Church Parking and Entry
Although First Presbyterian faces Church Circle, parking is located at the rear of the church, off West Charlemont Avenue. On Sunday morning, all doors off the parking lot are open.
Accommodations for Handicapped or Disabled
Entrance from the parking lot is level directly into the church lobby and the entire main floor of the church. Ramp access is available both outside the sanctuary and from inside the church to the sanctuary. An elevator is available for access to all floors within the church.
Earphones are available in the sanctuary to assist with hearing during services.
Sanctuary
Designed in the early 1940s by church member and architect Allen Dryden, Sr., the sanctuary seats 600, features a full range pipe organ, and balcony seating. An unusual feature of the sanctuary is it’s orientation: main entry is at the front, which flows from the foyer and main hall, rather than the back of the church (although it’s fine to enter from the Church Circle entrance as well).
Chapel
With seating for 100, the Chapel at First Presbyterian is an intimate setting for worship. On the main floor on the East Wing, the chapel is the location of the early Sunday service, which begins at 8:45 a.m.
Children and Youth
Sunday school for children and youth, as well as Sunday evening youth activities, are located in the basement. Greeters will be happy to help you find the right class for your child.
Church Library Facilities
Located on the main floor of the church, the First Presbyterian adult library contains a broad selection of books, magazines and publications. Conveniently cataloged and displayed, library materials are easy to access, preview and check out. The library also offers a wealth of materials for personal Bible Study, Sunday school class preparation. In addition there is a wide variety of history, biography and fiction and non-fiction books available for check-out.
Children’s Library
The children’s library is a dedicated room on the second floor, decorated and furnished especially for our younger readers. The multi-use space features tables for crafts and games, a computer station and a story area. The children’s library is a great place to bring children or grandchildren to work a puzzle, play a game or check out a book or video.
Fellowship Center
First Presbyterian Church’s Fellowship Center is located immediately adjacent to the main church building and can accommodate up to 500 people. When not in use by the Church, the Fellowship Center is available to non-profit organizations. Click here for guidelines on use of church facilities. To learn more, or make a reservation, please contact Annie Hill Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
History Room
Located in Room 101, on the first floor near the Chapel, the History Room was organized in preparation for our Centennial. The History Room contains photographs, documents, and other memorabilia from the almost 100 year history of our church. Materials are filed and organized in cabinets by minister era. Many items are available digitally. A photographic display is changed periodically and available to view at any time. Church members who wish to research a specific topic from the past should contact the church office at 423-245-0104 for an appointment with an archivist. Since history is not static, we continue to collect items of archival interest. Church members who have artifacts, photographs or documents may want to donate them to our archives.
Parlor
Located off the sanctuary, our main parlor is often used by worshipers who may not be able to sit in the sanctuary pews.
Administrative Offices
Church offices are located near the foyer entrance from the parking lot off West Charlemont Avenue. The office is staffed Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and on Friday’s the office is staffed remotely from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Kitchen
Located in the Fellowship Hall building, the church kitchen contains a full array of commercial food preparation and sanitation equipment. These facilities are used during church sponsored events. During the week, the kitchen is used for the preparation of meals for the Meals on Wheels program.
Music Rooms
The music suite is located on the second floor, and includes a comprehensive music library, rehearsal rooms, a bell choir room and dressing rooms. New participants of all ages are always welcome. For more information about music opportunities please contact Mark Davis our Director of Music Ministries.