With the completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869, the isolation of Salt Lake City was broken, and the Church of the Latter Day Saints witnessed an ever-increasing non-Mormon population in their city. Sheldon Jackson recruited newly ordained home missionary Josiah Welsh (1841–1876) to organize a Protestant congregation.

The First Presbyterian Church was organized in November, 1871 with eleven members. Its first building, built with monies solicited in the East, was the first home of Westminster College, and was occupied for thirty years before the congregation, which grew to over five hundred members, moved to its present facility. Walter E. Ware designed the Gothic Revival structure, with its low square tower and patterned on the cathedral church of Carlyle, England. The exterior was built of locally quarried red butte stone with hard stone trim.

First occupied in 1905, the congregation substantially enlarged, renovated, and modernized it in 1956. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. It is also Entry No. 323 on the American Presbyterian/Reformed Historic Sites Registry.

(from Preservation Utah’s walking tour)
First Presbyterian Church
12 C Street 1903-1906, Walter E. Ware, SLC

The construction of the First Presbyterian Church marked the coming of age of Utah’s Presbyterian community. The state’s early Presbyterian chapels and mission schools were funded by Presbyterian missionary organizations in the East. The money for this magnificent building, however, was raised by local Presbyterian congregations. Thus, the First Presbyterian Church was a symbol of the growing numbers and influence of Presbyterians in Mormondominated Utah.

Utah architect Walter E. Ware modeled his design for the First Presbyterian Church on the beautiful medieval cathedral in Carlisle, England. Like the Carlisle Cathedral, First Presbyterian Church is built of red sandstone. The church’s irregular massing, crenellated square tower, finials, and lancet-shaped windows are also reminiscent of the Carlisle Cathedral.

The church’s three large stained glass windows are artistic treasures. The west window depicts Christ in the manger, the south depicts Christ at Gethsemane, and the east depicts the first Easter. In October 1906, only five months after the church was completed, a severe storm blew out the magnificent east window. Because of the damage, no services could be held in the church for six months. Undaunted, congregation members raised over $3,000 to replace the window.

The sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church is noted for its fine acoustics and has long been used for concerts and recitals. The debut of the church’s new pipe organ in 1911 was reported in the Deseret News as “one of the most notable musical functions that have been held in the city.” Today, the church continues to host musical performances as well as the meetings and activities of over 50 cultural, educational, and community groups.