Carlisle in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

First Presbyterian Church

American Presbyterian and Reformed Historical Site

Photographed By Shane Oliver, October 30, 2021

1. First Presbyterian Church Marker

Inscription. Oldest public building in Carlisle; erection begun, 1757. Here colonists met in 1774 to declare for independence, and George Washington worshipped, 1794. Congregation organized at Meeting House Springs in 1734.

Erected 1949 by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. (Marker Number 54.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it is included in the American Presbyterian and Reformed Historic Sites, and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1757.

Location. 40° 12.09′ N, 77° 11.347′ W. Marker is in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, in Cumberland County. Marker is at the intersection of Hanover Street (U.S. 11) and High Street (Pennsylvania Route 74), on the right when traveling south on Hanover Street. Marker is near northwest corner of intersection. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 24 N Hanover Street, Carlisle PA 17013, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Veterans Memorial Courtyard (a few steps from this marker); Episcopal Square (within shouting distance of this marker); Historical Directory of Carlisle (within shouting distance of this marker);

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

The Shelling of Carlisle (within shouting distance of this marker); Forbes Trail (within shouting distance of this marker); Cumberland County (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Shelling of Carlisle (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named First Presbyterian Church (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Carlisle.

Regarding First Presbyterian Church. The The Westminster Presbyterian Church is one of 445 American Presbyterian and Reformed Historical Sites registered between 1973 and 2003 by the Presbyterian Historical Society (PHS), headquartered in Philadelphia. Approved sites received a metal plaque featuring John Calvin’s seal and the site’s registry number (PHS marker location unknown).

The following text is taken from the Presbyterian Historical Society website:

Organized in 1734 at Meeting House Springs, First Church's building in Carlisle was designed by Robert Smith of Philadelphia and completed about 1769. Additions have been made in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., January 29, 2009

2. First Presbyterian Church and Marker
James Wilson, signer of the Declaration of Independence, was a trustee of the congregation. The General Assembly of the PCUSA met here in 1792 and 1795 and First Church's pastor, Robert Davidson, was elected moderator in 1796. In 1794, President George Washington, his staff, and Pennsylvania Governor Thomas Mifflin, reviewed troops and then worshipped in the meetinghouse. The grammar school founded by the congregation in 1773 later merged with Dickinson College.

First Presbyterian Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., January 29, 2009

3. First Presbyterian Church

First Presbyterian Church Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Shane Oliver, October 30, 2021

4. First Presbyterian Church Building

Photographed By Shane Oliver, October 30, 2021

5. First Presbyterian Church Building

Credits. This page was last revised on January 16, 2022. It was originally submitted on February 2, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 1,012 times since then and 40 times this year. Last updated on August 24, 2018, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. Photos: 1. submitted on December 19, 2021, by Shane Oliver of Richmond, Virginia. 2, 3. submitted on February 2, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 4, 5. submitted on December 19, 2021, by Shane Oliver of Richmond, Virginia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.