On Sunday, Oct. 4, First Presbyterian Church broke ground on a $33 million, 77,000-square-foot campus addition in the heart of downtown Greenville.

Members of  the congregation, church representatives, and community leaders, including Butch Kirven, chairman of the Greenville County Council, and Wil Brasington from Greenville City Council, were present to mark the historic day.

The new building, designed by local architectural firm Craig Gaulden Davis, will include a 1,100- seat Worship and Arts Center (shown at right), new gymnasium, state-of-the-art children’s  facilities, a central gathering space, new youth floor, and additional adult classrooms. 

"As part of our ‘Transforming the Heart of the City’ campaign, the congregation has prayerfully and sacrificially committed to raising $33 million to help create a campus geared to welcoming the music and arts community of Greenville," said Senior Pastor Rev. Dr. Richard Gibbons. "We are privileged to be a part of the extensive growth of the city and look forward to serving the Greenville area for many years to come."

"The project is the result of many years of strategic thinking as to how the church’s deep heritage can impact the heart of this vibrant city. The expansion offers several venues to  present the Gospel's strong message of hope, to strengthen the community of faith, and significantly enhance the church’s operational efficiency," said architect David Dixon.

Greenville-based Triangle Construction Company has been chosen to complete work on the project, bringing the vision of the congregation to life. Construction is expected to be  completed in January 2022 and an opening celebration to be held in February 2022.

"First Presbyterian is known as a leading community of faith that cares about the people of Greenville," Kirven said. "This new project is not a 'leap-of-faith' – it is faith with a purpose. Building right here, in the heart of Greenville, is a significant commitment, and these new facilities will become the platform for reaching out and uplifting the lives of many more people throughout the entire Greenville area through faith and good works."

For nearly 175 years, First Presbyterian Church and its congregation have fostered relationships and provided meaningful service within the city of Greenville, Brasington said.

"The FPC campus expansion now underway will not only 'transform the heart of our city' from a physical standpoint, but will no doubt positively impact and transform the lives of countless Greenvillians who will benefit from  its ministries in years to come," he said. "It is my hope that the expansion of First Presbyterian's  downtown footprint will only accelerate its mission of growing a vibrant community, rooted in faith."

"First Presbyterian Church has been a grateful neighbor to the community in the heart of  downtown Greenville," said Gibbons. "As we begin to enter the next phase of life and ministry,  it would be difficult to exaggerate how excited we are about the future of our rapidly growing city."