William D. Paisley
1834-1844
Rev. John A Gretter
1844-1855
Rev. J. Jones Smyth
1855-1856
Dr. Jacob H. Smith
1859-1896
Rev. Egbert Smith
1896-1907
Rev. Melton Clark
1907-1916
Rev. Charles F. Myers
1916-1945
Dr. John Redhead
1945-1971
Dr. Joseph B. Mullin
1971-1988
Dr. Jerold B. Shetler
1988-1998
Dr. Sidney F. Batts
2001-present
The church as it looked in 1832
The town of Greensboro in 1824 consisted of some two dozen families, with one Baptist ministry. Teacher and veteran Presbyterian minister William Denny Paisley arrived in October of that year and formed the First Presbyterian Church of Greensboro, basing it on the Presbyterian tradition begun in Guilford County a half-century earlier by the Buffalo and Alamance churches. The new church had 12 members; two men and six women were white, and one man and four women were black slaves. Eight years later the first church building was erected on the corner of Davie and Church streets, with money raised by the Greensboro Female Benevolent Society.
When Rev. John Gretter succeeded Reverend Paisley in 1844 the church had 83 members. A new building was erected on the same site. An organ installed in 1849 was the only organ in Greensboro for 50 years.
Following Reverend Gretter's death in 1855, leadership went to Rev. J. Jones Smyth who served until 1859.
Dr. Jacob Henry Smith served as pastor from 1859 to 1896. During Dr. Smith's tenure, the bell was donated to the Confederacy to make bullets. In 1865 the church building was used as a hospital for Confederate war wounded, and Dr. Smith preached at the courthouse or borrowed the Baptist church for services.
On Dr. Smith's death, his son Reverend Egbert Smith served until 1907.
Reverend R. Melton Clark served fron 1907 to 1916.
When Dr. Charles F. Myers arrived in 1916, the church had a membership of 1,034. The figure more than doubled during his 29-year tenure.
In 1929, the church moved to its present site on Fisher Park Circle.
Dr. John A. Redhead began a 25-year pastorate in 1945, and the church added the Memorial and Corl buildings to its complex. Membership reached 3,500 during these years. First Presbyterian continued the tradition of sponsoring new Presbyterian churches in the community.
When Dr. Redhead retired in 1971, Dr. Joseph B. Mullin was called. During Dr. Mullin's ministry the church expanded its community and international outreach, including the Child Care Ministry program. The sanctuary and chapel were renovated and the Columbarium/Memorial Garden was established.
In 1988, Dr. Mullin retired and Dr. Jerold D. Shetler answered the call. Before his retirement in December 1998, Dr. Shetler presided over the largest expansion of facilities since 1929. The church that started with a dozen members now had a membership far greater than the population of that little town so long ago.
On January 1, 2001, Dr. Sidney F. Batts became the church’s eleventh pastor.
The new Orgues Létourneau Limitée organ was dedicated on Sunday, March 18, 2001.
