adapted from the Louisville Encyclopedia of History (1997)

SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, now located at 3701 Old Brownsboro Road, is the second oldest continuously active Presbyterian congregation in Jefferson county. It has been situated at four different locations, three of them in downtown Louisville. From this church have come clergy, missionaries and lay leaders dedicated to outreach. Five of its pastors have served as moderators of the denomination's General Assembly.

The church was first organized on April 17, 1830, when twelve members of Louisville's First Presbyterian Church withdrew to organize the Second Presbyterian Church. Dr. Eli Newton Sawtell was chosen as the first pastor. By 1832, the congregation, which numbered 100, was located in a permanent sanctuary downtown on Third Street.

With Dr. Stuart Robinson's coming in 1858, the membership grew to 1,500. In 1869 after the Civil War, property was acquired at Second and Broadway Streets to build a larger facility. The first unit, an educational wing, was erected, followed in 1874 by the main Gothic structure. These buildings served as the church's home until 1956, when the congregation moved to eastern Louisville.

 Between 1875 and 1900, the growing congregation helped start seven local Presbyterian churches. Also, two members were responsible for the founding of the Presbyterian Community Center in 1898 and the Cabbage Patch Settlement House in 1900. The first classes of the Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, established in 1893, were held at the church.

As the Louisville population grew and shifted from downtown in the 1950s, Second Church built a chapel on Old Brownsboro Road in the Rolling Fields subdivision to serve that area. After fire in February 1956 destroyed the downtown facility, all activities were moved to the chapel. Additional classrooms, offices and a 660-seat sanctuary were later built and dedicated on April 17, 1980.

This church's history of mission work began in 1850 with these programs initiated by women members: Bible classes; the city's first free kindergarten; aid to the poor; and work with prospective ministers. More recently, the church, although damaged, served as an emergency center in the wake of the April 1974 tornado.

Relieving the problems of others continues to be a prime interest of this congregation as it attempts to answer city, regional and world needs. The church has built alliances with agencies that assist children, feed the hungry, and help the poor. 

Through the Grace of God, Second Church has survived dissension, flood, fire, war and wind. Its prime mission remains- to teach and spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.