1923-2023

Sunday, October 8, 2023, First Presbyterian Church in DeFuniak Springs celebrated 100 years in their sanctuary. During worship, we looked at the past and focused on the future. Following worship, simple refreshments were served on the front lawn.

To commemorate the event, small packs of note cards featuring photos of both the outside and the interior of the sanctuary were available for a donation. Christmas tree ornaments of the sanctuary were also available for a donation. There are still a few of these available; just contact the church office if you are interested.

The First Presbyterian Church was organized in November 1883 in DeFuniak Springs, Florida. The Bowers, Campbells, Cawthons, Douglasses, McLeods, and Monroes, joined by the Andersons, the Brackens, & the McKinnons, created the beginning of a loving and faithful congregation of 54 members by 1893.
A beautiful red brick church building was completed in 1890, adorned with a central Gothic tower and steeply pitched gables.

From October 1907 to 1936, college courses and elementary and secondary school classes were offered through Palmer College, a Presbyterian institution organized through the leadership of the First Presbyterian Church. The church grew, partly through the students and faculty of Palmer College, to the point that the little red brick church building was inadequate, and plans for a new building began in 1920.

The new Sanctuary, an interesting blend of Greek and Roman architecture, was erected in 1923 for $45 thousand dollars, and on December 7, 1941, while the United States was facing one of her worst days, this congregation dedicated the building debt-free to God.