First Presbyterian Church (Champaign, Illinois)
History
The history of Champaign, Illinois, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and First Presbyterian Church are interlinked, even though First Presbyterian Church congregation organized 17 years prior to the University of Illinois receiving its charter. At that time, Champaign was little more than a swamp known as 'West Urbana'.
In 1867, a Presbyterian congregation of 137 erected the current sanctuary, the distinctive second floor "Upper Room" being considered a testament to their vision. In the same year the State of Illinois chartered the Illinois Industrial University (which later came to be known as the University of Illinois).
| Denomination: |
Presbyterian |
| Presbytery: |
Southeastern Illinois |
| Synod |
Lincoln Trails |
| Pastor: |
Rick Snyder |
| A brief timeline of First Presbyterian Church |
| 1850: Eight settlers form First Presbyterian Church |
| 1854: First church building erected at the current site of FPCC |
| 1867: 137 members construct an "Upper Room" brick church |
| 1907: Additions to the church facility |
| 1933: Basement added to the church |
| 1962: Go & Serve mission trips begin |
| 2000: First Presbyterian Church celebrates our first 150 years |
| 2006: Congregation calls for a second campus in Southwest Champaign at Barkstall school |
| 2007: Southwest Campus launches as part of a 2 campuses, 1 church model |
External links