First Presbyterian Church, Knoxville, Tennessee. June 17, 1938 / Thompson Photograph Collection, McClung Historical Collection

Join us for a special presentation with historian Jack Neely, Kirkin’ of the Tartans service bagpipe and drums and delicious catered luncheon! Everyone is Welcome!

• Event Schedule

  9:45 am in the Chapel - Knoxville author and historian Jack Neely speaks about the history and legacy of First Presbyterian Church

  11:00 am in the Sanctuary - a special Kirkin’ of the Tartans and dedication service with bagpipe and drums

  12:15 pm in the Fellowship Hall - Anniversary Catered Luncheon - RSVP by October 23rd

• Luncheon Cost and RSVP

  Please join us for a catered luncheon at 12:15 in the Fellowship Hall on the 2nd floor. Cost is $10 per adult and $5 per child, with a $30 max per family. Please RSVP for the luncheon at rsvpfirstpres.org by October 23rd

• Parking and Contact Information

  The celebration will take place at 620 State St in downtown Knoxville. There are three levels of parking with an elevator on each floor. The chapel and sanctuary are on the third floor, the luncheon will be held in the Fellowship Hall on the second floor. Contact the church office at (865) 546-2531 between 8:30 - 5 pm Monday - Friday with any questions.

Senior pastor Mark Curtis with his wife Diana and sons Daniel and Asher

Please join us on October 30th as we celebrate the 230th anniversary of First Presbyterian Church! We will observe our Scottish Presbyterian heritage with a Kirkin’ of the Tartans service. "Kirk" is the Scottish word for "church." Tartans, with their unique plaid patterns, represent the individual Scottish clans and regions in the area. The "Kirkin' O' The Tartans" is the presentation of a Scottish family's symbol, its tartan, at a Holy service for God’s blessing.

First Presbyterian’s Kirkin’ of the Tartans service is intended to encourage all participants to reflect with thanksgiving on the church’s legacy and community over the last 230 years, and to celebrate God's grace and faithfulness poured out for all generations.

The church will celebrate with a presentation of our church’s history by Knoxville historian Jack Neely at 9:45 am in the chapel, a Kirkin’ of the Tartan’s service at 11 am in the Sanctuary with bagpipes and drums, and a special luncheon in the Fellowship Hall at 12:15 after the service.

Knoxville’s First Presbyterian Church, the city’s first church, was organized in 1792 and is still located on its original site.  James White, Knoxville’s founder and a devout Presbyterian, came from North Carolina and built a fort and a mill and planted his garden — for turnips in the fall and corn in the spring. When he asked his son-in-law, Charles McClung, to lay out a town, part of White’s instructions were “to reserve my turnip patch for a church and a burying ground.”

After significant damage at the end of the civil war in 1866, a stout-hearted parishioner painted on the arch over the pulpit the Hebrew words Jehovah Jireh, “The Lord will provide.” These words remain today over the chancel of our current sanctuary and are foundational pieces of the heritage and identity of First Presbyterian Church.

We celebrate this heritage, the resilience of the many generations represented at First Presbyterian, and the faithfulness and provision of God at our 230th anniversary celebration on October 30th.

 Important Information:

• First Presbyterian’s 230th anniversary celebration will take place on October 30th at 620 State St in downtown Knoxville. Visitors should park on any level of our parking deck. There is an elevator on all floors and they should take it to the 3rd floor for the chapel presentation and service, or the 2nd floor for the luncheon.

• Knoxville Historian Jack Neely will speak in the chapel at 9:45 am about the history of First Presbyterian Church and its legacy in Knoxville

• The Kirkin’ of the Tartans will begin at 11 am in the Sanctuary with a bagpipe and drums and a special dedication service.

• There will be a catered lunch at 12:15 pm after the service in the Fellowship Hall on the 2nd floor. The cost is $10 per adult and $5 per child with a $30 max per family. If you would like to stay for the lunch, please RSVP to rsvpfirstpres.org by October 23rd.

• For questions about the event, please contact communications@fpcknox.org or call the church office at (865) 546-2531. All are welcome!