Commission OKs plan for new church

A spokesman for the First Presbyterian Church said Tuesday construction on the new sanctuary should begin in September.

The city's Historic Resources Commission approved the church's plans to demolish the 1940s-era section of its old church on 110 N. Nevada St., which will make room for the new structure. The plan will preserve the parts of the building built in 1864 and in the 1890s.

This 1,200-square-foot section will be removed to allow a new 8,400-square-foot structure to be built on the property for church services.

Originally, church officials sought to tear down the historic church because it was old and considered unsafe to occupy.

"Everything seems to be on track," said Ken Pearson, head of the church's building committee. "The new church is our focus right now."

Construction of a new church sanctuary at King and Division streets is expected to start while Carson City seeks money to rehabilitate the old church.

The board of supervisors needs to approve a right-of-way abandonment to allow ample room for the building on the church's King Street side.

Most other aspects of the new project will need approval by the planning commission.

The new church also will require a special-use permit because it is going to be placed within an area reserved for construction of residential and office buildings.

First Presbyterian needs to raise $1.2 million for the new church, which is expected to cost between $1.8 million and $2 million to construct. Parishioners will try to do this within the next three years, and church officials will seek interim financing to get the project completed as soon as possible, Pearson said.

Church members have been worshipping since 2001 in First Presbyterian's Family Living Center, an education structure built nearby in the 1990s.

The historic church was constructed in 1864 with financial help from Samuel Clemens, aka Mark Twain. His brother, Orion Clemens, was a Presbyterian. Proceeds from Twain's first paid speech, $200, were used to complete the church's roof because the congregation couldn't afford to finish the work, according to Nevada State Archivist Guy Rocha.

Its original section is the oldest church structure in Nevada. Other buildings linked to Twain are Orion Clemens' house and the Stewart-Nye house, both also in Carson City, and the Theodore Winters Ranch in Washoe Valley, Rocha said.

First Presbyterian not only has historic significance, it resides in the downtown redevelopment district. Both characteristics are being highlighted as the city helps volunteers pursue funds for restoration of the old building.

The church's historic and economic place are important to the community, said Joe McCarthy, the city's redevelopment manager.

And this effort is expected to help officials when two other historic churches have to deal with similar structural problems: St. Peter's Episcopal Church and First United Methodist Church, are both near First Presbyterian and were built during the same decade.

• Contact reporter Terri Harber at tharber @nevadaappeal.com or 882-2111, ext. 215.

You can help

A group is forming to take donations and seek funds for restoration of the 1864 church building. To donate money for building a new church, contact officials at First Presbyterian at 882-1032.