HistoricSiteMarkers
Early Republic

First Presbyterian Church

Paducah, McCracken County, Kentucky

Marker Inscription

First Presbyterian Church. Organized October 29, 1842, at home of Judge James Campbell on Broadway, with eight charter members. Reverend A. W. Campbell served as first pastor. Met in homes and courthouse until 1848, when church was built near corner of Third and Kentucky. Moved to this location, 1888. Dedication of present building, Dec. 3, 1933. Presented by James Rhodes.

Erected by Kentucky Historical Society

The Story

First Presbyterian Church of Paducah was organized in October 1842 in the Broadway home of Judge James Campbell, with just eight charter members and the Reverend A. W. Campbell as its first pastor. The young congregation met in homes and the courthouse until it built its first church in 1848, later moving to this location in 1888. Its present building was dedicated in 1933.

Why it matters

The congregation's growth from a parlor gathering to a downtown landmark mirrors the maturing of a frontier river settlement into an established American city.

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Related people

  • · James Campbell
  • · A. W. Campbell

Themes & tags

EducationChurch

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