Forest Park Presbyterian Church emerged from First Presbyterian Church of Statesville as a new church development in 1960. She began with 163 charter members and her organizing pastor was Eugene Witherspoon.
 
The congregation worshipped at Mitchell Community College until the fellowship hall was completed in 1961. In 1962 the Grier Educational Building was completed and the sanctuary was finished in 1965.  In 1984 a two-manual 22-stop Zimmer organ was installed and dedicated in our sanctuary, which has enhanced our worship life. We renovated our sanctuary in 2003.
 
In addition to the organizing pastor, the church was served by Dr. Albert McClure (1966-71), Rev. John Watkins (1971-87), Dr. Thomas Miller (1988-98), the Rev. Walter Taylor (2000-07), and currently by Rev. Scott Jeffreys (2009-present).
 
The Lord has been faithful to our church since its inception and we trust that Almighty God will continue to be faithful to her in the future. May God continue to be praised and glorified in the life of Forest Park Presbyterian Church. 

Our Deeper History

In the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century, theologians such as John Calvin and John Knox, among others, called for the church to be reformed according to the Scriptures.  Those who followed their teachings were known throughout Europe as Reformed Christians and, among other things, held that the church was to be governed by pastors and elders.  In the British Isles, Reformed Christians were called "Presbyterians" (from the ancient Greek word for "elder") because of this belief that the church was to be governed by pastors and elders, rather than by bishops as was the case for both Roman Catholics and Anglicans.  The minister of the church is considered a "teaching elder." Together the minister and elders constitute the church Session, the governing (and serving) body of the congregation. In addition to the Elders, we have a Board of Deacons who share in the service and ministry of the church. The Elders and Deacons are elected by the congregation.

Between 1717 and the beginning of the American Revolution, roughly 250,000 people came to America from Ulster (Northern Ireland). The vast majority of these "Scots - Irish" (that is, Scots who had first immigrated to Ulster and settled there) were Presbyterians. This migration had a direct impact on the American Revolution, given that Presbyterians were deeply involved in that struggle, and overwhelmingly in favor of independence from Britain. Having been persecuted by the British Crown for their refusal to submit to the established (Anglican/Episcopal) church, many Presbyterians had a distinctly anti-royalist sentiment.  During the Revolution, Presbyterians provided much in the way of leadership and soldiers to the Continental Army. Many Colonial Army leaders were Presbyterians, so that by the time of Cornwallis’ surrender at the Battle of Yorktown, all but one of the Colonels in George Washington’s army were Presbyterian elders.

The Piedmont region of the Carolinas, where Forest Park is located, is an area rich in this history as these Scots - Irish Presbyterians were among the first settlers in this area.  Indeed, First Presbyterian of Statesville, the congregation which created Forest Park, was established in 1753!  A good website for more information on all things Presbyterian can be found at Presbyterian 101.