a church member, Colonel Peter Rudolph Neff. The bell tower is still the same as when it was built. It holds a very large bell. This bell has the words "Revere, Boston" written on it.
The inside of the church is quite unique. Some say its design comes from old Scottish-English barns. The special furniture for the pulpit was carved from black walnut wood by Henry L. Fry.
On January 29, 1973, this historic church building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized as an important historical site.
Recent Pastors
Here are some of the pastors who have led the Covenant First Presbyterian Church in recent times:
- Rev. Frank Elder; 1928–1950
- Rev. Irvin Yeaworth; 1950–1967
- Rev. Harold Russell; 1967–1984
- Rev. Peter J. Fosburg; 1984–1994
- Rev. Russell Smith; 2001–2020
- Rev. Dan M. Turis; 2023-Present
