On July 6, 1743, the first sermon by a Presbyterian minister — William Robinson — was delivered in Hanover County, Virginia. Rev. Robinson had been sent as an evangelist to the colony by the Presbytery of New Castle. Four years later, the Rev. Samuel Davies would establish a permanent church in Hanover.
On July 7, 1878, Francis J. Grimke (photo shows him in 1902) was ordained as a Presbyterian minister. Born in 1850 as the son of a white plantation owner and a black slave, Grimke would graduated in 1870 from the first college for blacks in the United States — Lincoln University, founded by Presbyterian Rev. Dr. John Miller Dickey and his wife, Sarah Emlen Cresson. Grimke then studied at Princeton Theological Seminary, graduating in 1878. He was called to Washington's 15th Street Presbyterian Church, which he served for 50 years, except for a brief call to Jacksonville, Florida (1885 - 1889). An articulate opponent of racism — "Race prejudice can't be talked down, it must be lived down" — Rev. Grimke helped in the formation of the NAACP.
On July 8, 1933, William Stuart Red (1857-1933) died. A Presbyterian minister and historian, Red was licensed to preach in 1884 and ordained a minister of the Presbyterian Church (US) in 1887. He studied at Princeton Theological Seminary and then attended Columbia Theological Seminary in South Carolina in 1884-85. He served several Presbyterian churches in Texas, as well as editor of the Texas Presbyterian from 1894 to 1897 and moderator of the Synod of Texas (1902). He championed Austin for a seminarian school. His family offerred the land and buildings of Stuart Seminary (a girls school), which they inherited from his mother, to the Texas Synod. In 1902 the Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary opened at the former girls' school. Reverend Red also worked with Rev. Samuel M. Tenney to establish a center for historical research, which became the Historical Foundation of the Reformed and Presbyterian Churches at Montreat, North Carolina.
On July 10, 1888, Toyohiko Kagawa (shown) was born in Kobe, Japan. Under the influence of Presbyterian missionaries — Harry W. Myers and Charles A. Logan of the Presbyterian Church (US), Kagawa became a Christian and studied at the Presbyterian College in Tokyo (1905 - 1908), theology at Kobe Theological University and then at Princeton Theological Seminary (1914 - 1917). He worked in Japanese slums as a Christian missionary and labor organizer. Kagawa also wrote about 150 works. He founded an Anti-War League in Japan during 1928. He died on April 23, 1960 and the Emperor posthumously awarded him Japan's highest honor, the Order of the Sacred Treasure.
On July 11, 1834, an anti-abolition riot by a thousand people wrecked the interior and windows of the Fourth Presbyterian Church of Newark, New Jersey.
Presbyterian Heritage Center
There are three current exhibits open at the PHC, plus a special display for July only of 18th and 19th century hymn books and shape note song books, including a shape note Presbyterian psalm and hymn book (Presbyterian Psalmodist, 1855), as well as Rev. Andrew Law's 1803 shape-note system which didn't use a musical staff (below).
In addition, a new major exhibit of Presbyterians in Appalachia: Evangelical, Educational and Medical Missions, 1757 - today opened July 4, 2008, to April 15, 2009.
It features Presbyterian efforts in establishing churches, schools (Boone Fork Institute classroom above) and medical facilities from early missions to Cherokees to Depression-era Appalachia to today's efforts.
We offer interactive computer kiosks, an innovative museum and research facility (onsite and online) presenting Presbyterian history and Reformed heritage, the church’s tradition of worldwide mission, and the interesting role of Montreat.
Centennial of The Great Korean Revival of 1907 This exhibit highlights the Presbyterian mission to Korea, beginning in 1884 through the present, as well as celebrating the 1907 Great Korean Revival. Click on the link above for more information. This exhibit will run from May 24, 2008, to December 15, 2008.
Presbyterians in Appalachia This exhibit features Presbyterian efforts in establishing churches, schools and medical facilities in the Appalachians. It ranges from early missions to Cherokees (1757 - 1839) to Depression-era Appalachia to today's efforts. Click on the link above for more information. This exhibit runs from July 4, 2008, to April 15, 2009
There will be one additional limited-run exhibit opening this summer —
Women's Leadership & Conferences in the Presbyterian Church (1897 - 2007). This exhibit will open July 22 , 2008, and run until June 15, 2009.
Montreat History Spotlight Click on the headlline or the picture at right to learn about the background of the former Historical Foundation in Montreat.
Recent Items Acquired by the PHC:
We have received a rare communion token mold used to create tokens for the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Bloomington, Indiana. Donated by the Rev. Jim Laymann, there are only a handful of such American molds known to exist.
Special exhibit of Shape Note Hymn Books & 18th Century Isaac Watts hymnals will be at the PHC for the month of July. Princeton Theological Seminary Library and Columbia Theological Seminary (Michael Morgan) are loaning rare volumes for this exhibit, which also include first edition Isaac Watts' Psalm of David (1717) and first American adaptation of Watts hymn books and much more!
On Sunday afternoon, July 13th, Bill Wade and other panelists will highlight Presbyterian Missions in Appalachia, including church formation, educational institutions and medical services, to mountaineers, Cherokees and Melungeons. 2:30 pm at the Presbyterian Heritage Center. Free.
Exhibit — Women Leaders in the Church and Mission opens July 22nd, 10 am. Special grand opening tea on Tuesday, August 5th, from 2 to 4 pm at the PHC.
On Wednesday evening, July 23rd, come to "Shape-note: America's Earliest Music - Still Alive and Singing?"
An introduction and history of Shape-Note Singing (4-note and 7-note), the session offers you a chance to participate in a Sacred Harp and Christian Harmony sing. Led by Jane Spencer, this event is co-sponsored by Columbia Theological Seminary, the Montreat Conference Center, the Montreat Adult Summer Club and the Presbyterian Heritage Center. 7 pm, Convocation Hall, Assembly Inn. Free
October On Saturday afternoon, October 11, the Rev. Dr. Syngman Rhee will talk about the current status of the Korean church and its future, including mission efforts in North and South Korea.
Gospel Scenes — Wood Carvings
Among items that will be displayed by the Presbyterian Heritage Center during 2008 - 2009 are: 24 wooden sculptures by the Rev. John Mack Walker, Jr., depicting Gospel scenes using mountain figures, which are to be periodically displayed in the new Presbyterian Heritage Center. We will be adding additional 1991 video excerpts of Walker talking about the sculptures soon. Click here to see a 3 minute introduction by Rev. Walker on his sculptures.
1850 as the son of a white plantation owner and a black slave, Grimke would graduated in 1870 from the first college for blacks in the United States — Lincoln University, founded by Presbyterian 
Harry W. Myers and Charles A. Logan of the Presbyterian Church (US), Kagawa became a Christian and studied at the Presbyterian College in Tokyo (1905 - 1908), theology at Kobe Theological University and then at Princeton Theological Seminary (1914 - 1917). He worked in Japanese slums as a Christian missionary and labor organizer. Kagawa also wrote about 150 works. He founded an Anti-War League in Japan during 1928. He died on April 23, 1960 and the Emperor posthumously awarded him Japan's highest honor, the Order of the Sacred Treasure. 
Syngman Rhee