First Presbyterian Church
Why it's listed
Set on an entire city block in downtown Charlotte, this Gothic Revival church complex on West Trade Street was built in stages from 1857 onward. The second church on the site, erected in 1857 at a cost of about $13,000, was designed by Sidney Reading, who was praised by the congregation for his skill. Its stucco-covered brick walls were painted to resemble cut stone. Major rebuilding in 1894-1895 under S. Munch and John Hill produced the sanctuary seen today, with its beaded-board wainscot, a ceiling of four-center-arched ribs, and three large gas and electric chandeliers. The church is regarded as the oldest of Charlotte's city churches and the mother of many later congregations. It is also tied to the Morrison and Jackson families, to a military-honors funeral in 1889, and to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States, which met there in 1864, 1897, 1920 and 1958.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is a monument of Presbyterianism in Charlotte and a strong example of the lasting use of the Gothic Revival style for church architecture. It is described as the oldest of Charlotte's city churches and the mother church of many congregations later organized in the city. Its associations with the Jackson and Morrison families, the 1825 Mecklenburg Declaration anniversary, and 1918 military events are also cited.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 82001300, listed November 12, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 200 W. Trade St., Charlotte |
|---|---|
| County | Mecklenburg County |
| Listed | November 12, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001300 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1857-1961 |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used by the congregation; houses a Child Development Center and office space for other organizations. |
| Acreage | 3.2 |
| Coordinates | 35.22913, -80.84375 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 82001300.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5453546
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.