FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
CARSON CITY, NEVADA
2006
Since 1862 FPC has worshipped in all or parts of this building. This has been its appearance since 1896 when the left portion was added. In 1949 a kitchen and choir loft and practice room were added to the back along with the church's first central furnace. In 1964 the CE building was added to the structure followed in 1985 by the Family LIfe Center, a gym.
As early as the 1960s, it was known that the structure of the old building was deteriorating. It was built of soft 'Reno brick' which had 'eroded' over the years. The building had only a rubble foundation, clearly not up to today's standards for buildings. A good strong earthquake could bring the whole building down. Finally, in 2001 it was decided that the building was too unsafe to use for worship and the worship services were moved to the Family Life Center where the church worships to this day.
A building committee was formed at that time to begin the process of providing a new worship space. The initial plan called for tearing down most of the old building, reinforcing what was left and building a new sanctuary where the old building had stood. The Carson City Historical Commission and many in the congregation wanted to save ALL of the older parts of the building. The plan was, therefore changed to building a new sanctuary on the church's closest parking lot at the rear of the old building and attached to it. It was decided to remove the 1949 parts of the building to make the facility larger. It is hoped that after the new building is complete, funds from within and outside of the congregation can be found to reinforce the old building and make it useable again for church uses.
This is the plan now being pursued.
new old
south elevation
old west elevation new
plan of new sanctuary.
Old building to the right. FLC and CE bldg at the top