Our History
 First Presbyterian Church of North Little Rock was established in 1898 as the Argenta Presbyterian Church. After the city of Argenta incorporated as the city of North Little Rock, the name of the church was also changed. We have had many prominent individuals who have contributed both financially and with time and hard work to keep the church active. I would like to recognize some of them.
Dr. Jay Frank Ross – Dr. Ross served as pastor of 1st Presbyterian Church the longest time of any of our ministers – 20 years ( 1920’s and 1930’s). He was the first pastor to occupy the manse across the alley from the church, which we just recently sold. In fact, he died in 1939 while residing in the manse. The now active, Ross Sunday School Class, consisting of married couples was named in his honor. The large stained glass window in front of the church facing Maple Street was dedicated in his memory. My cousin, Jay Stanley, and I were named after him. Mr. James Henry – Mr. Henry was the owner of Owens Funeral Home. He was a trustee of the church and served as Clerk of the Session for many years. Before the days of modern air conditioning, the only ventilation and cooling in the church was open windows, ceiling fans and Owens Funeral Home hand fans, which he provided. Mr. J Harrod Berry – Mr. Berry was an attorney and a trustee of the church. He donated many of his talents and time as an attorney to the church. His wife, Betty, had a beautiful voice. She sang in the choir, and contributed many solos over the years. Dr. B. L. “Bully” Church – Dr. Church was a prominent physician. His office was right across the street from the church. He was also a trustee of the church. He and his wife, Vivian, contributed much time and money to the church. Dr. Church helped to oversee the construction of the new sanctuary in 1954. He was also responsible for contributing and overseeing the construction of the educational building and nursery in the early 1960’s. That is why it is named in his honor. He and Vivian are also responsible for our nice kitchen in the fellowship hall. They built it and furnished it in memory of their parents. Dr. Bill Garrison – Dr. Garrison was the pastor in the early 1950’s when the new sanctuary was being built. Dr. Garrison held an engineering degree from Georgia Tech University. We were blessed to have someone like him to oversee the construction of the new sanctuary. Perhaps that is why it is so beautiful. Dr. Garrison was also a psychologist. Many of his sermons had this side of him interjected into them. Many of the so-called “Old Guard” did not like this. They thought that his sermons should reflect only the verbatim quotes of the Bible as it was written. This criticism got back to Dr. Garrison. Having a good sense of humor, the next Sunday he preached his entire sermon in Greek, just as it was written. Jimmy Meredith – Jimmy was the organist for the church for over twenty years. Most people who knew music stated that he played nothing but the most “high class” arrangements. He was an excellent musician. His wife, Martha, also had a beautiful voice. She sang many beautiful solos on Sunday mornings. Mr. Percy Machin – Mr. Machin was the City Clerk for many years. He was Jimmy Stanley’s Uncle Percy. You could always tell when he was in church because he had a beautiful deep bass voice that you could hear above all other voices. He also sang in the local barbershop quartet. Francis “Dutch” Oholendt – Mr. Oholendt helped see us through some the “dark” times of the 1980’s and 1990’s when we were without a full-time minister. He enlisted the help of several of the retired men in the congregation - Jimmy Lovell, Howard Sanders and others to do many repairs at the church. He kept us headed in the right direction when we needed it the most. He was also responsible for getting Dr. Bert Miller to become our organist. But the most significant contributor to our survival was a man that few people knew or remember. A quiet man, who attended church regularly, but was not active in social activities. It was Mr. Otis Russell. Mr. Russell was an elderly bachelor who retired as a conductor on the MoPac Railroad. He did not have a family. He came to church regularly and sat on the back row. Several of the men whose wives did not attend church with them, like Lloyd Staley and myself, sat on the back row with him. Upon his death, the elders of the church were shocked and speechless to learn that he had left his entire estate of over one hundred thousand dollars to 1st Presbyterian Church. This was during the 1970’s when church membership and attendance was waning. It was also a time when interest rates were at an all time high (12% to 13%). Our elders and trustees invested the proceeds wisely, and the church was sustained on the interest during the 1970’s, 1980’s and some of the 1990’s. If it were not for this extra income, the church may have had to close its doors for inability to pay its bills. Not long ago, Reed Hulett asked me why I always sat on the back row. I told him it was become I could check on the front door and assist anyone who came in late. This was not the real reason, Reed. I sit on the back row to keep Mr. Russell company. There are many others that could have been mentioned who kept the church alive and well – Erold Lotridge, “Bo” Lewis, David Dyer, Katheryn Allsbury, Bert Miller, to mention only a few. More recently, God has sent Carolyn McEwen and Al Henager to sustain us in our needs. Respectufully submitted,Ross Stanley, Elder |