First Presbyterian Church of New Orleans

First Presbyterian Church of New Orleans is the oldest Presbyterian congregation in Louisiana (1818) and the second oldest Protestant congregation in entire Mississippi Basin after Christ Church of New Orleans (1816). First Presbyterian Church of New Orleans (FPCNO) has played a pivotal role in the history of the Protestant church in the South as well as the history of New Orleans in the late 19th century, especially under the political and religious leadership of Rev. Dr. Benjamin Morgan Palmer who encouraged the Southern Presbyterian Church to secede at the beginning of the War Between the States, an action which was quickly imitated by most of the other Protestant denominations in the Confederate States of America. However, in the 21st century, FPCNO is now more widely known for its progressive stands on race, social justice and gender issues.

First Presbyterian Church of New Orleans was formed as a result of a public meeting on February 9, 1818, when a subscription list was opened to purchase a lot and build a church. Gifts were pledged by prospective members and interested citizens, and the City Council gave a lot and later $10,000. The first minister, Rev. Sylvester Larned, recruited by Rev. Elias Cornelius of the Connecticut Missionary Society, began conducting services on January 22, 1818. The cornerstone for the original building on St. Charles Avenue between Union and Gravier Streets was laid on January 8, 1819. An outstanding orator and popular pastor citywide, Larned died of yellow fever in August 1820 when only 24 years old. He was succeeded by Dr. Theodore Clapp, whose theology split the congregation. In 1833 Dr Clapp and the majority of the members formed a congregationalist church which in the 20th century affiliated with the Unitarian-Universalists (who now occupy the church building across the street from First Presbyterian Church). The nine members who remained were served by Dr. Joel Parker who presided over the building of a new church on Lafayette Square in 1835.

After a shaky start, the church grew during the 1830s and -40s under Rev. Parker, Rev, John Breckenridge and Rev. William Anderson Scott. A spectacular fire destroyed the first church building in October, 1854. Rebuilding began immediately and services were held again in November 1857. The new building, in 14th-century Gothic style, was designed by Henry Howard who also designed the Pontalba Buildings and Nottoway Plantation. This third iteration of First Presbyterian Church seated 1,311 persons and had a steeple 219 feet from the ground, the tallest in the city. In 1856 Dr. Benjamin Morgan Palmer, was called as pastor and remained until his death in 1902. During the occupation of New Orleans in 1862, General Benjamin Butler used the bell at First Presbyterian Church of New Orleans to sound curfew, since it was the highest point in the city. Palmer was a leader in political as well as religious affairs. He was an ardent secessionist and was influential in not only bringing Louisiana, and his native South Carolina, to secession from the Union, but also became the first moderator of the Presbyterian Church in the Confederate States. So thoroughly had he created enmity that after the War Between the States, not only were black members expelled from the denomination (a sizable minority), but it would take a 118 years to reunite the Northern and Southern Presbyterian churches. Benjamin Palmer and First Presbyterian Church of New Orleans later spearheaded the drive that put the graft-riddled Louisiana State Lottery out of business in the 1880s.

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