In 1947, when Bob Jones University relocated to Greenville, South Carolina, a prominent Presbyterian Church making an impact for God from its location on Augusta Road. This congregation was part of the Bible Presbyterian movement led by Dr. Carl McIntire, a notable figure in conservative Presbyterian, fundamentalist, and reformed circles. Over time, however, internal tensions led to a division within the church. One group left to establish the First Independent Presbyterian Church, initially meeting in a house on Stone Avenue. The larger contingent reorganized as Augusta Road Presbyterian Church, PCA, under the leadership of Rev. Alfred Mersman.
The Beginnings of Faith Presbyterian Church in Greenville
Trouble arose for Pastor Mersman in the early 1970s when the official board resisted his leadership. In early 1972, Pastor Mersman attempted to resign, but the congregation refused to accept his resignation. However, later that year, he formally stepped down, and approximately 80 members decided to follow him, forming a new congregation called Faith Presbyterian Church. They initially met at the Piedmont Natural Gas building, with Rev. Mersman continuing to serve as their pastor, preaching the key truths of a Reformed church, committed to biblical authority, confessional standards, and the doctrines of grace.
Moving to Sharon Drive
Shortly after its founding, Faith Presbyterian moved its meetings to the Seventh Day Adventist Church on East North Street. However, renovations at the Adventist building (they wanted to work on Sundays) required them to vacate, prompting brief relocations to Wade Hampton High School and Duncan Chapel Elementary School near Furman University. In 1976, the church finally found a more permanent home by purchasing a modified house on a 3-acre property on Sharon Drive. During this transition, Pastor Mersman stepped down from the pastorate, and the pulpit was supplied by various speakers, including BJU faculty and visiting preachers from out of town. Throughout these transitions, Faith Presbyterian Church maintained its commitment to be a Reformed church, emphasizing the sovereignty of God, the authority of Scripture, and the necessity of faithful gospel preaching.
A New Affiliation: The Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster
In 1977, during Dr. Ian Paisley’s visit to Bob Jones University for their Bible Conference, the elders of Faith Presbyterian Church requested a private meeting with him. The elders unanimously petitioned Dr. Paisley to allow Faith Presbyterian Church to become a member of the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster. After being accepted into the denomination, the church officially changed its name to Faith Free Presbyterian Church. This denominational alignment further solidified the church’s standing as a Reformed church in Greenville, identifying with a family of likeminded congregations that upheld Reformed orthodoxy, biblical separation, and evangelistic zeal.
Though not the first Free Presbyterian Church in North America (that distinction belongs to Toronto FPC), Faith Free Presbyterian was the pioneer Free Presbyterian congregation in Greenville and the first in the United States.
Our First Minister
For the next two years, Free Presbyterian ministers took turns supplying the pulpit, each serving for a month or two at a time. In 1978-79, Rev. Alan Cairns came for a two-month stint, after which the church extended a formal call to him. In 1980, Rev. Cairns moved to Greenville to take up the pastorate of what was then a small, fledgling congregation. Dr. Cairns continued his ministry in Faith Free Presbyterian Church until 2009. He was known for his powerful preaching and theological acumen, helping to shape the church’s identity and influence in the community. Under his leadership, the church grew in both numbers and spiritual depth, adding a seminary to its ministry. His preaching and teaching established the congregation as a Reformed church, making Faith FPC to be known for its doctrinal clarity and fidelity to Scripture.
Faith Free Presbyterian Church Today
After Dr. Cairns retired in 2009, Rev. Colin Mercer served as Senior Minister until 2017. Since January 2019, Rev. Armen Thomassian has led the congregation as Senior Minister. Faith Free Presbyterian Church continues its gospel witness from its current location on Haywood Road in Greenville, striving to remain true to its Reformed heritage, separated stand, and committed to preaching the whole counsel of God. The congregation aims at embodying all the marks of a faithful Reformed church, ministering both to the hearts of God’s people and the spiritual needs of the lost.