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Original Construction: 1857
Renovation Project Completed: 2021-2022
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Preservation (Commercial) -Â Restoration of an historic commercial structure
First Presbyterian Church
First Presbyterian Church Renovations
About the Project
In 2021, First Presbyterian Church in Fourth Ward began extensive renovations to its main buildings, including its sanctuary, to meet the congregation’s changing needs. Located in the heart of Charlotte and originally built in 1857, the church is one of the oldest structures in the city. Set in tree-shaded park, the church is a prominent visual presence in the community and a reminder of the Gothic Revival style common for church architecture in the 19th and 20th centuries. Foundational to the recent renovations was a commitment to preserve and reuse every original element possible in the sanctuary. This meant carefully dismantling, restoring and reinstalling more than 4,000 square feet of hardwood floors and preserving all of the original decorative light fixtures, including chandeliers that were installed in 1895. Other decorative brass and crystal light fixtures were restored, along with the historic pulpit and the original 20-foot stained-glass windows, including three commissioned by Tiffany and Lamb dating back to 1895. All told, more than 90 percent of the historic interior items encountered during the renovation were successfully restored and reincorporated.