Second Presbyterian Church, known for its signal role in Knoxville’s history, its social justice stands and its resilience in the face of schisms, has begun celebrating its 200th birthday.
Begun in 1818 by members of First Presbyterian Church who left over a pew tax and doctrinal differences, the church shared its founding pastor, Isaac Anderson, with Maryville College, which he helped found in 1819.
The church at 2829 Kingston Pike, its fourth building, has a yearlong series of events planned, to culminate with a grand celebration Oct. 21, 2018, near the actual 200th birthday. That event will include a Sunday service with ushers in period attire, a medley of hymns played on 10 tower bells, a catered lunch, and presentation of a new scholarship begun in honor of the anniversary.
The Rev. Timothy Reynolds will preach a sermon series based on the stained glass windows that depict both the life of Jesus and the history of the church.
On Nov. 12 at 1:30 p.m., Dr. Joan Markel, Civil War curator at the McClung Museum, will give a free lecture at the church about the legacy of Union Army Col. William P. Sanders. Fatally shot on the property of the current church Nov. 18, 1863, during the Siege of Knoxville, Sanders died the next day and was buried at the old Second Presbyterian Church downtown.
Anniversary events will include free performances by the Maryville College Choir the afternoon of March 4, and the Knoxville Symphony Chamber Orchestra March 18 at 3 p.m. To be dedicated to the late Betsey Bush, a church member and longtime KSO supporter, the concert will feature music from the 18th and 19th centuries.
Second Presbyterian Church has taken innovative roles in Knoxville. It founded the Knoxville YMCA, launched schools and funded teacher salaries in rural areas. It sponsors a Boy Scout Troop that is over 100 years old and thriving. It donated a site that became the Children’s Center of Knoxville. The church’s own nonprofit, onsite preschool serves 85 children.
The church founded the Knoxville YMCA and has launched many social justice programs.
Members are clear-eyed about painful past events, including a split three years ago when part of the congregation left to form a new church. In November 2014, the Rev. Bryan Wilson, senior pastor, and a number of members left, citing differences such as the denominational vote to allow ministers to perform same-sex marriages.
The Rev. Timothy Reynolds, who became Second Presbyterian pastor a year and a half ago, said the church has a regular attendance of about 150 now and is healing. “It was a traumatic experience for them. They were very angry and hurt when I got here. In the last year and a half, they have really begun to look forward. We recognize God has been faithful, God still is faithful, and God will be here even though some people who they love very much are not.”
The 200th anniversary committee of about 22, co-chaired by Helen and Arvilee Grant, was already at work when Reynolds arrived. “We wanted a large committee because we knew it would last for three years,” said Helen Grant, who with her husband joined the church in 1957.
In one action, the church has launched the Second Presbyterian 200th Anniversary Scholarship to be funded by congregational donations, awarded to a student yearly and administered in perpetuity by the East Tennessee Foundation. ETF will begin accepting applications this spring.
Grant said members are excited about new ventures of starting community missions that may become self-sufficient.
“We saw this celebration as a way of saying, ‘we are part of God’s children,’” she said.
“Whatever our size, whatever our resources, we want to rededicate all of that to renew and strengthen ourselves to God and all of his children.”