We’ve collected some church history facts as First Presbyterian anticipates its 200th anniversary in 2027.
In 1827, Rev. John Dorrance, a Presbyterian missionary sent by the Mississippi Presbytery, helped shape the early Christian community in Baton Rouge. Soon after his arrival, he began regular preaching and encouraged organized religious instruction.
By April 1827, a Sunday school had been established, and worship services were first held in the parish courthouse, then in a small-framed building. On May 13, 1827, a local tract society was organized to distribute religious literature in cooperation with the American Tract Society, a national Protestant organization founded to publish and circulate Christian tracts for evangelism and moral education.
As interest continued to grow, plans were made to organize a church. Dorrance was assisted by Rev. Benjamin Chase and Rev. Jeremiah Chamberlain of Jackson, Mississippi. Dorrance’s leadership helped establish enduring patterns of worship, education, and outreach in Baton Rouge’s early years.
