On April 16, 1905, one thousand strong marched from the old church to the beautiful new church for the first service. With the completion of the sanctuary, the church was formally dedicated on May 12, 1906.

On the 50th anniversary of the church, November 13, 1921, services of rededication were held and the certificate of indebtedness was burned. Leadership of the church up to this time had been provided by a series of able pastors: Rev. Welch, Rev. R. G. McNiece and Dr. Alexander Paden, Rev. George Davies, Dr. Jesse Baird, Rev. Theodore Lilley, Rev. Floyd Barr, and Rev. Malcolm Gwaltney continued this leadership through 1953.

During the ministry of Dr. Alvin Morris in 1957, the church edifice was enlarged with an addition to the north and modernization of the interior space of the original structure. The First Presbyterian Church had elected to remain a downtown church, and this new-type community necessitated changes in its ministry. The additional space permitted accommodation of numerous activities, including the Antique Show, an annual activity sponsored by the Women's Association for over twenty-five years.