Ship of Fools: First Presbyterian, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA

The Mystery Worshipper

Ship of Fools: First Presbyterian, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA

Warm, welcoming Celtic Evensong – we’ll be back!

Read the full Mystery Worshipper report here

frdougal

Sounds lovely but somewhat mistitled. It wasn't Evensong but an Evening communion service using one of the "Celtic " Evening worship liturgies from Iona. Which are very good (I experienced them when volunteering at Iona Abbey nearly 30 years ago).

Amanda B Reckondwyth

Their website calls it Celtic Evensong Service, which is good enough for me, especially since I wasn't there.

stetson

Very interesting building, with what I assume are nods to traditonal local sensibilities. I'd be interested to hear some of the history there, eg. was it built as a church originally?

Nick Tamen

Yes, First Pres built the building in the late 1930s. The contractor claimed to have lost $10,000 in the construction. He is reported to have said this was because he done many things of which he wasn’t proud and wanted to “square up his account for the last roundup.”

I visited there over 20 ago. It is a beautiful building and, as I recall, a lovely congregation.

Forthview

Does 'First Presbyterian' mean that it was the first Presbyterian congregation in Santa Fe ?
I wonder if there is a Second Presbyterian etc. ?
There is also a Free Presbyterian church congregation in Santa Fe,but their minister or Interim Moderator lives in Edinburgh,Scotland.

Nick Tamen

Forthview wrote: »

Does 'First Presbyterian' mean that it was the first Presbyterian congregation in Santa Fe ?
I wonder if there is a Second Presbyterian etc. ?

Yes, that’s what it means. It’s a very common name, perhaps the most common name, for Presbyterian churches in the US. (It’s very common in other Protestant denominations, too, particularly Baptists and Methodists.) Names based on location are, I think, the most frequently found among American Presbyterians, and First Presbyterian, with the stated or implied “of [place]” are a subset of that group. And fwiw, churches with the name First Presbyterian are often referred to conversationally as “First Pres.”

There’s not a Second Pres in Santa Fe—the other PC(USA) congregation there is Westminster Pres, another very common name here—but I know of a number Second Presbyterians in other cities. I know of some Third, Fourth and Fifth Presbyterians, too. But more often, churches after First Pres go for a non-numbered name.

Forthview

thank you N.T.