An early view of
the church
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The Gettysburg Presbyterian Church began its work in 1740 in a
log structure situated on the Belmont Road, three miles west of
town, at the present site known as Black's
Graveyard. The first Presbyterian church in the borough of Gettysburg
was erected in 1813 at the corner of North Washington and Railroad
Streets. The congregation moved to the present location in 1842.
The original building consisted only of a sanctuary without the
vestibule. During and immediately following the Battle of Gettysburg
in July 1863, the church, along with many other public buildings
in town, was converted into a temporary hospital. Conditions in
the town and the improvised hospitals were appalling.
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On November 19, 1863, four months after the battle, President Abraham
Lincoln came to Gettysburg to take part in the dedication of the
National Cemetery. At five o'clock in the afternoon, following the
morning ceremonies where he delivered his famous Gettysburg Address,
President Lincoln attended a patriotic meeting in this church. He
was accompanied by John Burns, a local patriot, and left shortly
before the conclusion of the meeting to return to Washington. The
seats of President Lincoln and John Burns are marked with a bronze
plaque.
Since the time of the Civil War, a considerable number of changes
have been made to the church building. The first church school building
was added to the rear of the sanctuary in 1879. The present Christian
education unit was erected in 1932. All of the pews except the Lincoln
pew were replaced. The present church building was erected in 1963
and contains the original rafters and dimensions, and simple decor
of the building that was replaced.
On February 1, 1963, President and Mrs. Dwight D. Eisenhower became
members of the church. The pew President Eisenhower occupied was
so marked with a plaque. The church also has an Eisenhower Lounge
containing prints of paintings and memorabilia of the late President.
In 1994 a building project was completed that included construction
of a new Fellowship Hall/Multipurpose Room, installation of an elevator,
renovation of classrooms and creation of a music room.
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