About us
First Presbyterian Church of Pulaski
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Our Mission Statement
We seek to follow Jesus Christ as his body in the world, reaching out with arms opened wide to embrace any whom the world would reject or deny.
The People of our Church
The membership of First Presbyterian Church (202) is composed of older families and individuals who have been active members for many years and, to our great joy, many new members – younger families with children. The younger families are, for the most part, newcomers to Pulaski and have found their church home at FPC. They bring with them their enthusiasm, energy and dedication.
Sunday School has experienced a new burst of attendance, and the programs, especially for children, are innovative, creative and interactive. The Adult Sunday School is not organized by age groups, but rather by areas of interest and study. Three such classes are offered.
First Presbyterian is a ministering church – members each to the other, and to the community of Pulaski and Giles County. Each fourth Sunday of the month, there is a “Fellowship on the Fourth” in the church courtyard (weather permitting), giving members, visitors and guests the opportunity to spend time together in fellowship and renewal.
Each fall, when the school year begins at Martin Methodist College, FPC hosts the Martin Foreign Students. Martin College always has a large contingent of Asian students, many who have never before been in the United States. It is an opportunity for us to extend God’s love over and beyond language and cultural differences.
Under the leadership of our former pastor, Gary Kelly, and with the active participation of many members, First Presbyterian Church was at the forefront of the Brotherhood Movement in the face of annual incursions by the KKK and Aryan Nation groups. With God’s help, the movement succeeded in defusing what was becoming a disruptive and dangerous situation, and focused the entire community on the need for us “to be what we say we are as Christians.”
In the formation and development of New Canaan Ranch, a faith-based organization for homeless and/or addicted men, members of First Presbyterian Church led in the nitty-gritty work of developing a board of directors, securing sound financial underpinnings for the large farmhouse and acreage just outside town and, in the case of several members, “putting their boots on” and doing the work themselves. One of our members, Tommy Gordon, now gone home to God, was named as one of “Ten Outstanding Presbyterians in America” for his work with New Canaan Ranch.
Our activities, and our budget, include:
The Session of our church is composed of men and women, ordained Elders who serve on various Ministry Units: Spiritual Care; Stewardship and Finance; Administration; Building & Grounds; Worship, and Christian Education. Through their leadership and under God’s direction, First Presbyterian Church strives to serve in God's name and reflect God's love and providence.
In March 2008, one hundred eighty years since the first Pastor was installed, we gratefully acknowledged the leadership of the Lord,, and welcomed the Reverend Robert H. Montgomery as the thirtieth Pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Pulaski.
Our History
The story of the Presbyterian Church in Pulaski is interwoven with the fabric of the town itself. In 1812, a group of Presbyterians -- early settlers of Giles County who worshipped in homes and groves -- sent a request to the Presbytery of West Tennessee asking that a church be organized in Pulaski.
Supply ministers were sent to the group, but the church was not formally constituted until July 28, 1828. With eight charter members, First Presbyterian Church began under the ministerial leadership of Rev. James Hall Brookes.
Three buildings have housed the congregation. The present church building, constructed in 1882, is on the National Register of Historical Places, and is lovingly tended as an architectural treasure and the symbol of Christ’s corporate body for worship and service.
A spacious Sunday School annex was added in 1925 and Nall Hall, an educational unit housing a fellowship hall and modern kitchen, was constructed in 1964.
In 2000 a courtyard, filled with flowers, a beautiful fountain and attractive seating was dedicated to the glory of God. It is a place where anyone seeking quiet and meditation may come and rest. The courtyard is surrounded by a magnificent wrought iron fence with gates. The gates are never closed.
The open gates are a tangible expression of the desire of the congregation of First Presbyterian Church to be open and to be of service.
