2304 THE PLAZA | Plaza Presbyterian Church
Sponsored by Two Scoops Creamery
* Featuring Dr. Tom Hanchett *
Plaza Presbyterian Church was formed in 1907. The first building was located on Pegram Street. In May of 1926 the church met for the first time at the corner of The Plaza and Mecklenburg Avenue.
The sanctuary was dedicated in 1942, and enlarged to its present size in 1955. The architect for the sanctuary was Ed Wilson, who employed the Gothic Revival style. A Moeller Pipe Organ was installed in the sanctuary in 1969. As you enter the sanctuary from Mecklenburg, notice the glass doors etched with the Lord’s Prayer.
The beautiful stained glass in the sanctuary was original to the church. When the steeple was added to the structure in the 1950’s, the stained glass in the front tower was then added. All of the banners, paraments, and chairs around the chancel have been needle pointed and cross-stitched by hand by the Presbyterian Women.
Various offices, the pastor’s study, and the choir room are in the Plaza Building which was finished in 1953. The latest addition is the 1969 Mecklenburg Building, which houses the Plaza Presbyterian Weekday School, a conference room, and other classrooms. The Sanctuary will be open Friday evening and all day Saturday. The Weekday School will be open on Friday evening only. Our congregation meets for worship every Sunday at 11:00 a.m., led by Pastor Tom Tate—who is also a long-time resident of Plaza Midwood. We look forward to seeing you during the Plaza Midwood Home Tour!
At Plaza Presbyterian, community historian Dr. Tom Hanchett will share history of Plaza Midwood with a focus on “The Most Interesting Street in Charlotte”—Central Avenue, of course! The hour presentations will begin at 11:30am and 1pm; folks are welcome to drop in for some or all. Learn how Central Avenue got its name, how it nurtured Billy Graham, Leon Levine (Family Dollar) and W.T. Harris (Harris-Teeter), and how it’s become a “salad bowl suburb” for newcomers from around the globe. Dr. Hanchett’s written history of Plaza Midwood is on-line at http://www.historysouth.org/oldneighborhoods/
Return to the 2017 Plaza Midwood Home Tour summary page.