First Presbyterian Church
Also known as: 1552; First Central Presbyterian Church
Why it's listed
Built in 1924 at 402 Orange Street in Abilene, this two-story brick church was erected by the First Presbyterian congregation, which had organized in 1881, two weeks before the city's official founding. Its late Gothic Revival design includes a steeply pitched gable roof with cross gables, a large pointed-arch window with stained and art glass, paired buttresses, a Tudor-arched entrance, and a three-story embattled tower with a stone belfry. The church went up during Abilene's 1920s boom, when Methodists, Baptists and Presbyterians all built new facilities. Presbyterians later merged with the Cumberland Presbyterian group, forming the First Central Presbyterian Church in 1970. An education wing was added in 1952 and a new sanctuary in 1976, both considered compatible with the original. The building is recognized for its architecture and is the only historic church in Abilene that retains its integrity to a high degree.
Significance in brief: It is nominated under Criterion C in the area of Architecture as an exceptional example of Gothic Revival style in Abilene. It is one of the city's oldest churches and the only historic church that retains a high degree of integrity. It also reflects the 1920s building boom, when major religious groups constructed new facilities.
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 92000226, listed March 23, 1992. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 402 Orange St., Abilene |
|---|---|
| County | Taylor County |
| Listed | March 23, 1992 |
| Reference number | 92000226 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1924 |
| Architectural style | Late Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in religious use as First Central Presbyterian Church; the 1952 and 1976 additions are described as compatible with the original building. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.45349, -99.73789 (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 92000226.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5453533
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.